PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Russo (ranked 7336 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Brzica (ranked 5385 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Brzica's choice of entrance music: Made of Hate - Bullet In Your Head. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Russo
vs
Brzica

203 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joe Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Brzica!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brzica circles away.
Brzica throws out a counter right but Russo avoids it with no problem.
Brzica scores with a jab to the body.
Brzica misses with the combination.
Russo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Russo with that takedown attempt.

Russo moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo is struggling to control the position.
Russo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Brzica walks away with a smile on his face. Russo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Russo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Brzica.

It looks like Joe Russo has been cut.

Russo pushes Brzica up against the cage in a clinch.
Russo tries for a takedown but Brzica manages to get underhooks.
Brzica is trying to break the clinch but Russo has him pressed against the cage.
Russo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Brzica fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Russo gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo can't get the takedown.
Russo keeps control of Brzica as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Russo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Brzica walks away with a smile on his face. Russo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Brzica drops Russo with a nice combination! Brzica dives into Russo's guard, looking to finish!

Russo is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Brzica accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Oh Russo is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Russo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Brzica.
Brzica in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Brzica loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Russo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Brzica trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Brzica.
Brzica loads up on a big left hand. Russo felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Brzica looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Russo can't hide his disappointment, as Brzica celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ivan Brzica!