PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between dan bisping (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DEAN RUSSO (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

bisping
vs
RUSSO

190 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
225 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, dan bisping!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, DEAN RUSSO!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Reed Andrews and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

bisping clinches up with RUSSO and pushes him back against the cage.
RUSSO fails to pull the fight into his guard.
RUSSO fails to pull guard.

bisping's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

RUSSO tries to keep at a distance but bisping has taken the fight into the clinch.
bisping wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but RUSSO has him pressed against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from bisping.
RUSSO fails to pull guard.
dan bisping has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DEAN RUSSO.

RUSSO ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. RUSSO no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
bisping has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
RUSSO trying to control the position.

RUSSO has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. bisping is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for RUSSO.
bisping tries to stand but RUSSO is controlling his head.
bisping knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for RUSSO on the ground.
RUSSO is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
RUSSO gets full guard.
RUSSO looking to hit a scissor sweep but bisping is one step ahead there.
RUSSO is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
bisping wanted to stand there but RUSSO had control of the position.

RUSSO is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
RUSSO lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for bisping!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
bisping throwing hammer fists to the chest of RUSSO. What's that going to do exactly?
bisping is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
RUSSO moves to take his opponent's back.
bisping is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

RUSSO tightening his grip on bisping, looking for the choke.
RUSSO looks gassed!
bisping has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

RUSSO patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
bisping controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

bisping is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
bisping lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like DEAN RUSSO has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
bisping misses with a double jab.
bisping swinging wilding here.

bisping moves into the clinch.
bisping is trying to break the clinch but RUSSO has him pressed against the cage.
bisping can't break the clinch.
bisping is trying to break free.

bisping escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
RUSSO closes this distance looking for a takedown but bisping circles away.
bisping finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
RUSSO takes one to the chin there.

bisping clinches with his opponent.
bisping stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, bisping creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
bisping displaying some good clinch control by pressing RUSSO up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that dan bisping will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on DEAN RUSSO's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

bisping looks to land a combination. RUSSO sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
RUSSO is on the wrong end of a nice combination from bisping.
bisping feints and then cracks RUSSO's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow RUSSO down.
bisping fails to land with a series of punches.
bisping lands with a right hand.
RUSSO misses with a takedown attempt - bisping sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
bisping misses with a two punch combination.
bisping scores with a shot to the body.
bisping lands with a hook. RUSSO tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
bisping scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
RUSSO looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? bisping is fending him off so far but RUSSO persists. Nope, bisping circles away and we're back to standing.
RUSSO shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts bisping as he jumps to the side.
dan bisping has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DEAN RUSSO.
RUSSO fails with an attempt to clinch.
RUSSO fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
bisping scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

bisping fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with RUSSO, pushing him back against the cage.
The is referee keeping an eye on bisping - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
bisping lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
bisping wants to break the clinch but can't.
bisping misses with a hook from the clinch.
bisping wants to break free but RUSSO has control.
bisping wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

RUSSO ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. RUSSO no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

RUSSO is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

RUSSO looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
RUSSO manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. bisping manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as RUSSO accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
bisping manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. RUSSO manages to get himself to full guard.

bisping gets to his feet. RUSSO looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
RUSSO shoots in for a takedown but bisping shows good takedown defense.

bisping has managed to clinch.
bisping wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
RUSSO tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. bisping smiles and moves away.
RUSSO fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

bisping darts in and clinches RUSSO up against the cage.

bisping breaks from the clinch.
RUSSO fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

bisping clinches up against the cage.
RUSSO tries to pull guard but bisping holds him up against the cage and eventually RUSSO drops back down to his feet.
bisping is trying to break free.
A short right from bisping on the inside.
bisping lands a left hand that snaps the head of RUSSO backwards.
bisping has had enough of the clinch but RUSSO keeps him there for the moment.
RUSSO has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. bisping avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from bisping.
bisping wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but RUSSO has him pressed against the cage.
bisping wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
bisping is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

bisping manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
bisping lands a nice shot to the body.
RUSSO misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - bisping looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

bisping clinches up against the cage.

bisping escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

RUSSO closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
RUSSO moves into full mount! bisping won't be happy about that!
bisping squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice elbow there by RUSSO.

RUSSO goes for an armbar but he's not got it… bisping turns into him and now he's in RUSSO's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

dan bisping dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on DEAN RUSSO's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

RUSSO fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
bisping tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but RUSSO was well out of range. Poor timing from bisping.
bisping lands a with a good body shot.
bisping jabs RUSSO right on the nose. RUSSO blinks but takes it well.
bisping connects with a jab.
RUSSO tries to close the distance and clinch but bisping swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
dan bisping is winning the standup battle so far.

bisping darts in and clinches RUSSO up against the cage.
RUSSO keeps control of bisping as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

bisping breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
RUSSO avoids a punch combination nicely.
RUSSO fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
DEAN RUSSO seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
bisping connects with a looping right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

bisping rushes RUSSO and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
bisping wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but RUSSO has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from bisping.
bisping is trying to break free.
A short right hand to the side of the head by bisping.
bisping wants to break the clinch but can't.
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 bisping walks away with a smile on his face. RUSSO gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
RUSSO shoots in but bisping avoids the takedown attempt easily.
dan bisping has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DEAN RUSSO.

bisping tries to keep at a distance but RUSSO has taken the fight into the clinch.
RUSSO fails to pull guard.
RUSSO prevents bisping from breaking the clinch.
bisping drops down looking for an ankle pick but RUSSO pulls his leg out and moves away.
RUSSO ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
RUSSO closes this distance looking for a takedown but bisping circles away.
bisping throws a one two combo.
bisping throws a push kick but RUSSO slaps the foot to one side.

bisping gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
RUSSO with a flurry of punches that miss.

RUSSO drops back, looking for a kneebar! bisping looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. bisping looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from bisping!
RUSSO is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked bisping off and has taken his back!

RUSSO looking for the RNC.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

RUSSO is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. bisping knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften bisping for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

RUSSO tightening his grip on bisping, looking for the choke.

RUSSO is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

RUSSO patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
bisping is trying to get back to his feet but RUSSO has full control of the position and if anything, bisping has just worked his way into a worse spot.

RUSSO is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. bisping is defending well though. RUSSO let's go of the attempt for now.
A lull in the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
DEAN RUSSO comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think bisping has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!