PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between George Whissell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whissell comes to the cage accompanied by Rose Of Sharon. Donato Russo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Whissell
vs
Russo

177 cm
20
160 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

172 cm
20
163 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

MMA's Best Nutrition
White Gorilla Nutrition

Goodness You Nutrition
S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George Whissell!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donato Russo!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Russo duly obliges.
Whissell tries to bum rush Russo with a series of wild strikes but Russo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Russo is looking to clinch but Whissell is avoiding it.
No joy there for Whissell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Whissell has managed to clinch.

Whissell is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Russo can't fight it off and eventually Whissell manages to take the fight to the floor. Russo looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whissell wants to pass the guard but Russo is keeping the position.
Russo keeping moving, preventing Whissell from controlling successfully.
Whissell wants to pass the guard but Russo is keeping the position.
Whissell trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Russo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whissell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Russo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Russo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Russo!
Whissell tries to buck Russo off but Russo is having none of it.
Whissell is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Whissell is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Russo jumps into side control!
Whissell looks to move to half guard but instead Russo has passed into mount! Damn!
Whissell is wriggling around trying to escape.

Russo is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whissell scores with a decent looking hook.
Russo doesn't manage to clinch there - Whissell circles away.
Whissell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Russo as he avoids it easily.
Russo keeps the fight on the outside.
Russo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Whissell avoids the body shot from Russo.
Russo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A nice combination there by Whissell.
Whissell swinging wilding here.
Whissell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Russo misses with a looping right.
Russo works the jab nicely.
Whissell lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Russo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Whissell is breathing heavily.
Whissell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Russo looking to control but Whissell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Russo prevents Whissell from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whissell is working hard here to advance position.
Russo takes Whissell's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Whissell is in trouble.

Russo is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Whissell has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Whissell manages to reverse the position and now he's in Russo's guard. Nice work there by Whissell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whissell misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Whissell tries to bench press Russo off him but Russo keeps the position.

Russo decides to stand back up. Russo steps back and let's Whissell get back to his feet.
Russo tries to clinch but Whissell is having none of it.
Whissell goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Jab by Whissell.

Whissell drives through with a takedown into guard.
Russo can't keep his opponent in guard - Whissell advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Whissell is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Whissell trying to advance position but Russo counters by regaining guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donato Russo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Whissell closes the distance and clinches up with Russo, looking for a takedown. Whissell pushes Russo against the cage but Russo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Russo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Whissell scores with a shot to the body.
Whissell slips a jab from Russo.
Russo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
George Whissell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Whissell throws a head kick that misses.
Russo dodges the punch combination from Whissell.
Whissell shoots in and drives through. Russo sprawls well.
Russo misses with a head kick.
Russo throws a body kick that misses.
Whissell moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Whissell closes the distance and clinches up with Russo, looking for a takedown. Whissell pushes Russo against the cage but Russo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Whissell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russo wants to clinch.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick and Whissell moves out of range easily.
Whissell tries for a takedown but Russo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Russo connects with a nice looking jab.
Russo throws a hook to the side of Whissell's head but Whissell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Russo looks for a takedown but Whissell sprawls well.
Russo is breathing heavily.

Whissell feints and as Russo raises his hands in defense, Whissell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whissell trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
Whissell with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Russo keeping full guard, as Whissell tries to pass.
Russo controls Whissell momentarily but Whissell frees himself.
Russo keeping moving, preventing Whissell from controlling successfully.
Russo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Whissell throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Whissell is looking to improve his position but Russo isn't that keen on the idea.
Whissell sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Whissell gets full guard.
Whissell lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Russo!
Whissell breaks from Russo's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Whissell is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Russo has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Russo!
Whissell looking for a sweep. Not yet Whissell, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo wants to control from the top but Whissell keeps moving.
Russo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whissell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russo's guard.
Whissell wants to pass the guard but Russo is keeping the position.
Russo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Whissell drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Russo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Whissell has Russo in his guard.

Russo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whissell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Russo is one step ahead there.

Whissell looking for a guillotine here but Russo defends easily.
Russo wants to control from the top but Whissell keeps moving.
Whissell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Whissell dominated that second round.
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.

Whissell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Russo rushes Whissell and presses him up against the cage.
Russo goes for a takedown attempt but Whissell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Whissell moves into range and clinches up with Russo.

Whissell has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Russo is trying to keep an underhook but Whissell manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Russo is controlling Whissell's trapped leg to prevent Whissell from advancing to side control.
Russo trying to hold on to Whissell's head to control him but Whissell postures up.
Russo is trying to keep from getting into a worse position than he's already in but Russo is working away and isn't letting himself get tied up.
Whissell passes the guard and advances to mount!
Russo is squirming around, avoiding Whissell's attempts to control the action.

Whissell is working to isolate an arm here. It's a choreographed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Whissell extends the arm and Russo is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). George Whissell!
George Whissell retains his lightweight title!