PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Les Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Russo
vs
Paul

172 cm
23
157 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

160 cm
22
153 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Shango Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donato Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Les Paul!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paul tries to clinch up but Russo circles away and keeps his distance.
Paul doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Paul tries to clinch up but Russo circles away and keeps his distance.

Paul closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Russo to the mat! Russo manages to get full guard.

Russo has his foot on Paul's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Paul works his way back into a safe position though.
Russo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Paul is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Paul tries to free his leg and advance position but Russo is retaining full guard.
Paul won't allow Russo to sweep him here.
Paul trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
Russo pulls Paul in to control the position.
Paul trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo has control of Paul's left arm, preventing Paul from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo trying to keep a closed guard but Paul is proving a slippery customer.
Russo managing to control the position.
Paul showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paul looking to pass the guard.
Russo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Paul slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Paul is looking to take a break and control but Russo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Russo struggling a bit here.
Paul trying to control the action but Russo is working from the bottom.
Russo is looking for a sweep.
Paul advances nicely into full mount.
Russo is squirming around, avoiding Paul's attempts to control the action.
Paul controlling the pace for now.
Paul's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Les Paul just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Paul keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Paul misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Russo tries to land a front kick but Paul steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Paul throws a sloppy head kick and Russo moves out of range easily.
Nice sprawl there from Russo as Paul shoots in.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but Russo shows good takedown defense.
Donato Russo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Les Paul.
A head kick by Russo misses
and Paul counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Russo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Paul was covering up waiting for the punch and Russo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Paul is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul wants to sweep here but Russo controlling him for the moment.
Paul controlling the position.
Russo controlling from the top position.
Paul is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Paul content to control rather than advance.
Russo moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Les Paul will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Russo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Paul misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Russo lands a high kick!
Paul shoots in for a takedown but Russo shows good takedown defense.
Paul has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Russo.
Russo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Russo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Paul blocks a head kick by Russo.

Russo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Paul looking to control.
Russo throws a strike but Paul rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Russo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Paul manages to get himself to full guard.
Russo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul looking to control.
Russo stopping the sweep attempt from Paul.
Paul being controlled here, momentarily.
Russo connects with a couple of short punches.
Paul has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Russo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Paul is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Paul is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Paul had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Russo defends it easily.
Russo forces his way into half guard.
Russo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Paul makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paul.
Paul is controlling Russo's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo wants to control from the top but Paul keeps moving.
Russo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Paul wants to sweep but no luck.
Paul keeping moving, preventing Russo from controlling successfully.
Russo is fighting to break Paul's control of his arms but Paul is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Russo is looking to work some ground and pound but Paul has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paul bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russo's guard.
Russo wants to sweep but no luck.
Russo keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Paul in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Russo pulls Paul in to control the position.
Russo keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Russo is looking to sweep but instead, Paul has passed into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Russo is staying active underneath Paul, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Paul sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Paul wants to take a breather but Russo is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donato Russo dominated that second round.
That's time! Russo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

The fighters circling - Russo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Russo throws a head kick that misses.
Paul has a takedown stuffed.
Paul shoots and misses

and Russo counters with a single leg into guard. Paul didn't expect that.
Russo wants to control from the top but Paul keeps moving.
Russo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Russo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Russo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Russo thows a huge punch but Paul dodges it nicely.
Donato Russo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paul wants to get back to full guard but Russo has passed into side control.
Paul tries to hold on but Russo postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Paul takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Paul wants to hold on but Russo pushes him away.
Russo content just to control the position here.
Paul keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Paul wants to control but Russo is having none of it.
Russo controlling from mount.
Paul can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Russo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Paul is desperately trying to improve his position but Russo has a good base and remains in mount.
Paul wants to hold on but Russo pushes him away.
Paul is bucking up trying to escape but Russo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Paul slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Paul trying to hold on to Russo's head to control him but Russo postures up.
Russo slows the pace down in half guard.
Russo wants to take a breather but Paul is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul is looking to control Russo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Paul avoid being mounted?
Russo controlling the action here.
Paul works his way to full guard. Good work.
Russo stays in close to Paul's body and controls the position.

Russo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Paul is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Paul has escaped and now he's on top!
Paul trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Paul is fighting to break Russo's control of his arms but Russo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Russo keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.
Paul trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
Paul throwing strikes from guard but Russo blocks nicely.
Paul wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Russo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Paul!
Russo throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donato Russo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Russo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donato Russo!