PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Piralli Cicci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Cicci
vs
Russell

179 cm
23
194 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
191 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Piralli Cicci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Russell!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Cicci or perhaps it was just good defense by Russell which made him look bad.

Russell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Russell is landing with some decent strikes but Cicci is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cicci is in all sorts of trouble here.
Russell with the ground and pound from mount.
Russell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Russell raining down shots from the mount!
Cicci is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell is landing with some decent strikes but Cicci is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cicci keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Russell is landing with some decent strikes but Cicci is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Russell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russell goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Cicci is on top in guard.
Cicci won't allow Russell to sweep him here.
Cicci advances to half guard.
Cicci trying to mount his opponent but Russell defends it.
Cicci is trying to control. Russell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Cicci looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cicci looks to land a strike but Russell avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cicci accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Russell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Russell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cicci defends it easily.

Russell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cicci can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Russell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Russell looking for a sweep. Not yet Russell, not yet.

Cicci drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cicci jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cicci has gone for a leg lock! Russell slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cicci's guard.
Russell being controlled here momentarily.
Russell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Russell throws a big right hand that misses.
Russell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cicci keeping moving, preventing Russell from controlling successfully.
Cicci utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Russell landing some decent shots from guard.

Cicci looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Russell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Russell working some strikes from top position.
Cicci utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Russell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Russell 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.
Russell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cicci preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell wants to control from the top but Cicci keeps moving.
Russell lands a couple of digs.
Cicci is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Russell darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Russell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cicci's head.
Cicci is looking for a sweep. Russell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Cicci looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cicci gets back to full guard.
Cicci looking for a sweep. Not yet Cicci, not yet.
Jack Russell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cicci looking to control.
Cicci is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Russell is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Russell got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cicci has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Russell has managed to get both his arms back between Cicci's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Russell gets a takedown into half guard.
Russell lands with a punch from half guard.
Cicci trying to hold on to Russell's head to control him but Russell postures up.
Russell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cicci does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Russell is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Russell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Russell working the head and body with strikes.
Russell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Russell lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell moves into full mount! Cicci won't be happy about that!
Russell avoids the attempt from Cicci to control.
Cicci is looking to get to half guard.

Russell has isolated one of Cicci's arms. Cicci looking to fight him off but Russell twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jack Russell!