PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bertram Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brent Huthe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russel kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Space Lord by Monster Magnet. Huthe comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Rick Derringer - Real American kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Russel
vs
Huthe

176 cm
24
169 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
27
185 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bertram Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brent Huthe!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Huthe blocks the body kick.
Huthe blocks a head kick by Russel.
Russel throws a leg kick that misses.
Russel cracks the inside of Huthe's front leg.
Russel tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Huthe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Russel won't be happy with that.
Huthe just content to control the position.
Huthe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Russel keeps working.
Huthe wants to control for a moment but Russel uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Huthe trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I looks like Huthe might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Huthe stops Russel from getting back to his feet.
Huthe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Huthe controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Russel pushes Huthe off looking to stand but Huthe dives back in and keeps control.

Russel has one foot on Huthe's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Russel wants to clinch

and Huthe counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Russel wants to stand up but Huthe is controlling him.
Huthe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Russel wants to stand but Huthe is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russel is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Huthe prevents a body shot from Russel.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Russel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Russel is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Russel misses with a knee strike.
Huthe blocks an elbow strike.
Russel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A frustrated look appears on Huthe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Russel trying to stall but Huthe improves his position.
Huthe is trying to break free.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Russel.
Huthe lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel tries to land knees in the clinch but Huthe avoids the damage to the body.
Russel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Huthe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Huthe blocks an elbow strike from Russel.
Huthe managing to block the knees to the body from Russel.
Russel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Russel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Huthe's elbow.
Russel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Russel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Russel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Huthe backwards.
Russel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Russel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Huthe takes a knee to the side of the body.
Huthe looks gassed!
Huthe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short left from Russel.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Russel breaks from the clinch.
A shot to the body from Russel misses

and Huthe counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Huthe won't allow Russel to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Russel wants to clinch but Huthe slips to the side

and Huthe counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Huthe trying to control the position from guard on top but Russel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russel wants to stand up but Huthe is controlling him.
Huthe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Russel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Huthe.
Russel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Huthe trying to control but Russel is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Huthe is controlling him.
Huthe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Russel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Russel keeping moving, preventing Huthe from controlling successfully.
Russel keeping full guard, as Huthe tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Brent Huthe.
Russel wants to clinch

and Huthe counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Huthe is trying to control the action in half guard but Russel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huthe stops Russel from getting back to his feet.
Huthe throwing shots but Russel is blocking nicely.
Huthe trying to control the action but Russel is working from the bottom.
Brent Huthe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Huthe might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Russel kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Huthe is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel tries to get to full guard but Huthe has control of the leg.
Huthe drops an elbow to the side of Russel's head.
Russel is looking to improve his position.
Russel wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Huthe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Russel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Huthe is figuring out what he wants to do next.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Brent Huthe hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Russel defending well as Huthe loads up on a big left hand.
Russel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Huthe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Huthe darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Huthe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russel tries to get to full guard but Huthe has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brent Huthe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Huthe keeps the fight on the outside.
Russel wants to clinch.
Huthe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Russel.
Russel drops his hands momentarily and Huthe takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Russel wants to clinch but Huthe slips to the side
and Huthe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Russel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Huthe fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russel scores with a leg kick.
Huthe shoots in but no luck this time.
Russel fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Huthe checks it well.
Huthe shoots in looking for a takedown. Russel tries to sprawl out of it but Huthe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Russel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bertram Russel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brent Huthe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Russel misses
and Russel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Huthe slips under a jab.
Bertram Russel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russel moves to clinch but Huthe breaks away
and Huthe counters with a nice body shot.
Russel looks to clinch
and Huthe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Huthe moves out of range of the leg kick from Russel.
Huthe scores with a jab.
Bertram Russel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Huthe misses with a body shot.
Russel tries to clinch
and Huthe counters with a left and a right that stings Russel.
Russel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Huthe manages to avoid it.
Huthe darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Russel connects with an inside leg kick.
Huthe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Russel has managed to clinch.
Russel missing with knees to the body.
Huthe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bertram Russel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel pushes Huthe back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Russel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Huthe's face.

It looks like Brent Huthe has been cut.
Russel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Russel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Huthe blocks it with crossed arms.
Huthe is trying to break free.
Russel can't find room to land a body shot as Huthe controls the action.
Russel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Huthe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Russel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Huthe avoids it.
Russel misses with a punch on the inside.
Russel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Russel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Huthe lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Russel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Russel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Russel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Russel tries to land knees in the clinch but Huthe avoids the damage to the body.
Russel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Russel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Huthe backwards.
Russel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel misses with a punch on the inside.
Russel lands a knee to the body.
Russel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Russel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Huthe.
Russel is working Huthe over against the cage.
Russel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Huthe is defending well for now.
Russel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Russel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Huthe avoids it.
Russel tries to land knees in the clinch but Huthe avoids the damage to the body.
Huthe managing to block the knees to the body from Russel.
Russel controlling the action here for a moment.

Huthe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Huthe scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Huthe is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Russel misses with a low kick.
Russel wants to clinch but Huthe slips to the side
and Huthe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Russel tries to clinch
letting Huthe counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Huthe as he connects with a hook.
Huthe keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Russel darts in trying to clinch
and Huthe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Huthe is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Huthe feints and as Russel raises his hands in defense, Huthe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Huthe prevents Russel from getting back to his feet.
Huthe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Huthe trying to control but Russel is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brent Huthe.
I've got Huthe winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brent Huthe!