PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Kwaak (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.

Russo
vs
Kwaak

170 cm
23
154 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

175 cm
23
152 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Kwaak!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Russo.

Kwaak drives through and clinches with Russo against the cage.
Russo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kwaak.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kwaak throws an elbow but misses.
Kwaak with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Ryan Russo has been cut.
Russo avoiding damage as Kwaak throws knees to the body.
Kwaak with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kwaak connects with a nasty looking knee right to Russo's face.
A short right from Kwaak on the inside.
Russo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Russo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kwaak tries a knee to the head but Russo blocks it.
Kwaak takes a knee right on the jaw!
The referee calls for Russo to work.
Kwaak with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kwaak tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Russo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kwaak tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Russo misses with a knee strike.
Russo missing with knees to the body.
Russo misses with an elbow strike.
Russo stalling in the clinch but Kwaak improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwaak on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kwaak with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Russo blocks the elbow strike.
Kwaak missing with knees to the body.
Russo avoids the elbow strike from Kwaak, against the cage.
Russo tries to land knees in the clinch but Kwaak avoids the damage to the body.
Kwaak is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Russo is defending well for now.
Kwaak lands a damaging elbow.
Kwaak avoiding damage as Russo throws knees to the body.
Kwaak throws a knee to the head but misses.
Russo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kwaak throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Russo blocks it with crossed arms.
Kwaak tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Russo smiles and moves away.
Russo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kwaak keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Russo. Kwaak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ryan Russo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak misses the shot to the body.
Russo blocks the body kick.
Kwaak takes a swing at Russo's ribcage but misses.
Kwaak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Russo looks to land a body kick but Kwaak moved away.
Kwaak keeps the fight on the outside.
Kwaak blocks the body kick.
Kwaak jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Russo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kwaak connects with a body shot.
Kwaak throws a solid leg kick but Russo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kwaak.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters circling - Kwaak throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kwaak displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kwaak pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Russo misses with a kick to the body.
Russo thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak looks to score with a jab to the body but Russo is just out of range.
Russo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A jab from Kwaak misses.
Russo misses with a low kick as Kwaak jumps back.
Kwaak with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Russo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kwaak can pounce on him.
Russo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Russo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kwaak has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kwaak and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kwaak dives in and grabs Russo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Russo pushes down on Kwaak's head and hops out.
Kwaak misses with a body kick.
Kwaak tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Russo swivels and escapes.
Ryan Russo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Kwaak.
Russo tries to score with a low kick but Kwaak moves his leg out of the way.
Russo misses with a body shot.
Russo misses with a wild body shot.
Kwaak looks to score with a jab to the body but Russo is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak takes a swing at Russo's ribcage but misses.
Kwaak thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice defenses there by Russo.
Kwaak scores with a hook to the body. Russo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Russo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Russo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kwaak throws a hook but Russo avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kwaak lands a nice looking body shot.
Kwaak misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Russo.
Russo is looking to wear down Kwaak with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kwaak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kwaak jabs at Russo's body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kwaak throws a sloppy head kick and Russo moves out of range easily.
Kwaak throws a hook to the side of Russo's head but Russo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Russo takes one to the chin there.
Russo checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Kwaak dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan 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.

Kwaak drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Check out the look on Kwaak's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Russo wants to control but Kwaak postures up.
Kwaak throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Russo on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kwaak has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Russo struggling a bit here.
Kwaak tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kwaak looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Russo is avoiding damage well.
Russo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kwaak.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Russo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russo is not content to let Kwaak control the position.
Russo tries to roll over but Kwaak keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russo keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo gets full guard.
Russo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kwaak.
Kwaak trying to move into half guard but instead Russo has managed to sweep!
Russo wants to control from the top but Kwaak keeps moving.
Russo stays in close to Kwaak's body and controls the position.
Russo trying to control but Kwaak is working from the bottom.
Russo won't allow Kwaak to sweep him here.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Kwaak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ryan Russo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kwaak moves out of range as Russo strikes.
Kwaak feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Russo's calf.
Russo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Russo tries to move into range but Kwaak moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Russo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kwaak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kwaak fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Russo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kwaak moves out of range of the body kick from Russo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russo tries to clinch up
and Kwaak counters with a straight right hand.
Russo gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kwaak.
Russo cracks Kwaak with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kwaak wants to slow Russo down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kwaak fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Russo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A punch lands to the side of Russo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kwaak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Russo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Russo misses with a body kick.
Russo lands with a straight right. Kwaak didn't see that one coming.
Kwaak lands a nice looking body kick.
Russo misses with a looping left.
Kwaak gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kwaak slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kwaak throws a head kick but Russo moves out of range.
Russo takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Kwaak ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Russo takes a kick to the side of the head.
Russo tries to clinch but Kwaak moves out of range.
Sam Kwaak seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Russo tries to land a front kick but Kwaak steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Russo looks to clinch
and Kwaak cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Russo is rocked!
A slow jab from Kwaak misses its intended target.
Kwaak scores with a spinning back kick!
Nice cross by Russo.
Kwaak comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Kwaak closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Russo's guard.
Russo trying to keep a closed guard but Kwaak is proving a slippery customer.
Kwaak trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Russo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kwaak's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Kwaak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ryan 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. This is the final round!

Kwaak throws a hook to the side of Russo's head but Russo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Russo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kwaak.
Kwaak avoids a kick to the body.

Kwaak throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Russo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kwaak is in Russo's guard.
Russo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kwaak trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kwaak with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Russo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kwaak throws a big right hand that misses.
Kwaak throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kwaak's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Russo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kwaak missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwaak is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kwaak postures up and lands a big shot to Russo's brow.
Kwaak trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
Russo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kwaak manages to get himself to full guard.

Kwaak looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Russo passes into side control.
Russo taking a breather here.
Ryan Russo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Russo trying to control the action but Kwaak is working from the bottom.
Kwaak tries to bench press Russo off him but Russo keeps the position.
Russo remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak can't do much from the bottom here.
Russo controls the position from side control.
Kwaak is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Russo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sam Kwaak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Russo prevents Kwaak from improving his position.

We're going to have a standup here because Ryan Russo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Russo throws a jab but it's blocked by Kwaak.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kwaak throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Russo was covering up waiting for the punch and Kwaak finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kwaak with a flurry of punches that miss.
Russo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Russo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kwaak stands up over Russo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Russo controls Kwaak momentarily but Kwaak frees himself.
Russo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kwaak is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kwaak is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

We're going to have a standup here because Ryan Russo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Russo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Kwaak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kwaak has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Kwaak!
Sam Kwaak made sure to mention his sponsor, GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS in his post fight interview.