PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Delgado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russo has chosen Tupac- Last Muthafucka Breathin' as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Delgado
vs
Russo

168 cm
23
156 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

172 cm
31
154 lbs
27 - 19 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry
Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Esteban Delgado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donato Russo!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Delgado gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Delgado is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Russo is concentrating on defense, preventing Delgado from advancing position.
Russo is looking to improve his position.
Delgado is trying to control. Russo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Russo trying to control here.
Ground and pound from Delgado.
Well, if Delgado is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Delgado wants to control but Russo is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Delgado feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Delgado trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
Russo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Delgado stays in close to Russo's body and controls the position.
Delgado won't allow Russo to get back to his feet.
Delgado is looking to advance position but Russo has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Delgado is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delgado wants to control but Russo is having none of 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.
Delgado avoids a series of strikes thrown by Russo.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Delgado wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Russo.
Delgado blocking the ground and pound.
Russo trying to control but Delgado is having none of it.
Russo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Delgado tries to reverse the position but Russo maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delgado is squirming around, avoiding Russo's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Delgado is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Russo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Delgado is surviving well by controlling Russo's body position as best he can.
Delgado tries to hold on but Russo pushes him away.
BOOM! Russo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Russo avoids the attempt from Delgado to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo working Delgado over with strikes here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Russo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Delgado is wriggling around trying to escape.
Delgado is squirming around, avoiding Russo's attempts to control the action.
Delgado takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Delgado is in a horrible position here. Russo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Russo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo lands a big shot there that rocks Delgado but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donato Russo dominated that round.
That's time! Delgado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Delgado drives through with a takedown into Russo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Russo keeping full guard, as Delgado tries to pass.
Russo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Russo keeping moving, preventing Delgado from controlling successfully.
Delgado trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Russo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Russo chips away with some ground and pound.
Russo passes Delgado's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Russo throwing shots but Delgado is blocking nicely.
Delgado tries to roll over but Russo keeps him under control.
Delgado has his hands clasped together around Russo's back. He's all about the action.
Russo wants to free his trapped foot but Delgado is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo trying to control the pace.
Russo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Delgado's head.
Russo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Russo content to control rather than advance.
Donato Russo has got the better of the ground game so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Russo gets caught flat footed, as Delgado shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Delgado slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delgado looking to pass the guard.
Delgado throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Delgado throws a strike but Russo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Delgado pulls Russo in close to his closed guard and prevents Russo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Russo throwing strikes from guard but Delgado blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delgado trying to keep a closed guard but Russo is proving a slippery customer.
Russo trying to control but Delgado is working from the bottom.
Delgado utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Delgado preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Delgado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Esteban Delgado will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Delgado closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Delgado lands in his opponent's guard.
Delgado is stalling in the full guard.
Delgado won't allow Russo to sweep him here.
Delgado trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Delgado engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Delgado cracks Russo with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo pulls Delgado in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Delgado darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Russo tries to roll over but Delgado keeps him under control.
Delgado throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Delgado trying to control from half guard but Russo is working away.
Delgado trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo wants to get back to full guard.
Delgado wants to take a breather but Russo is having none of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Delgado is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Delgado prevents Russo from improving his position.
Delgado is trying to control the action in half guard but Russo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Russo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Delgado's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Delgado's back!
Delgado looking very determined here, making life difficult for Russo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Russo working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo scores with strikes from the back.
Delgado tries to escape but Russo has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Russo lands a shot to the head.
Russo struggling to land strikes to the head as Delgado covers up.
Well, with Russo on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Delgado is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Russo is hanging on to Delgado's back as he tries to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delgado breaks Russo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Russo is trying to control the position but Delgado postures up.
Delgado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Delgado lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Delgado throws an elbow that misses. Russo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Delgado's guard. Nice move by Russo!
Delgado avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo content to stall in guard here.
Russo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Esteban Delgado.
I think Delgado has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esteban Delgado!
After winning the bout, Esteban Delgado thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.