PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximo Katakutan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maximo Katakutan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Russel
vs
Katakutan

170 cm
26
163 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

200 cm
24
165 lbs
8 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Maximo Katakutan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katakutan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Russel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Katakutan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Katakutan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Russel fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Katakutan to the ground. Russel is now in Katakutan's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Katakutan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russel's guard.
Russel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Katakutan's guard.
Katakutan keeping full guard, as Russel tries to pass.
Russel content to stall in guard here.
Katakutan keeping moving, preventing Russel from controlling successfully.
Russel stands up over Katakutan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russel stopping the sweep attempt from Katakutan.
Russel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Katakutan's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katakutan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Russel landing with the ground and pound.
Katakutan 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.
Russel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Katakutan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Katakutan working a defensive guard here.
Russel tries to free his leg and advance position but Katakutan is retaining full guard.
Katakutan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Russel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Russel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Russel trying to control the position from guard on top but Katakutan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Katakutan wants to stand and escape but Russel is having none of it.
Russel wants to pass the guard but Katakutan is keeping the position.
Russel controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel with a nice head shot there.
Katakutan wants to stand up but Russel is controlling him.
Russel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Katakutan is keeping the position for now.
Katakutan wants to get back to his feet but Russel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russel cracks Katakutan with a solid left hand.
Russel landing with the ground and pound.
Russel trying to control the position from guard on top but Katakutan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Katakutan is trying to control the position but Russel postures up.
Russel being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katakutan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katakutan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Maximo Katakutan.
Russel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Katakutan ducks under a wild hook from Russel.
Katakutan moves away from the strike by Russel.
Russel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Russel blocks a low kick nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Russel misses the target.
Katakutan throws a low kick, looking for Russel's leg but Russel calmly moves out of range.
Maximo Katakutan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Katakutan throws a leg kick that misses.
Russel blocks a leg kick.
Russel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Katakutan is looking to chop away at Russel's legs.
Russel slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Katakutan on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Katakutan chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Katakutan tries to land a leg kick but Russel saw it coming and moves away.
Katakutan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russel loads up on a big right hand but Katakutan slips the punch.
Katakutan is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Russel.
Katakutan defending well as Russel loads up on a big left hand.
Katakutan throws a right and a left that Russel avoids nicely.
Katakutan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Russel checks it well.
Russel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Russel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Katakutan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Russel is working Katakutan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Russel trying to control the position from guard on top but Katakutan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russel postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Russel dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Russel throws a body punch but Katakutan moves out of range.
Katakutan throws a head kick but Russel moves out of range.
Katakutan throws a nice looking combination but Russel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Russel misses with a hook. Katakutan ducked under it nicely.
Maximo Katakutan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russel keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ben Russel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russel connects with a jab.
Katakutan avoids the body shot from Russel.
Katakutan misses with a low kick.
Russel shoots in but no luck this time.
Katakutan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Katakutan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Russel.
Katakutan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Russel.
Russel shoots in for a takedown but Katakutan shows good takedown defense.
Katakutan misses with a head kick.
Ben Russel is winning the standup battle so far.
Russel keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Katakutan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel throws a looping overhand right but Katakutan ducks down to avoid it.
Russel misses with a hook. Katakutan ducked under it nicely.
Some wild striking there from Katakutan.
Katakutan ducks under a wild hook from Russel.
Russel changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Russel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Katakutan thows a body shot but no joy.
Katakutan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Katakutan is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Russel.
Russel connects with the punch.
Russel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Russel clobbers Katakutan with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Russel lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katakutan slips a straight right by Russel.
Katakutan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Russel to score with a decent uppercut.
Katakutan avoids the body shot from Russel.
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!
Russel uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Katakutan has time to react.
Russel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Russel misses with a right hand
and Katakutan counters with a nice body shot.
Katakutan throws a low kick, looking for Russel's leg but Russel calmly moves out of range.
Katakutan drops his hands momentarily and Russel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Katakutan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Russel throws a hook but Katakutan avoids it easily.
Russel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Katakutan.
Russel checks a leg kick.
Katakutan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Russel bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Katakutan wants to control but Russel postures up.
Russel has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Katakutan on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Russel lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Katakutan is looking to reverse the position.
Katakutan taking a bit of punishment here - Russel scoring with strikes.

Russel has hold of Katakutan's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Katakutan seems comfortable defending it but Russel has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Katakutan is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Katakutan is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Russel couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ben Russel!
Ben Russel spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.