PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wiremu Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Sparrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Russell
vs
Sparrow

175 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
178 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wiremu Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Sparrow!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparrow tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Russell paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Russell pushes Sparrow up against the cage in a clinch.

Sparrow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sparrow fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Russell as Sparrow shoots in.
Russell has his takedown stuffed
and Sparrow counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sparrow throws a shot to the body.

Russell scores with a takedown into Sparrow's guard.
Sparrow is trying to keep Russell in close.

Russell drops back looking for a leg! Sparrow is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sparrow manages to kick Russell off! Russell jumps back into Sparrow's guard.
Russell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sparrow looking for a sweep. Not yet Sparrow, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparrow keeping full guard, as Russell tries to pass.
Russell postures up.
Russell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sparrow is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sparrow gets a clinch.
Russell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sparrow has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sparrow prevents a takedown attempt there.
A bit of stalling here from Russell.
Russell gets underhooks to prevent Sparrow's takedown attempt.

Sparrow gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Russell regains guard.
Russell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Russell is breathing heavily.
Russell is working hard here to advance position.

Russell looking for a guillotine here but Sparrow defends easily.
Sparrow advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to get back to full guard.
Russell is looking to control Sparrow's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Russell avoid being mounted?
Sparrow prevents Russell from improving his position.
Sparrow keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sparrow has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Russell is trying to reverse the position but instead Sparrow has taken his back - oops!
Russell is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What can Russell do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Russell is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Sparrow lands shots from the back.

Russell preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sparrow.
Russell trying to control the position but Sparrow manages to sink in the hooks.
Sparrow trying to control momentarily.
Russell is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Russell turns into Sparrow and is now in his guard.
Russell postures up in Sparrow's guard and throws a big left but Sparrow blocks it.
Russell wants to control from the top but Sparrow keeps moving.
Russell tries to free his leg and advance position but Sparrow is retaining full guard.
Russell trying to control but Sparrow is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sparrow throws a nice looking combination but Russell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Russell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sparrow!
Sparrow is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sparrow wants to hold on but Russell pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Sparrow dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sparrow looks to throw the jab but Russell is out of range.
Sparrow lands a nice looking body shot.
Russell scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Russell closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sparrow to the mat! Sparrow manages to get full guard.

Sparrow is looking for a triangle but Russell pushes his legs off easily.
Russell looking to pass the guard.
Sparrow keeping moving, preventing Russell from controlling successfully.
Russell is working Sparrow over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Russell pushes down on Sparrow's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sparrow wants to control but Russell is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sparrow won't allow Russell to pass to mount.
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.
Russell passes the guard and advances to mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Russell is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Russell putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sparrow tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Russell lands a big elbow.
Russell trying to control but Sparrow is having none of it.

Russell is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sparrow has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Russell lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparrow in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sparrow takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Russell raining down shots from the mount!
Russell landing strikes, looking to finish!

Russell wants to finish this one by submission but Sparrow is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Russell.
Sparrow is squirming around, avoiding Russell's attempts to control the action.
Russell prevents Sparrow from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russell wants to finish this one by submission but Sparrow is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Russell.
Russell landing punches.
Sparrow is wriggling around trying to escape.
Russell content just to control the position here.

Russell jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sparrow is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sparrow and Russell has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell is putting a hurting on Sparrow here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparrow is not content to let Russell control the position.
Sparrow is letting Russell control him for a moment.
Russell in side control, throwing shots but Sparrow defends.

Russell has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Russell circles away from the clinch attempt

and Russell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Russell pushes down on Sparrow's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Russell wants to free his trapped foot but Sparrow is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wiremu Russell dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Russell drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sparrow taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sparrow tries to improve position but can't.
Russell trying to control the position but Sparrow is working away.
Sparrow is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Russell's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Russell looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Russell passes into side control, despite Sparrow's attempt to control the position.

Russell tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Russell has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russell trying to control the action but Sparrow is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparrow can't do much from the bottom here.
Russell trying to control the position but Sparrow is working away.

Russell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sparrow is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Russell misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Russell tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sparrow's legs.
Sparrow is trying to get back to half guard.
Russell wants to control but Sparrow is keeping him busy.

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

and Sparrow counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Russell's guard now.

Sparrow stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Russell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sparrow counters with a nice double leg into side control. Russell won't be happy with that.
Russell is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to control but Sparrow postures up.
Russell is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sparrow cracks Russell with a big elbow.
You can see the frustration on Russell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The strikes coming from Sparrow are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sparrow tries to close the distance and clinch up but Russell swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Russell shoots in for a double leg but Sparrow sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wiremu Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sparrow fails in his attempt to clinch.

Russell drives through with a takedown into guard.
Russell trying to control but Sparrow is working from the bottom.
Russell postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Russell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Russell wants to control from the top but Sparrow keeps moving.
Russell tries to free his leg and advance position but Sparrow is retaining full guard.
Sparrow lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Russell!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Sparrow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sparrow has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Sparrow!