PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Russell Westbrook (ranked 1083 p4p, 152 weight class) and Travis Mitchell (ranked 1639 p4p, 224 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Westbrook
vs
Mitchell

183 cm
21
194 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

187 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russell Westbrook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Travis Mitchell!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mitchell lands a glancing blow to the side of Westbrook's head.
Westbrook tries to clinch but Mitchell moves out of range.
Westbrook tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mitchell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Westbrook throws a body shot but no joy.
Westbrook tries to clinch
and Mitchell counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Westbrook on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mitchell throws a shot from downtown. Westbrook moves away and avoids it.
Mitchell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mitchell slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mitchell with a hook.
Westbrook tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mitchell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Westbrook tries to clinch there but Mitchell circles away.
Mitchell looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mitchell is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Westbrook throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Westbrook on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Westbrook is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Westbrook tries to clinch there but Mitchell circles away.
A swing and a miss from Mitchell.
An attempted straight right counter from Westbrook misses the target.

Mitchell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Westbrook sprawls well initially but Mitchell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mitchell working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mitchell working his ground and pound in the gym.
Westbrook trying to hold on to Mitchell's head to control him but Mitchell postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mitchell looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Westbrook with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've been hearing good reports from Westbrook's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Westbrook wants to improve his position but Mitchell is controlling well.
Mitchell is keen to just control but Westbrook is a slippery customer.

Westbrook is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mitchell pulls his head out easily.
Mitchell scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell is keen to just control but Westbrook is a slippery customer.
Westbrook wants to improve his position but Mitchell is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Westbrook is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mitchell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mitchell's back!
Mitchell wants to escape the position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Mitchell tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook is controlling the position but Mitchell somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Mitchell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mitchell moves into full guard.
Mitchell trying to keep a closed guard but Westbrook is proving a slippery customer.
Westbrook scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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.

Mitchell working for submissions but it's allowed Westbrook to get to half guard.
Westbrook sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mitchell defending well though.
Westbrook is looking to take a break and control but Mitchell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mitchell throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mitchell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mitchell controls Westbrook momentarily but Westbrook frees himself.
Mitchell lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mitchell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mitchell wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mitchell moves away from the strike by Westbrook.
Westbrook throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Westbrook motions for Mitchell to come forward. Westbrook throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mitchell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mitchell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Westbrook throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Westbrook clinches with his opponent.
Mitchell throws a head punch that misses.
Westbrook using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mitchell blocks an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Westbrook.
Westbrook drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Westbrook pushes Mitchell back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchell managing to block the knees to the body from Westbrook.
Westbrook swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mitchell looking for a takedown.
Westbrook with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Travis Mitchell has been cut.
A short left from Mitchell.
Mitchell lands with a light punch inside.
Mitchell has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Westbrook after a bit of a struggle.
Mitchell misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Westbrook.
Mitchell throws a punch but it's blocked by Westbrook.
Westbrook lands with a light punch inside.

Mitchell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mitchell lands a nice shot that snaps Westbrook's head back.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Westbrook.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Westbrook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Westbrook misses with a hook.
It seemed like Mitchell was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Westbrook takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Travis Mitchell seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook tries to clinch up.
Mitchell's jab looks to have found its range, popping Westbrook under the eye.
Mitchell checks a leg kick.

Westbrook moves into the clinch.
Mitchell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mitchell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mitchell scores with a shoulder strike.
Westbrook misses with a punch to the body.
Westbrook misses with a hook from the clinch.
Westbrook misses with a body punch.
Westbrook fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Westbrook gets through Mitchell's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mitchell scores with a shoulder strike.
Westbrook misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mitchell misses with a hook from the clinch.

Mitchell gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Westbrook regains guard.
Mitchell trying to control but Westbrook is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mitchell working some strikes from top position.
Mitchell stands up over Westbrook, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mitchell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mitchell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Mitchell is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Westbrook has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Mitchell is looking to defend but Westbrook has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Mitchell! Westbrook pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Mitchell taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Russell Westbrook!
Russell Westbrook bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.