PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Deviante Russell (ranked 1010 p4p, 143 weight class) and Scotty Bapp (ranked 1133 p4p, 162 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Russell
vs
Bapp

188 cm
25
206 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

225 cm
24
209 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Deviante Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Scotty Bapp!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Bapp counter with a right hand.

It looks like Deviante Russell has been cut.
Bapp lands a jab to Russell's midsection.
Bapp has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Russell is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Russell misses with a body punch
and Bapp connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bapp scores with a leg kick.
Bapp shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Bapp listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bapp is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bapp takes one to the chin there.
Russell misses with a hook.
Russell throws a looping overhand right but Bapp ducks down to avoid it.
Russell just misses with a punch to the body.
Russell checks a leg kick nicely.
Russell misses with a takedown
and Russell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've been hearing reports that Russell has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russell missing with a left hand there. Bapp was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bapp lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bapp misses with a body punch
and Bapp takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Russell!
Nice uppercut there from Russell.
Deviante Russell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell takes a swing at Bapp's ribcage but misses.
Russell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bapp throws an overhand right that lands on Russell's shoulder, as Russell tries to avoid the shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Russell misses its target.
Russell swinging wildly here.
Bapp slips under a jab from Russell.
Bapp lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Jab, jab by Bapp - just one landing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bapp bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bapp moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bapp lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bapp moves out of range of the strikes.
Russell throws a body punch but Bapp moves out of range.
Russell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bapp throws a leg kick which misses Russell's front leg but catches the back leg as Russell tries to avoid it.
Bapp uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Russell.
Russell rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bapp counters with a left and a right that stings Russell.
Bapp takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Russell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bapp.
Russell drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Deviante Russell's cut is getting worse.
Bapp lands an overhand right.
Bapp avoids the body shot from Russell.
Bapp shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bapp scores with a jab to the head.
Bapp misses with a looping left.
Bapp has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bapp uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Russell.
Bapp is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Bapp is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Russell had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Bapp swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bapp with a jab.
Russell throws a body punch but Bapp moves out of range.
Bapp swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Russell throws out a powerful jab.
Russell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Russell connects with a single shot there.
Russell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A lazy left from Russell finds it's target.
Russell throws a right hand that misses
letting Bapp counter with a right hand.
Russell doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bapp rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Russell moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Russell. Bapp does a little dance to reset his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Russell, as that shot connected.
Bapp misses with a straight right.
Russell thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bapp lands with a straight right. Russell didn't see that one coming.

Deviante Russell's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Sloppy strikes from Russell. Those never looked like landing.
Russell misses with a hook
and Russell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bapp scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bapp on the side of the head.
Russell connects with a looping right hand.
Russell slips under a jab from Bapp.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Scotty Bapp will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Deviante Russell's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bapp uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Russell closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Russell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bapp slips under a jab.
Scotty Bapp seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Bapp gets caught flat footed, as Russell shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bapp working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Russell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Russell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Bapp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Russell defends it easily.
Bapp keeping moving, preventing Russell from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bapp throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bapp working for a triangle but Russell defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bapp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Russell defends it easily.

Bapp is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Russell looking to pass the guard.

Bapp looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Russell passes into half guard.
Russell performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bapp is looking for a sweep. Russell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two 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 landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Russell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bapp keeps working.
Bapp is trying to get back to full guard.
Russell trying to control the action but Bapp is working from the bottom.

Bapp looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Russell scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bapp is trying to get back to full guard.
Bapp is staying active underneath Russell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Russell prevents Bapp from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Russell there.
Russell slips a nice elbow through Bapp's hands, connecting with Bapp's forehead.

Bapp actively working from the bottom here.
Bapp gets full guard.
Russell looking to pass the guard.
Russell trying to control the position from guard on top but Bapp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Russell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bapp is looking for a triangle but Russell pushes his legs off easily.
Bapp keeping moving, preventing Russell from controlling successfully.

Bapp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Russell defends it easily.

Bapp has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Russell is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bapp.
Bapp is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Russell controls the position.

Russell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bapp is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deviante Russell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Deviante Russell's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bapp throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russell misses with a lunging right hand
and Bapp counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bapp misses with a wild body shot.
Russell misses with a hook
and Bapp counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Russell is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bapp.
Russell throws a body punch but Bapp moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Bapp on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bapp, right into the meat.
Russell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bapp counters with a body kick.
Russell misses the shot to the body.
Bapp is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russell takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bapp lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bapp pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bapp uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Russell.
A countering left hand to the body from Bapp misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell misses with a right hand
and Russell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Russell throws a right hand that misses
and Bapp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Russell rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bapp counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Russell thinking.
Russell scores with a jab to the body.
Russell misses with a double jab
and Bapp counters with a straight right hand.
Russell throws a lazy uppercut
and Bapp counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Russell is rocked!
Russell misses with a looping right.
Bapp swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bapp cracks Russell with an open hand slap.
Oh Russell is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Jeez, Deviante Russell's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Russell just misses with a punch to the body.
Bapp feints a counter leg kick.
Russell seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell misses with a lunging right hand
and Bapp counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russell misses with a wild body shot.
Bapp throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Scotty Bapp is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russell throws a big shot that misses.
Bapp throws out a counter right but Russell avoids it with no problem.
Russell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bapp swivels and escapes.
Bapp now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Bapp takes one on the button.
Russell throws a sloppy body shot
and Bapp makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Russell really felt that one!
Russell throws a poor cross that misses
and Bapp counters with a straight right hand.
Bapp throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bapp takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bapp takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell lands a really nice looking cross but Bapp seems unphased.
Good leg kick by Bapp there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bapp cracks Russell with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bapp lands with a kick to the ribs.
Russell misses with a looping left.
Bapp falls off balance throwing a combination
and Russell counters with a stiff right hand.
Russell misses with a hook
and Bapp counters with a left to the body.
Bapp wants to land a leg kick but Russell is out of range.
Bapp throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bapp takes a swing at Russell's ribcage but misses.
A left and a right from Russell both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russell throws a hook but Bapp avoids it easily.
Bapp throws out a counter right but Russell avoids it with no problem.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bapp. That's going to slow Russell down.
Bapp defending well as Russell loads up on a big left hand.
Bapp misses with a shot to the body
and Russell counters with a nice uppercut.
Russell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bapp pinned against the cage. Bapp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Russell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bapp needs to keep his hands up - Russell had a free shot at his head there.
Russell cracks Bapp with an open hand slap.
Bapp throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scotty Bapp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bapp 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Scotty Bapp!
An out of breath Scotty Bapp thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.