PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niall Ferguson (ranked 5136 p4p, 6325 weight class) and Oleksandr Usyk (ranked 593 p4p, 672 weight class). Oleksandr Usyk has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Niall Ferguson's chin.

Ferguson
vs
Usyk

188 cm
18
220
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
213
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Niall Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oleksandr Usyk!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jonathan Paton and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson defending well as Usyk loads up on a big left hand.

Ferguson clinches.
Usyk struggles to land a body shot inside as Ferguson controls his hands.
Usyk is trying to break free.
A nice left hand lands by Usyk.
Ferguson wants to take the fight to the mat but Usyk manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Usyk is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Usyk tries a body shot but Ferguson blocks it.
Ferguson has Usyk pressed against the cage, preventing Usyk from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Usyk working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Ferguson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck for Ferguson with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usyk throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ferguson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Usyk sprawls and moves away.
Ferguson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ferguson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nice body punch from Ferguson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson throws a body punch but Usyk moves out of range.
Ferguson slips a jab from Usyk.
An attempted straight right counter from Ferguson misses the target.
Usyk works the jab nicely.
Usyk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jab from Usyk.
Usyk lands a glancing blow to the side of Ferguson's head.
Usyk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Usyk misses with a looping left.
Usyk defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ferguson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niall Ferguson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Usyk misses the shot to the body.
Usyk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Usyk misses with a looping right.
Ferguson tries to counter with a takedown but Usyk is quick to defend against it.
Usyk swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ferguson.
Decent striking displayed by Usyk there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ferguson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Usyk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Oleksandr Usyk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Usyk scores with a hook.
Ferguson misses with an uppercut
and Usyk counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ferguson misses the shot to the body.
Usyk has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Ferguson throws a series of punches but Usyk avoids them all with ease.
Ferguson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ferguson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Usyk fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Usyk misses the jab.
Ferguson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Usyk rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ferguson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ferguson slips a straight right by Usyk.
Usyk is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Ferguson had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Usyk with a jab.
Ferguson slips under a jab from Usyk.
Ferguson moves forwards but Usyk connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Usyk looks winded!
Ferguson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usyk misses with a straight left.
Ferguson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ferguson feinted with a counter takedown.
Usyk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A quick step to the side and Ferguson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A left lands for Ferguson.
Usyk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Usyk throws a hook but Ferguson blocks it.

Ferguson clinches.
Ferguson controlling the action here for a moment.
Ferguson can't get the takedown.
Ferguson tries to throw a body punch but Usyk avoids it by throwing Ferguson back against the cage.
Ferguson effectively controlling the action here.
Ferguson wants to get back to striking at distance but Usyk won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries a body shot but Usyk blocks it.
Ferguson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Usyk's efforts to push away.
Ferguson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ferguson tries to work over Usyk's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Usyk lands an uppercut.
Ferguson tries to throw a body punch but Usyk avoids it by throwing Ferguson back against the cage.
Usyk has a couple of punches blocked by Ferguson.
A bit of stalling here from Ferguson.
Usyk tries to break the clinch but Ferguson is controlling the position.
Ferguson stalling.
Ferguson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Usyk is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ferguson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Usyk.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ferguson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferguson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Usyk fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ferguson lands with a short shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oleksandr Usyk dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ferguson looks to land a combination but Usyk avoids it well.
Good standup being displayed there by Usyk as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Niall Ferguson has been cut.
Ferguson misses with a straight right.
Usyk fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Usyk looks to score with a jab to the body but Ferguson is just out of range.
Usyk thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big right from Usyk misses.
Usyk throws a looping overhand right but Ferguson ducks down to avoid it.
A nice combination there by Usyk.
Usyk misses with a wild combination.
Usyk misses with a right hand

and Ferguson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ferguson.
Ferguson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Ferguson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ferguson throws out a loose jab but Usyk uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson misses the shot to the body.
Ferguson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A punch combination from Usyk misses.
Usyk is breathing heavily.
Ferguson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Usyk fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ferguson on the side of the head.

Ferguson has managed to clinch.

Ferguson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Usyk throws the left hand but Ferguson avoids the punch easily.
Usyk throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ferguson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Usyk throws a hook but Ferguson blocks it.
Ferguson throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Usyk is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ferguson connects with a decent elbow.
Usyk tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Usyk covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Ferguson lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Usyk.
Ferguson is striking from the back but Usyk escapes and manages to recover to half guard.
Ferguson drops an elbow to the side of Usyk's head.

Usyk is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson passes to side control.
Usyk is still in real trouble! Can Ferguson finish him?
Ferguson controls the position.
Ferguson scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Usyk is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Ferguson can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Niall Ferguson!