PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Titus Wilder (ranked 4110 p4p, 5212 weight class) and RaeRae Usman (ranked 496 p4p, 564 weight class). Wilder comes to the cage accompanied by Da Rockwilder - Method Man & Redman. Usman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Yaba Buluku kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wilder
vs
Usman

185 cm
21
198
3 - 3 - 1

193 cm
28
185
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers $120 3 160Q

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 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Titus Wilder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, RaeRae Usman!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilder misses with a series of wild punches.
Usman changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Wilder. Those never looked like landing.
Usman tries to counter with a clinch but Wilder shakes him off and moves away.
Usman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Usman has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Wilder lands a head kick. Usman smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Usman tries to clinch but Wilder moves out of range.
Wilder jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Usman takes one on the button.
Wilder works Usman's body with a nice hook.
Wilder slips under a jab.
Wilder misses with a hook. Usman ducked under it nicely.
Wilder misses with a double jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wilder. Usman does a little dance to reset his feet.

Usman clinches up with Wilder and pushes him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Usman tries to score a body lock takedown but Wilder shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Usman has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Wilder avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Wilder pushes Usman back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Usman blocks a body shot from Wilder.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Usman lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Usman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Wilder pushes Usman off looking to stand but Usman dives back in and keeps control.

Usman seems to be looking for submissions.
Usman is keen to just control but Wilder is a slippery customer.
Usman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wilder knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Usman is working for a submission of some sort.
Usman wants to pass the guard but Wilder is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Usman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Wilder is looking to control Usman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wilder avoid being mounted?
Wilder tries to get to full guard but Usman has control of the leg.
Usman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Usman is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usman wants to take a breather but Wilder is having none of it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Usman tries to pass to full mount but Wilder defends it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Wilder lands with a cross.
Usman sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Usman swings for the body but Wilder moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Wilder.
Wilder misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wilder lands a jab to the head.
Usman throws a hook but Wilder blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilder defending well as Usman loads up on a big left hand.
Wilder appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Wilder misses with a straight right.
Usman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Wilder takes a swing at Usman's ribcage but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Usman fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Usman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wilder closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Usman takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wilder slaps away a takedown attempt from Usman, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Titus Wilder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RaeRae Usman.
Wilder fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Usman manages to avoid it.
Wilder throws a hook but Usman avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Wilder misses.
The crowd cheers as Wilder lands an impressive looking overhand right. Usman doesn't seem phased though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Wilder 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.

Usman tries to clinch up but Wilder circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from Wilder does no damage.
Wilder feints and then cracks Usman's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Usman down.
Usman takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Wilder lands a nice hook to Usman's body. Usman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Wilder scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Usman misses with the combination.
Usman takes a swing at Wilder's ribcage but misses.
Wilder looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Wilder closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Usman! Wilder dives in looking to finish! Usman is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Titus Wilder!
Titus Wilder seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, RaeRae Usman stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'd like to thank my opponent for helping me to train harder than I ever had before. I'll be back, and ready to fight again soon!'.