PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Kusco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Foster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kusco
vs
Foster

190 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
196 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Kusco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Foster!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Steve Montenegro and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Foster.
Kusco looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Foster closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Foster lands in his opponent's guard.
Foster keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kusco's head.
Foster trying to control the position from guard on top but Kusco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Foster cracks Kusco with a solid left hand.
Foster looking to pass the guard.
Foster advances to half guard.
Foster works his way into full mount!
Foster looking to control but Kusco is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster lands a big shot there that rocks Kusco but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Foster content just to control the position here.

Foster is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kusco can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Foster get's back to his feet.
Nick Kusco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Foster scores with a nice right hand.

It looks like Nick Kusco has been cut.
Foster throws a right hand that Kusco ducks under and follows up with a left that Kusco also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Foster instigates a clinch.

Foster tightens his grip and picks Kusco up, before dumping him to the ground. Kusco manages to land in guard.
Foster lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Foster content to stall in guard here.
Foster trying to control but Kusco is working from the bottom.

Kusco is working an open guard so Foster takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kusco keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Foster instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kusco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Foster's efforts to push away.

Foster breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Foster shoots in and bounces Kusco off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Kusco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Foster pushing down on Kusco's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kusco is trying to maintain the position but Foster is very close to passing his half guard.

Foster postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kusco to stand up.

Foster looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Foster wants to control but Kusco is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kusco is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Foster scores with a couple of nice shots.

Foster is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Foster is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Foster trying to pass the guard but Kusco defending well.
Foster wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kusco keeps working.
Foster trying to pass the guard but Kusco defending well.

Foster decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kusco gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Foster counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Foster gets to his feet - Kusco follows without any prompting.
Foster shoots in for a double leg but Kusco sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Foster fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Foster fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kusco sprawls well initially but Foster persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kusco desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Foster wants to pass to mount but Kusco is defending the position.

Foster wants to work for an arm triangle but Kusco is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kusco controlling the position well.
Foster prevents Kusco from standing back up.

Foster is looking for a kimura but Kusco is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Foster to get the leverage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Foster throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Foster wants to take a breather but Kusco is having none of it.
Kusco wants to get back to his feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kusco avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kusco throws a head kick that misses

and Foster counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kusco's guard now.

Kusco working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Foster has passed into half guard!
Foster trying to control the pace.

Foster is working for a submission of some sort.
Kusco is staying active underneath Foster, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Foster decides to stand up.
Kusco gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Foster counters by clinching up.
Foster tries to land knees in the clinch but Kusco avoids the damage to the body.

Foster has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Kusco clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kusco looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Foster is looking to control Kusco but Kusco is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Kusco trying to control the hands but Foster breaks the grip.

Kusco defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Foster is persistently looking for the submission but Kusco is defending it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Foster throws strikes from the back but Kusco rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Kusco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Foster dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nick Kusco's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kusco with a poor takedown

and Foster counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Foster.

Foster is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kusco keeping moving, preventing Foster from controlling successfully.
Ben Foster has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kusco trying to control the position.

Foster stands up and waves to Kusco to follow him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Foster.
Foster tries to work over Kusco's front leg with a kick but Kusco checks it.

Foster closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kusco to the mat! Kusco manages to get full guard.
Foster wants to pass the guard but Kusco is keeping the position.

Kusco is looking for a triangle but Foster pushes his legs off easily.
Kusco working a defensive guard but Foster passes into half guard.
Foster prevents Kusco from standing back up.
Foster missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kusco is in trouble now - Foster has advanced to mount!

Foster working for a submission but Kusco is keeping him at bay.
Kusco is trying desperately to improve position.
Foster with the ground and pound from mount.
Foster tries to control but Kusco wriggling away.
BOOM! Foster connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Foster cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kusco tries to lock up and control but Foster gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Foster looking to finish Kusco with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kusco!
Foster has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Foster looking to control but Kusco is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Foster breaks from Kusco's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kusco is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Foster trying to control but Kusco is having none of it.
Kusco tries to lock up and control but Foster gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Foster can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kusco is looking to escape.
Foster might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kusco kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Foster pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Foster in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Foster stands up from mount. Strange move.

Foster looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Foster is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Foster wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Kusco uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Kusco controls Foster momentarily but Foster frees himself.

Kusco is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Foster defends well.
Foster trying to control but Kusco is working from the bottom.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kusco looking to control.

Kusco is working an open guard so Foster takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Foster scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Foster shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kusco manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kusco is trying to keep Foster in close.

Kusco is looking for a triangle here but Foster uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Foster controls the position from side control.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Foster has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Foster shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kusco has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Foster is working away from the top position though.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Kusco is defending against the submission attempts here by Foster.
Foster moves into full mount! Kusco won't be happy about that!
Kusco is trying desperately to improve position.
Kusco tries to lock up and control but Foster gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Foster wants to control the pace but Kusco is squirming around nicely.
Ben Foster is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Foster controlling the pace for now.

Foster moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kusco has worked his arm free - good work by Kusco!
Foster trying to control the position but Kusco is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Foster comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Foster has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Ben Foster!
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Ben Foster!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Ben Foster!

Ben Foster wins by unanimous decision!