PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Kusco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny T (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). T has chosen Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers - Born to Lose as his entrance music. 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.

Kusco
vs
T

190 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
192 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 2 - 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny T!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Anthony Taglia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
T slaps away a takedown attempt from Kusco, before circling back to the center of the mat.
T misses with an uppercut.
Kusco throws a head kick but T moves out of range.
T gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kusco counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
T being controlled for a moment.

Kusco working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kusco working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kusco thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Kusco looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
T tries to improve position but can't.

Kusco goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, T has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kusco but great work by T.
T is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Kusco wants to control but T postures up.
The referee asks T politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. T prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
T tries to score with some ground and pound. Kusco controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
T taking a breather here.
Kusco is not content to let T control the position.
T is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
T has control of an arm but Kusco manages to advance to T's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
T looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Kusco is breathing heavily.
Kusco avoiding T 's attempts to control his hands.
T holding both Kusco 's hands and preventing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Kusco dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kusco avoids the head kick by T.

T looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kusco!
T content just to control the position here.
T wants to control the pace but Kusco is squirming around nicely.
A nice elbow there by T.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kusco really wants to buck T off and get back to his feet.
T fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
T trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kusco is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
T controlling from mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Johnny T just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
T tries for a takedown but Kusco circles away easily

and Kusco counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
T pushes Kusco off looking to stand but Kusco dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
T makes his way to full guard. A much better position for T.
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.
Kusco trying to control the position from guard on top but T is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
T is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kusco is controlling him.
T is looking to sweep but instead, Kusco has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
T is trying to stand back up but Kusco is controlling him

Kusco seems to be looking for submissions.
T has his hands clasped together around Kusco's back. He's all about the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
T's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny T showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

T shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kusco napping and manages to drive through into side control!
T wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kusco keeps working.
An elbow from T crashes against the mat.
T is looking to take a break and control but Kusco is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Johnny T just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A head kick from Kusco lands but T takes it in his stride.
Kusco gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and T makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
T fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
T misses with a two punch combination.
T misses with a wild combination.

T feints and as Kusco raises his hands in defense, T changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
T makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kusco being controlled here, momentarily.
T won't allow Kusco to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
T controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
T advances to half guard.
Kusco has hold of T's hands but T slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
T missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
T not doing much here.
T tries to pass to full mount but Kusco defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
T not landing any meaningful shots this time.
T trying to control the pace.

Kusco looking for a kimura from the bottom but T passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kusco tries to improve position but can't.

T decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kusco to his feet.
T looks to land a combination. Kusco sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Nick Kusco has been cut.
T misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kusco.
Kusco takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The fighters circle momentarily. T darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
T lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kusco circles away quickly and effectively.
A big right from T misses.

T gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
T tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny T comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well T 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny T!