PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sol Rosenberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Kusho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rosenberg comes into the arena with I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rosenberg
vs
Kusho

182 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

172 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 St Petersburg, Sol Rosenberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sean Kusho!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rosenberg is looking to land body kicks.
Kusho scores with a jab. Rosenberg acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kusho cracks Rosenberg with a right hand to the side of the head.

Kusho closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kusho lands in his opponent's guard.
Kusho thows a big elbow that misses.
Kusho passes Rosenberg's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rosenberg on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rosenberg tries to get out of the position.
Rosenberg won't allow Kusho to pass to mount.

Kusho is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kusho trying to mount his opponent but Rosenberg defends it.

Kusho is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kusho is thwarting Rosenberg's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kusho is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rosenberg is just riding it out for now. Kusho eventually gives up the hold.
Kusho looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kusho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rosenberg keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kusho seems to be working for a kimura but Rosenberg defends the submission attempt.
Kusho looks gassed!

Kusho is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two 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.

Rosenberg kicks off Kusho and gets to his feet.
Rosenberg looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rosenberg with a nice cross.
Rosenberg shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kusho connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice uppercut lands for Kusho. That snapped Rosenberg's head back.
Kusho falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rosenberg counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rosenberg.
Rosenberg is looking to stand up but Kusho won't let him.
Rosenberg has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kusho looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusho is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rosenberg would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rosenberg missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rosenberg won't allow Kusho to sweep him here.
Kusho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rosenberg would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rosenberg stopping the sweep attempt from Kusho.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rosenberg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rosenberg pushes Kusho up against the cage in a clinch.
Kusho prevents the takedown attempt.
Rosenberg stops a takedown attempt from Kusho.
Rosenberg stops a takedown attempt from Kusho.
A short body shot lands from Rosenberg as the two fighters clinch.
Kusho changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rosenberg fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sol Rosenberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Kusho.
Rosenberg fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rosenberg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kusho scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A punch lands to the side of Rosenberg 's head but he takes it in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sean Kusho will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kusho fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rosenberg sprawls well initially but Kusho persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rosenberg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Kusho is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rosenberg knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kusho on the ground.
Kusho moves nicely into side control.

Kusho is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rosenberg has escaped the position, nice work there.

Kusho tries for a kimura but Rosenberg is defending well.

Kusho wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rosenberg, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!

Kusho swings around for an armbar but Rosenberg sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kusho's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kusho had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rosenberg is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kusho Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rosenberg's back instead.

Kusho is looking for the choke from the back position but Rosenberg is controlling his hands well.
Kusho scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Rosenberg is looking for a way out.

Rosenberg preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Kusho.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kusho is working the ground and pound. Can Rosenberg escape?
Even with his hooks in, Kusho manages to miss with strikes from the back.

Kusho has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rosenberg has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Rosenberg preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Kusho.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosenberg looking very determined here, making life difficult for Kusho.

Kusho is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rosenberg is defending well though. Kusho let's go of the attempt for now.

Rosenberg is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Kusho gets his way!

Rosenberg is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Kusho working for a choke but Rosenberg is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kusho looking for the choke but no joy.

Kusho is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Rosenberg is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sean Kusho!