PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tito Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Kusimuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kusimuki has chosen National Anthem Of Japan as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Henry
vs
Kusimuki

188 cm
21
193 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
190 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

COOL CHEAP SHIRTS

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tito Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Takeshi Kusimuki!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kusimuki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Henry shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kusimuki manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Henry trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henry working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henry with a flurry of punches that miss.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kusimuki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Henry stands up over Kusimuki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kusimuki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Henry connects with a couple of short punches.
Henry lands a couple of elbows.
Henry with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kusimuki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kusimuki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Henry's guard.
Henry has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Henry is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kusimuki is looking to stand up but Henry won't let him.
Kusimuki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kusimukiis looking to pass into half guard but Henry pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Henry is in guard.
Kusimuki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Henry loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Henry wants to control from the top but Kusimuki keeps moving.
Henry trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Henry postures up in Kusimuki's guard and throws a big left but Kusimuki blocks it.
Henry in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Henry throws a big right hand that misses.
Henry postures up in Kusimuki's guard and throws a big left but Kusimuki blocks it.
Henry landing with the ground and pound.
Henry connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Henry in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Henry is working Kusimuki over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Henry lands a couple of elbows.
Henry throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henry throws a big right hand that misses.
Henry forces his way into half guard.
Henry working over Kusimuki with some ground and pound. Kusimuki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Henry is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Henry takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Henry is nestled in close to Kusimuki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Henry throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kusimuki wants to improve his position but Henry is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusimuki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kusimuki has hold of Henry's hands but Henry slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Henry is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kusimuki defends it well.
Kusimuki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Henry.
Henry slips a nice elbow through Kusimuki's hands, connecting with Kusimuki's forehead.
Kusimuki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Henry.
Henry with the ground and pound but Kusimuki uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Henry missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Henry throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Henry throws a big right hand that misses.
Kusimuki throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Henry postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henry trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Henry trying to control the position from guard on top but Kusimuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henry forces his way into half guard.
Henry wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kusimuki keeps working.
Henry trying to mount his opponent but Kusimuki defends it.
Kusimuki gets back to full guard.
Kusimuki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henry is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Henry dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Decent striking displayed by Kusimuki there.
Henry tries to bum rush Kusimuki with a series of wild strikes but Kusimuki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kusimuki walks into a stiff left hand from Henry.
Kusimuki needs to keep his hands up - Henry had a free shot at his head there.
Henry tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kusimuki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kusimuki throws an overhand right that lands on Henry's shoulder, as Henry tries to avoid the shot.
Henry shoots in for a double leg but Kusimuki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Kusimuki rushes Henry and presses him up against the cage.
Kusimuki gets underhooks to prevent Henry's takedown attempt.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Henry wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kusimuki has him pressed against the cage.
Kusimuki works on Henry's body with a couple of short punches.
Kusimuki lands with a short shot to the head.
Henry is looking to break free of the clinch but Kusimuki has double underhooks.
Kusimuki lands a shoulder strike.
Kusimuki dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kusimuki pushes Henry back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Kusimuki.
Henry has Kusimuki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kusimuki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tito Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body punch from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henry tries to score a body lock takedown but Kusimuki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body punch from Kusimuki - that landed with a thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kusimuki is pushing Henry up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short right from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki scores with a shot to the side of Henry's head.
Henry is trying to break free.
Kusimuki landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kusimuki lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kusimuki lands a right hand.
Henry letting Kusimuki take a breather here.
Kusimuki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kusimuki lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kusimuki unloads a knee to the mid-section. Henry lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice body punch from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands with a right to the head.
Kusimuki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki is working Henry over against the cage.
Kusimuki lands with a right to the head.
Kusimuki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kusimuki lands a hook that snaps the head of Henry backwards.
Kusimuki misses with a knee strike.
Kusimuki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Kusimuki.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short body shot lands from Kusimuki as the two fighters clinch.
Kusimuki scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kusimuki digs a right hand underneath Henry's ribcage. Henry let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kusimuki misses with a knee to the head.
Henry wants to get back to striking at distance but Kusimuki won't allow it.
Nice elbow from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Henry tries for a takedown but Kusimuki manages to get underhooks.
Kusimuki lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kusimuki presses Henry against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kusimuki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Kusimuki.
Henry takes a shot to the head.
Kusimuki digs a right hand into Henry's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Henry's gas tank.
Henry tries to break the clinch but Kusimuki is controlling the position.
A right handed body shot lands from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki is working Henry over against the cage.
Kusimuki lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kusimuki lands with a short shot to the head.
Kusimuki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kusimuki stalls.
Nice body punch from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki avoiding damage.
Kusimuki digs a right hand underneath Henry's ribcage. Henry let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kusimuki lands a body shot.
Kusimuki scores with a shot to the side of Henry's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusimuki lands a right hand.
Henry takes a shot to the head.
Kusimuki lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Kusimuki as the two fighters clinch.
Henry letting Kusimuki take a breather here.
Kusimuki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kusimuki lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Kusimuki on the inside.
Henry wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Henry tries to circle away but Kusimuki has him pinned against the cage.
Kusimuki lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kusimuki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kusimuki misses with a knee strike.
Kusimuki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kusimuki lands a hook that snaps the head of Henry backwards.
Kusimuki presses Henry against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kusimuki controlling the action here for a moment.
Takeshi Kusimuki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice left hand lands by Kusimuki.
Kusimuki avoiding damage.
Henry wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kusimuki has him pressed against the cage.
Henry is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kusimuki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Henry's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kusimuki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kusimuki lands a nice shot to the body.
A short right from Kusimuki on the inside.
Kusimuki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Henry takes a shot to the head.
Kusimuki lands a nice shot to the body.
A right hand to the body from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands with a right to the head.
Nice body punch from Kusimuki - that landed with a thud.
Kusimuki putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Henry in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kusimuki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Henry backwards.
Kusimuki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Henry's efforts to push away.
A short left from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands with a left to the head.
Kusimuki pushes Henry back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kusimuki lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kusimuki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kusimuki lands with a left to the head.
Kusimuki lands with a short shot to the head.
Kusimuki lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kusimuki presses Henry against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kusimuki is leaning against Henry and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Kusimuki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Henry's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kusimuki with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Henry wants to clinch.
Henry throws a jab when Kusimuki was well out of range.
Henry showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kusimuki.
Henry takes one to the chin there.
Kusimuki tests Henry's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Kusimuki gets tackled into the cage by Henry. Henry maintains the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Kusimuki scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kusimuki throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Henrys head.
Kusimuki lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kusimuki lands a hook to the side of the head.
Henry wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Henry is trying to force a seperation but Kusimuki has the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henry is trying to break the clinch but Kusimuki has him pressed against the cage.
Kusimuki lands a knee to the body.
Henry wants to break free but Kusimuki has control.
Kusimuki is working Henry over against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Kusimuki as the two fighters clinch.
Kusimuki lands a nice shot to the body.
Kusimuki gets through Henry's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kusimuki trying to land knees to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kusimuki.
A short right from Kusimuki on the inside.
Kusimuki scores with a shoulder strike.
Kusimuki scores with a shot to the side of Henry's head.
Come on Kusimuki - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A nice left hand lands by Kusimuki.
Henry is working for takedown but Kusimuki is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nice body punch from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kusimuki presses Henry against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short left from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kusimuki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Henry tries to break the clinch but Kusimuki is controlling the position.
Henry is trying to push Kusimuki away but Kusimuki has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kusimuki lands an elbow just above Henry 's eye.
Kusimuki controlling the action here for a moment.
Kusimuki is working Henry over against the cage.
Kusimuki slowing the pace effectively.

Henry pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kusimuki throws a right hand that Henry ducks under and follows up with a left that Henry also avoids with ease.
Henry shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Kusimuki. Beautiful body shot.

Kusimuki darts in and clinches Henry up against the cage.
Kusimuki digs a right hand underneath Henry's ribcage. Henry let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kusimuki leaning his opponent against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kusimuki.
Henry is trying to break the clinch but Kusimuki has him pressed against the cage.
Kusimuki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kusimuki lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kusimuki lands a body punch.
Kusimuki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kusimuki scores with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kusimuki lands an uppercut.
Kusimuki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kusimuki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kusimuki lands with a short shot to the head.
Kusimuki dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kusimuki lands a shot to the body.
Kusimuki lands a right hand.
Henry tries to circle away but Kusimuki has him pinned against the cage.
Kusimuki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Henry avoids it.
Kusimuki stalling the fight.
Henry is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusimuki lands a hook that snaps the head of Henry backwards.
A short right from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Kusimuki.
Nice body punch from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki effectively controlling the action here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kusimuki.
A right handed body shot lands from Kusimuki.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kusimuki.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kusimuki.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Henry is looking to break free of the clinch but Kusimuki has double underhooks.
Nice body punch from Kusimuki - that landed with a thud.
Kusimuki works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kusimuki pushes Henry back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kusimuki is stalling here.
Kusimuki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Henry is trying to force a seperation but Kusimuki has the dominant position.
Kusimuki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Henry's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kusimuki moves into range and clinches up with Henry.
Kusimuki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kusimuki lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Henry backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Kusimuki.
Nice body punch from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki is working Henry over against the cage.
Kusimuki manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A left hand lands to the body for Kusimuki.
Kusimuki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kusimuki lands a body punch in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kusimuki gets underhooks to prevent Henry's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tito Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kusimuki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right from Kusimuki.
A short right from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands an uppercut.
Henry is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Henry tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kusimuki lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body punch from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kusimuki scores with a shot to the side of Henry's head.
Kusimuki lands a right hand.
Kusimuki pressing his opponent against the cage.
Henry's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Kusimuki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kusimuki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 26:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 26:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeshi Kusimuki!