PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sasa Gusi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonard Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gusi comes to the cage accompanied by Ekipa- BGD Syndicate. 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.

Gusi
vs
Lewis

175 cm
31
195 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

182 cm
26
199 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Sasa Gusi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Leonard Lewis!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Lewis.
Leonard Lewis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gusi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lewis slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Gusi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
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.
Gusi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lewis wants to improve his position but Gusi is controlling well.
Gusi 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.

Gusi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gusi winds up and cracks Lewis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gusi wants to pass the guard but Lewis is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gusi stalling away here and it's allowed Lewis to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gusi advances to half guard.

Gusi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gusi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Gusi is looking for a kimura here.

Gusi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lewis sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusi wants to free his trapped foot but Lewis is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lewis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gusi wants to work for an arm triangle but Lewis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gusi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lewis is looking for a sweep. Gusi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gusi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lewis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lewis wants to get back to full guard.
Gusi passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gusi goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lewis has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gusi but great work by Lewis.
Gusi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lewis tries to stand but Gusi is controlling his head.
Gusi tries to buck Lewis off but Lewis is having none of it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gusi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lewis on his heels. He'll look to pass Lewis's guard now, I'm sure.
Gusi advances position into side control!
Lewis manages to get back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gusi connects with a nice short shot to Lewis's temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gusi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gusi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gusi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gusi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasa Gusi 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.

Lewis misses with a hook. Gusi ducked under it nicely.
Lewis connects with a body shot that sends Gusi's belly button to the back.
Lewis throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gusi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A solid body kick from Lewis.
Lewis lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Sasa Gusi has been cut.
Gusi thows a leg kick but Lewis checks it
and Lewis counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gusi misses with a double jab
and Lewis counters with a nice uppercut.
Lewis checks the leg kick.
Lewis lands a slapping body shot.
Lewis throws out a powerful jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gusi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gusi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lewis lands an overhand right.

Lewis closes the distance and clinches.
Gusi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lewis's face.
Lewis throws a head punch that misses.
Lewis pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lewis taking a breather.
Gusi gets through Lewis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gusi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lewis just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Lewis fails to land.
Lewis tries to work over Gusi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gusi pulls guard.
Lewis wanted to stand there but Gusi had control of the position.

Lewis decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gusi, up you get!
Lewis cracks Gusi with a good jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gusi moves away from the strike by Lewis.
Gusi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lewis scoring well with a low kick there.
Lewis connects with a nice looking jab.

Lewis clinches up against the cage.
Lewis misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lewis fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sasa Gusi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A low kick from Gusi is predictable there
and Gusi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lewis shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gusi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gusi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lewis.
Lewis lands a jab to Gusi's midsection.
Lewis throws a hook but Gusi avoids it easily.
Gusi tries to clinch but Lewis moves out of range.
Lewis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gusi connects with a single shot there.
Gusi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lewis looks to score with a jab to the body but Gusi is just out of range.
Lewis scores with a shot to the body.
Lewis leaves Gusi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gusi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gusi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lewis lands a body shot.
Gusi shoots in for a double leg but Lewis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lewis throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lewis lands a nice looking body shot.
Lewis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gusi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Lewis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sasa Gusi's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Gusi throws a series of punches but Lewis moves out of range.
Lewis scores with a nice right hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Lewis. That snapped Gusi's head back.
Lewis dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gusi. That did some damage!
Lewis scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gusi shoots and misses
and Lewis counters with a nice body kick.
A big right from Gusi misses.
Donk. Lewis catches Gusi right on the button with a cross.
Gusi tries for a takedown but Lewis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lewis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis scores with a shot to the side of Gusi's head.
Lewis has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lewis trying to control the position but instead, Gusi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lewis into the cage.

Gusi manages to pull guard.
Lewis wants to stand but Gusi is controlling his posture from full guard.

Lewis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gusi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lewis has managed to get both his arms back between Gusi's legs - danger averted.
Lewis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis postures up.
Lewis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gusi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lewis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gusi trying to keep a closed guard but Lewis is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sasa Gusi.
Lewis looks for the body kick but Gusi saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Donk. Lewis catches Gusi right on the button with a cross.

Lewis rushes Gusi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gusi is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sasa Gusi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gusi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lewis trying to control the position but instead, Gusi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lewis into the cage.
Lewis stops a takedown attempt from Gusi.
Lewis misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right hook to the body lands for Lewis.
Lewis has Gusi pressed against the cage, preventing Gusi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short left from Lewis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis scores with a nice hook to the head.

Gusi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A cross from Lewis lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gusi doesn't manage to clinch there - Lewis circles away.
Lewis swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gusi.
Lewis scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Gusi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lewis seems keen to control Gusi's posture.
Lewis's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gusi passes Lewis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonard Lewis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lewis 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonard Lewis!
Leonard Lewis thanked the fans post fight for their support.