PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Apo Abukay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Cusano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Abukay
vs
Cusano

180 cm
31
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

173 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Apo Abukay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fabio Cusano!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abukay scores with a head kick.

Abukay shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cusano napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cusano is looking to reverse the position.

Abukay looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cusano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Abukay wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Abukay is trying to get an arm triangle but Cusano is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cusano wants to control but Abukay postures up.
Cusano is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cusano trying to control but Abukay postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abukay performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cusano gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cusano is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cusano working for a triangle but Abukay defends it easily.

Cusano has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Abukay can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cusano has his foot on Abukay's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Abukay works his way back into a safe position though.

Cusano had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Abukay defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cusano is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cusano escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Abukay gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Cusano has an active guard here but Abukay has managed to pass into half guard.

Cusano looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Abukay seems to be working for a kimura but Cusano defends the submission attempt.

Cusano is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Abukay pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cusano looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Abukay is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cusano sees it coming and defends easily.
Abukay is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Abukay is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Cusano looking for submissions off his back.

Cusano is defending against the submission attempts here by Abukay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cusano actively working from the bottom here.
Cusano wants to control the action here but instead Abukay manages to pass to full mount!
Cusano has given up his back here. Will Abukay look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Abukay has the hooks in. Cusano is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Cusano trying to control the position but Abukay manages to sink in the hooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A lull in the action here.
Abukay is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cusano is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fabio Cusano will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cusano gets caught napping as Abukay dives in and scores a takedown. Cusano manages to retain guard.
Abukay pushes down on Cusano's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Cusano is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Abukay pulls his head out easily.

Abukay is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cusano is just riding it out for now. Abukay eventually gives up the hold.

Cusano actively working from the bottom here.
Cusano is looking to improve his position.
Abukay seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abukay is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cusano has managed to free his arm - good work.
Abukay is nestled in close to Cusano, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Abukay is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Cusano looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Abukay is taking a breather. Cusano says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cusano is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cusano is in trouble now - Abukay has advanced to mount!
Cusano sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Abukay escapes and gets back to his feet.

Cusano scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Apo Abukay overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cusano wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Abukay, who protects the arm well.
Abukay is looking to get back to his feet here but Cusano is keeping cool and he's managed to take Abukay's back.
Cusano doesn't have the hooks in and Abukay manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abukay is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cusano is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cusano has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cusano wants to control from the top but Abukay keeps moving.

Abukay working for submissions but it's allowed Cusano to get to half guard.
Abukay is trying to control but can't.

Cusano is trying to work for a kimura but Abukay is defending well.
Abukay is refusing to be controlled, as Cusano sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cusano seems to be looking for submissions.
Abukay is trying to stand up here but Cusano is controlling him well.
Cusano trying to mount his opponent but Abukay defends it.

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

Abukay actively working from the bottom here.
Cusano is looking to take a break and control but Abukay is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cusano is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Abukay sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Apo Abukay will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Cusano closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Abukay did well to prevent Cusano getting side control.

Cusano is looking for a kimura here.

Abukay looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Abukay trying to control here.
Cusano trying to control from half guard but Abukay is working away.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abukay looking for submissions off his back.
Abukay tries to roll over but Cusano keeps him under control.
Abukay is trying to stand up here but Cusano is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cusano is trying to work for a kimura but Abukay is defending well.

Cusano is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cusano passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cusano wants to control but Abukay is keeping him busy.

Cusano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Abukay is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cusano working away.
Abukay tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Cusano is trying to get an arm triangle but Abukay is defending well.

Cusano tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cusano has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cusano thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Abukay tries to buck Cusano off but Cusano is having none of it.

Cusano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Abukay is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Cusano tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cusano has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Cusano tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abukay is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Abukay is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cusano's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Abukay looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Abukay regains full guard. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabio Cusano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cusano 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Fabio Cusano!