PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thanh Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Beric Usko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thanh Hunt had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Hunt
vs
Usko

185 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thanh Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Beric Usko!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hunt wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Usko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A jab from Usko does it's job there.

Usko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hunt to the mat! Hunt manages to get full guard.
Usko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Usko slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hunt controlling the position.
Hunt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Usko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hunt is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt trying to control the position here.
Hunt tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt wants to control the position but Usko says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Hunt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Usko is working away from the top position though.
Hunt preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Usko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hunt throws a jab when Usko was well out of range.
Hunt throws a push kick but Usko slaps the foot to one side.
Usko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Usko scores with a shot to the body.
Hunt looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hunt swats away the attempt to clinch by Usko.

Usko shoots in and bounces Hunt off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Usko trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hunt is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Usko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt is controlling Usko's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Usko wants to pass the guard but Hunt is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hunt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Usko dives in and scores a takedown into Hunt's guard.
Hunt seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Usko from controlling successfully.
Usko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beric Usko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hunt misses with a leg kick
and Usko counters with a left and a right that stings Hunt.
Usko throws a sloppy head kick and Hunt moves out of range easily.
Hunt shoots in but Usko avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Usko gets the takedown into side control.
Hunt is pushing Usko's head away, looking to escape. Usko manages to hold on to the position though.
Usko trying to control the action but Hunt is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt wants to control but Usko postures up.
Usko trying to control the position but Hunt is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt wants to control but Usko postures up.
Hunt is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Usko has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ground and pound from Usko seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hunt wants to control but Usko postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hunt has a takedown stuffed.

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.
Usko with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hunt throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Usko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hunt to the mat! Hunt manages to get full guard.
Hunt working a defensive guard here.
Usko won't allow Hunt to sweep him here.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Usko from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Usko throws a strike but Hunt rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Usko throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hunt throwing strikes but missing.
Hunt throwing strikes from guard but Usko blocks nicely.
Usko pulls Hunt in close to prevent any damage.
Hunt postures up and lands a big shot to Usko's brow.
Usko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hunt throws a big elbow that misses.
Hunt stops Usko from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Usko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Usko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hunt swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Usko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hunt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A combination from Hunt does no damage.
Hunt scoring well with a low kick there.
Thanh Hunt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Usko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hunt throws a jab but it's blocked by Usko.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Usko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hunt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Beric Usko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt shoots for a takedown but Usko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thanh Hunt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Usko fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beric Usko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Usko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Usko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hunt has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hunt striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Hunt wants to control but Usko postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Usko is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Beric Usko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hunt is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt wants to control but Usko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hunt regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hunt trying to keep a closed guard but Usko is proving a slippery customer.
Hunt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Usko manages to get himself to full guard.

Usko wants to sweep but no luck.
Usko controls Hunt momentarily but Hunt frees himself.
Usko keeping moving, preventing Hunt from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usko is controlling Hunt's posture.
Hunt postures up in Usko's guard and throws a big left but Usko blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hunt closes this distance looking for a takedown but Usko circles away.

Usko gets a double leg takedown into Hunt's guard.
Usko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Usko prevents Hunt from getting back to his feet.
Usko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hunt is keeping the position for now.
Usko throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hunt can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Usko controls the pace.
Hunt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Usko is controlling him.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Usko lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hunt clinches up against the cage.

Hunt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hunt closes the distance and clinches up with Usko, looking for a takedown. Hunt pushes Usko against the cage but Usko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Usko wants to counter with a clinch but Hunt pushes him away.

Usko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hunt to the mat! Hunt manages to get full guard.
Hunt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Usko trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Beric Usko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Usko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Beric Usko!