PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodgers Owen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kasak Kusuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodgers Owen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Owen
vs
Kusuk

175 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rodgers Owen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Kasak Kusuk!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Owen looks to throw the jab but Kusuk is out of range.
Owen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kusuk was well out of range. Poor timing from Owen.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Owen. Kusuk shrugs it off though.
Owen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kusuk can pounce on him.
Owen lands a head kick. Kusuk smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kusuk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Owen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kusuk.
Kusuk throws a leg kick that misses.
Owen misses the shot to the body.
Owen takes one to the side of the head.
Kusuk scores with a one two! Owen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Owen misses with a hook to the body
and Kusuk counters with a straight right hand.
Kusuk throws a push kick but Owen slaps the foot to one side.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Owen blocks a head kick by Kusuk.
As Kusuk tries to get set, Owen tries to push him back and clinch up but Kusuk manages to avoid the attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Owen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kusuk.
Kusuk tries to work over Owen's front leg with a kick but Owen checks it.
Owen lands a head kick!
Owen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kusuk moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kusuk with the counter takedown but Owen avoids it easily.
Owen lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kusuk will feel that in the morning.
Owen moves out of range of the body kick from Kusuk.
Kusuk looks to land a left hand but Owen moved out of range nicely.
Owen misses with a straight left.
Kusuk has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Owen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kusuk.
Kusuk lands a high kick!
Kusuk takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Owen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Owen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kusuk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kusuk misses with a low kick.
Good exchange - Owen coming out on top.
Kusuk ducks under a wild hook from Owen.
Kusuk looks to score with a jab to the body but Owen is just out of range.
Kusuk moves away from the strike by Owen.
Kusuk avoids a kick to the body.
Kusuk feints the counter takedown.
Kusuk scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Owen stuns Kusuk with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kusuk tries to land a leg kick but Owen saw it coming and moves away.
Owen tries to bum rush Kusuk with a series of wild strikes but Kusuk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kusuk attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Owen throws a hook to the side of Kusuk's head but Kusuk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kusuk wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Owen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kusuk lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Owen backs up against the cage.
Kusuk slips a jab from Owen.
Owen misses with an uppercut. Kusuk saw that one coming.
No joy there for Kusuk, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Owen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Owen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kusuk throws a sloppy head kick and Owen moves out of range easily.
Owen scores with a leg kick.
Kusuk takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kusuk with a jab.
Owen looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kusuk throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Owen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
An inside leg kick from Kusuk misses.
Some wild striking there from Owen.
Kusuk is looking for the big counter here.
Kusuk tries to land a front kick but Owen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kusuk misses with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Kusuk throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Owen misses with a straight left.
Kusuk wants to slow Owen down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusuk tried to score with a low kick but Owen checks it.
Kusuk misses with an uppercut. Owen saw that one coming.
Owen moves out of range of the leg kick from Kusuk.
Owen throws a right hand that Kusuk ducks under and follows up with a left that Kusuk also avoids with ease.
Owen misses with an uppercut.
Kusuk drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Owen defends it well.
Owen throws a wild body kick that Kusuk sees coming a mile off.
Owen misses with a hook.
Owen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Owen moves out of range of the leg kick from Kusuk.
Kusuk lands a body shot.
Owen lands a nice shot to the body.
Kusuk keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Kusuk checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kusuk slips a straight right by Owen.
Owen throws a hook but Kusuk blocks it.
Kusuk's jab looks to have found its range, popping Owen under the eye.
Kusuk blocks a jab.
Owen throws a hook but Kusuk avoids it easily.
Kusuk throws a jab but it's blocked by Owen.
Owen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kusuk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Kusuk misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Owen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kusuk was well out of range. Poor timing from Owen.
And Kusuk tries to counter it with a takedown but Owen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Owen misses with a series of wild punches.
Kusuk throws a low kick, looking for Owen's leg but Owen calmly moves out of range.
Owen throws an overhand right that lands on Kusuk's shoulder, as Kusuk tries to avoid the shot.
Owen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Owen looks to land a body kick but Kusuk moved away.
Kusuk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Kusuk tries to get set, Owen tries to push him back and clinch up but Kusuk manages to avoid the attempt.
Kusuk looks to score with a jab to the body but Owen is just out of range.
Kusuk throws a head kick but Owen moves out of range.
Kusuk slips under a jab.
Owen tries to work over Kusuk's front leg with a kick but Kusuk checks it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Owen checks a leg kick.
Kusuk avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice defenses there by Owen.
Kusuk throws a nice outside leg kick.
Owen takes a swing at Kusuk's ribcage but misses.
Owen lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rodgers Owen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kusuk scores with a leg kick.
Kusuk misses with a wild body shot.
Good work by Kusuk as he checks the leg kick.
Kusuk ducks under a wild hook from Owen.
Nice defenses there by Owen.
Kusuk throws a head kick but Owen moves out of range.
A slow jab from Kusuk misses its intended target.
Owen throws a head kick but Kusuk moves out of range.
Kusuk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Owen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kusuk counters with a good low kick that Owen was not able to check.
Owen checks the leg kick.
Kusuk lands with a shot to the body.
Owen misses with a body shot.
Kusuk pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kusuk goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Owen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kusuk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kusuk looks to throw the jab but Owen is out of range.
Owen throws a jab when Kusuk was well out of range.
Kusuk with the counter takedown but Owen avoids it easily.
Kusuk throws a head kick that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Owen tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice cross by Kusuk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kusuk misses with a hook. Owen ducked under it nicely.
Owen throws a head kick that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kusuk! But no joy.
Owen tries to work over Kusuk's front leg with a kick but Kusuk checks it.
Nice defenses there by Owen.
Kusuk checks the leg kick.
Owen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kusuk. Owen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Owen misses with a body shot.
Kusuk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Owen throws a hook but Kusuk blocks it.
Kusuk lets loose with a powerful body kick. Owen will feel that in the morning.
Owen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kusuk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Owen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Owen is looking to counter the offense by Kusuk and move into the clinch.
Owen scores with a nice head shot.
Kusuk throws a nice head kick!
Owen fails to land with a series of punches.
Kusuk shapes to counter with a head kick.
Kusuk throws a low kick, looking for Owen's leg but Owen calmly moves out of range.
Owen looks to land a left hand but Kusuk moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Owen works the jab nicely.
Kusuk swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kusuk ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Owen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kusuk.
Kusuk looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Owen throws a leg kick which misses Kusuk's front leg but catches the back leg as Kusuk tries to avoid it.
Owen checks a leg kick.
Owen is looking to chop away at Kusuk's legs.
Kusuk on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Owen tries to work over Kusuk's front leg with a kick but Kusuk checks it.
Owen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kusuk takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kusuk throws a low kick, looking for Owen's leg but Owen calmly moves out of range.
Owen blocks a head kick by Kusuk.
Owen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kusuk.
Kusuk moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Owen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kusuk jabs Owen right on the nose. Owen blinks but takes it well.
Owen moves out of range of the strikes.
Owen tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kusuk manages to circle out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owen misses with a straight right.
Kusuk attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kusuk sizes up Owen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kusuk has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Owen.
Owen scores with a jab to the head.
Kusuk chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kusuk just misses with a punch to the body.
Owen throws a body punch but Kusuk moves out of range.
Kusuk's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kusuk duly obliges.
Kusuk throws a solid leg kick but Owen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kusuk.
Owen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kusuk manages to avoid it.
Owen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kusuk throws a head kick that misses.
Kusuk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Owen.
Owen misses with an uppercut.
Kusuk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Owen misses the shot to the body.
Owen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Owen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kusuk scores with a jab to the body.
Owen misses with a hook.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Owen checks a leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kusuk.
Owen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kusuk tried to score with a low kick but Owen checks it.
Owen throws a hook but Kusuk avoids it easily.
Kusuk ducks right into an uppercut from Owen.
Owen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rodgers Owen is winning the standup battle so far.
Kusuk tries to score with a low kick but Owen moves his leg out of the way.
Owen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kusuk cracks Owen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Owen throws a shot from downtown. Kusuk moves away and avoids it.
Owen looks to land a combination but Kusuk avoids it well.
Owen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Owen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kusuk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kusuk throws an off balance right hand

and Owen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Owen.
Kusuk dodges an elbow strike from Owen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kasak Kusuk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kusuk misses with a wild body shot.
Owen takes a swing at Kusuk's ribcage but misses.
A head kick from Kusuk lands but Owen takes it in his stride.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kusuk lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Owen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Owen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Owen looks for the body kick but Kusuk saw that one coming.
Owen tried to score with a low kick but Kusuk checks it.
Kusuk ducks under a wild hook from Owen.
Owen throws a body shot but no joy.
Kusuk is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kusuk walks into a left hand.
Kusuk ducks under a wild hook from Owen.
Owen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Owen throws a push kick but Kusuk slaps the foot to one side.
Owen misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kusuk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kusuk throws a head kick that misses.
Kusuk scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kusuk lands a lovely overhand right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Owen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Owen. Kusuk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kusuk misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owen moves out of range as Kusuk throws a body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Owen misses the target.
Kusuk staying out of range there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kusuk!
Owen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kusuk throws a jab but it's blocked by Owen.
Owen scores with a head kick. Kusuk tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kusuk misses with a body shot.
Owen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kusuk looks to score with a jab to the body but Owen is just out of range.
Kusuk misses with a straight left.
Kusuk dodges the punch combination from Owen.
Owen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Kusuk misses the target.
Kusuk avoids a punch combination nicely.
And Kusuk tries to counter it with a takedown but Owen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Owen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kusuk. Kusuk obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kusuk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Owen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Owen misses with a straight left.
Owen misses with an uppercut. Kusuk saw that one coming.
Owen feints a jab promting Kusuk to slip. Owen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kusuk slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A big left from Owen misses.
Kusuk lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kusuk.
Kusuk tries to score with a low kick but Owen moves his leg out of the way.
Owen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kusuk moves away.
Kusuk tried to score with a low kick but Owen checks it.
Owen is looking to counter the offense by Kusuk and move into the clinch.
Owen throws a body shot but no joy.
Owen misses with a hook.
Kusuk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Owen manages to avoid it.
A big right from Owen misses.
Kusuk misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kusuk motions for Owen to come forward. Kusuk throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Owen is looking to counter the offense by Kusuk and move into the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Owen.
Owen takes a swing at Kusuk's ribcage but misses.
Kusuk moves out of range of the body kick from Owen.
Kusuk feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusuk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Owen.
Owen looks to land a left hand but Kusuk moved out of range nicely.
Owen just misses with a punch to the body.
Kusuk is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kusuk throws a leg kick but Owen moved away.
Kusuk ducks right into an uppercut from Owen.
Owen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kusuk misses with an uppercut. Owen saw that one coming.
Owen avoids a kick to the body.
Kusuk throws a looping overhand right but Owen ducks down to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Owen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Owen looks to land a body kick but Kusuk moved away.
Kusuk takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kusuk lands a body shot.
Kusuk ducks under a wild hook from Owen.
Kusuk misses with a looping left.
Owen throws a sloppy body shot
and Owen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kusuk feints and then cracks Owen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Owen down.
Owen checks a leg kick.
Kusuk misses the shot to the body.
Kusuk loads up on a big right hand but Owen slips the punch.
Owen blocks a head kick by Kusuk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owen throws a chopping leg kick but Kusuk manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kusuk throws a half hearted mid kick.
A solid body kick from Owen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Owen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kusuk misses with a low kick as Owen jumps back.
Kusuk scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A nice leg kick lands there from Owen.
Kusuk misses with a looping left.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kusuk checks a leg kick.
Kusuk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Owen looks to score with a jab to the body but Kusuk is just out of range.
Kusuk throws a leg kick but Owen moved away.
Owen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice defenses there by Kusuk.
Owen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kusuks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kusuk misses with an attempted mid kick.
Owen throws a shot from downtown. Kusuk moves away and avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Owen blocks the leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kasak Kusuk.
I think Kusuk 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kasak Kusuk!
Kasak Kusuk decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.