PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oleksandr Usyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giraldo Costanzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Usyk
vs
Costanzo

190 cm
25
250 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

192 cm
22
262 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleksandr Usyk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Giraldo Costanzo!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costanzo misses with a wild combination.
Usyk is looking to clinch.

Usyk clinches up with Costanzo and pushes him back against the cage.
Usyk looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Costanzo is trying to push Usyk away but Usyk has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Usyk throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Usyk comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Giraldo Costanzo has been cut.

Usyk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Usyk connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Costanzo's hands.

Usyk drives through and clinches with Costanzo against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costanzo blocks the elbow strike.
A right hand to the body from Usyk.
Costanzo is looking to break free of the clinch but Usyk has double underhooks.
Costanzo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
I was talking to Usyk's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Usyk misses with an elbow strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usyk looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short uppercut from Usyk.

Costanzo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Usyk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Costanzo swinging wildly here.
Usyk misses with a straight left.

Usyk rushes Costanzo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Costanzo letting Usyk take a breather here.

Costanzo breaks the clinch.
Costanzo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Usyk went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Costanzo drives through with a takedown into Usyk's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costanzo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Usyk works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Usyk is adopting a defensive guard.
Costanzo is in close to Usyk's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Costanzo postures up in Usyk's guard and throws a big left but Usyk blocks it.

Usyk has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Costanzo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Usyk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Costanzo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Costanzo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Usyk circles away.
Usyk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Despite the aggression on Costanzo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A combination from Usyk does no damage.
Costanzo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Costanzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Costanzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oooooh!!! Costanzo has knocked Usyk down with a huge combo! Costanzo steps away and waves a wobbly Usyk back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Usyk is rocked!
Usyk get stunned by a cross and takes another one on the button. Usyk stumbles backwards and tries to bounce back off the cage but Costanzo runs in and jumps on him with a leaping lead hook that puts him out! Wow, that was highlight reel stuff! Awesome finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:13 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Giraldo Costanzo!