PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arjan Kush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juno August (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juno August will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kush
vs
August

156 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
142 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arjan Kush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Juno August!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kush misses with a body punch
letting August counter with a right hand.
Kush shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and August counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kush misses with an uppercut
and Kush takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kush misses with a takedown attempt
and August counters with a stiff right hand.
Kush on the wrong end of a nice jab.
August fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
August blocks a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kush is defended easily by August.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arjan Kush. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by August. Beautiful body shot.
Kush has his takedown stuffed
and August counters with a straight right hand.
August throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kush.
Kush has his takedown stuffed
and Kush takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kush takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
August looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A left and a right from August both land. Nice combination.

Kush closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. August did well to prevent Kush getting side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kush throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
August has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kush is working away from the top position though.

August looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kush thows a huge punch but August dodges it nicely.

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

Kush is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, August has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

August actively working from the bottom here.

Kush is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so August is just riding it out for now. Kush eventually gives up the hold.
August on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
August avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kush.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
August tries to get to full guard but Kush has control of the leg.

Kush is working for a submission of some sort.
Kush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. August defending well though.

Kush is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so August is just riding it out for now. Kush eventually gives up the hold.
Kush wants to pass to mount but August is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juno August dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kush misses with a takedown
and August counters with a lovely straight right hand!
August has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
August feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kushs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
August works the jab nicely.
August will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
August scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kush ducks right into an uppercut from August.
August misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
August lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
August throws a combination. Kush tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
August misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kush.
August lands a nice shot that snaps Kush's head back.
Arjan Kush seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab from August.
August thuds his right hand into Kush's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kush has his takedown stuffed
and Kush takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Kush is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kush waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract August.
A combination from August does no damage.
A jab from August finds it's way through Kush's defenses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kush fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. August sprawls well initially but Kush persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

August actively working from the bottom here.
Kush wants to take a breather but August is having none of it.
Arjan Kush overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kush is looking for a kimura but August is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kush to get the leverage.

August looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
August wants to get back to full guard.

Kush is working for a submission of some sort.
Kush drops an elbow to the side of August's head.
August really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kush. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

August is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kush pulls his head out easily.
Kush scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kush definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Kush is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, August has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kush slips a nice elbow through August's hands, connecting with August's forehead.
Kush is keen to just control but August is a slippery customer.
Kush thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nice strikes from Kush there.
Nice strikes from Kush there.
Kush throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kush throwing shots but August is blocking nicely.
Kush thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kush trying to control from half guard but August is working away.
Kush thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed August's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juno August showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

August avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Kush looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
August wants to control but Kush is keeping busy and won't allow it.

August looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

August looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
August has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at ReEvolution MMA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
August avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kush lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if August can do anything to dispel that myth.
August is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kush scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kush working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kush throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

August looking for submissions off his back.
August takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kush lands strikes from half guard.
Kush looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks August with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kush 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.
Kush slips a nice elbow through August's hands, connecting with August's forehead.

August is rocked!
August trying to control from the bottom.
August is still in real trouble! Can Kush finish him?
Kush is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Kush is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kush takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
August tries to get to full guard but Kush has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
August seems to have recovered his senses.
Kush lands with a punch from half guard.
Kush scores with a big shot! August's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save August! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arjan Kush!