PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joos Frank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleksandr Usyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Frank
vs
Usyk

202 cm
22
138 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

155 cm
25
132 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joos Frank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Oleksandr Usyk!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usyk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Frank swivels and escapes.
Frank really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Usyk.
Frank tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Usyk manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Frank scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Frank ducks under a wild hook from Usyk.
Usyk fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Frank is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Usyk.
Joos Frank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleksandr Usyk.
Frank lands with an overhand left.
Frank tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Usyk defends well and Frank ends up having to push Usyk into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Usyk steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Frank.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usyk tries to clinch up but Frank circles away and keeps his distance.
Usyk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Oleksandr Usyk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Frank's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Frank duly obliges.
Frank shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Frank scores with a head kick. Usyk tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usyk fails to land the takedown.

Frank has taken the fight to the clinch.
Frank goes for a takedown in the clinch but Usyk prevents it.

Frank breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Usyk.
Frank tries to counter by clinching up but Usyk breaks away and moves out of range.

Usyk closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Frank's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank trying to control the position.
Usyk engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Usyk drops back, looking for a kneebar! Frank looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Frank looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Frank!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Usyk is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Usyk is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usyk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Frank trying to control the action but Usyk is working from the bottom.
Usyk is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Usyk tries to roll over but Frank keeps him under control.
Frank will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Usyk keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Frank is trying to control. Usyk wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Usyk is trying to control but can't.
Usyk might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Frank haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Frank wants to lay and pray for a moment but Usyk keeps working.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Frank tries to pass the half guard into mount. Usyk knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Usyk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Usyk throws a right and a left that Frank avoids nicely.
Usyk looks winded!
Usyk tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Frank counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Usyk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Frank sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joos Frank dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Frank scores with a push kick.
Frank turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Usyk tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Frank cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Frank fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Usyk throws out a leg kick but Frank moves out of range and Usyk only half commits.
Frank lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Joos Frank is winning the standup battle so far.
Usyk takes a kick to the side of the head.
Frank throws a nice head kick!

Frank shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Usyk pushes Frank off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Usyk defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Frank.
Usyk wants to counter with a clinch but Frank pushes him away.
Frank doesn't manage to clinch there - Usyk circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Frank moves into the clinch successfully.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Usyk has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Usyk wants to take the fight to the mat but Frank manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Frank drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Usyk is trying to force a seperation but Frank has the dominant position.
Usyk tries to pull guard but Frank won't allow it.

Frank manages to pull guard.

Usyk stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Usyk shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Usyk was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Usyk trying to control the position but Frank is working away.
Frank tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Usyk wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Usyk moves into full mount!
Usyk is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Oleksandr Usyk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Frank is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usyk scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Usyk landing strikes from the mount and Frank is in trouble!
Usyk is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Frank can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Usyk sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Usyk punishing his opponent with strikes.
Usyk looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Usyk gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Horrible takedown attempt by Usyk or perhaps it was just good defense by Frank, which made it look bad.
Joos Frank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleksandr Usyk.
Frank throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Joos Frank is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Usyk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Frank tries to avoid it but Usyk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Frank to the ground. Frank escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Frank scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Frank throws a combination. Usyk tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joos Frank dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Frank throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Frank works over Usyk's head and body with a nice combination.
Usyk leaves Frank with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Usyk takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Usyk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Usyk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Frank appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usyk tries to clinch up
and Frank counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usyk fails with the takedown

and Frank counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Usyk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Frank is trying to control the action in half guard but Usyk is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Usyk is pressing down on Frank's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Usyk trying to control the position.

Usyk working for a triangle but Frank defends it easily.
Usyk tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usyk keeping moving, preventing Frank from controlling successfully.

Frank decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Usyk, up you get!
Usyk stuffs the takedown.
Frank shoots in for a takedown but Usyk shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joos Frank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Frank fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Usyk.
Usyk tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Frank manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Frank appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Good shot there by Frank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usyk with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Frank to score with a decent uppercut.

Usyk is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Frank's half guard.
Frank scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Usyk manages to mount him!
Frank is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Usyk can do to turn this around?
Frank keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Frank taking shots to the head.
Frank tries to buck Usyk off but Usyk takes his back!
Joos Frank is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usyk slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Let's hope that Usyk has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Usyk is working for a rear naked choke. Frank is not defending it well and Usyk has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Frank refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Frank's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Oleksandr Usyk!