PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oleksandr Usyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piotr Smietana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Piotr Smietana has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Usyk
vs
Smietana

190 cm
30
250 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

200 cm
26
280 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 10 - 4 - 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Piotr Smietana!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smietana takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Smietana misses with an uppercut.
Smietana connects with a single shot there.
Usyk fails to land with a series of punches.
Smietana paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Smietana on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Smietana shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Usyk looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Usyk misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smietana fails with the takedown.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smietana darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Smietana misses with a looping left.
Smietana throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Usyk doesn't manage to clinch there - Smietana circles away.
Smietana throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Usyk fails in his attempt to clinch.
Usyk misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smietana fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Usyk looks to land a left hand but Smietana moved out of range nicely.
Usyk gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Oleksandr Usyk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smietana connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Usyk moves out of range of the strikes.
Usyk misses with a two punch combination.
A little jabbing left from Smietana on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Smietana slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Smietana misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Oleksandr Usyk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Smietana.
Usyk takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smietana misses with a wild combination.
Usyk misses with a straight left.
Usyk wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usyk lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Smietana at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Usyk moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Smietana lunges at Usyk with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Usyk's hand.
Smietana scores with a jab to the jaw.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Usyk.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Usyk and Smietana goes tumbling to the canvas! Usyk follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.

Smietana is rocked!
Usyk seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Smietana is still in real trouble! Can Usyk finish him?
Smietana is pressing down on Usyk's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Smietana seems to have recovered his senses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usyk throwing strikes but missing.
Smietana is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smietana keeping full guard, as Usyk tries to pass.

Smietana is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Usyk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smietana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smietana is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Usyk decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Smietana is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Usyk had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Smietana on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Smietana looks winded!

Usyk forces Smietana back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usyk throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Smietana blocks the elbow strike.
Usyk lands an elbow inside that Smietana shrugs off.
Usyk prevents a body shot from Smietana.
Usyk prevents a body shot from Smietana.
Smietana working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smietana misses with a punch to the body.
Smietana blocking some punches.
Smietana misses with a punch on the inside.
Smietana tries a body shot but Usyk blocks it.
Usyk throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A head punch on the inside from Smietana fails to land.
Smietana's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Usyk creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Smietana's defenses.
Usyk misses with an elbow strike.
Usyk throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleksandr Usyk dominated that round.
That's time! Usyk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A jab from Usyk misses.
Smietana looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Usyk clinches.
A bit of stalling here from Usyk.
Smietana misses with a hook from the clinch.
Usyk effectively controlling the action here.
Usyk misses with an elbow strike.
Smietana tries a body shot but Usyk blocks it.
Smietana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smietana avoiding damage as Usyk throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usyk's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Smietana throws a head punch that misses.
Usyk is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Smietana looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smietana working aggressively here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Usyk has been working on his elbows in the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smietana swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smietana has a couple of punches blocked by Usyk.
Oleksandr Usyk has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Smietana dodges an elbow strike from Usyk.
Smietana is leaning against Usyk and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Usyk misses with a knee strike.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Usyk here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Smietana has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Usyk is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Usyk just misses with a elbow thrown towards Smietana's brow.

Usyk breaks from the clinch.
Donk. Smietana catches Usyk right on the button with a cross.
Piotr Smietana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smietana cracks Usyk with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A punch combination from Smietana misses.
Usyk is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Smietana.
Smietana goes for a double leg but Usyk avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Usyk continues to drive forward.
Usyk swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Smietana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Usyk moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Usyk on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Smietana misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smietana throws a body punch but Usyk moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smietana pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smietana might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Smietana connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Usyk bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Smietana's head.
Usyk darts in trying to clinch
and Smietana counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Usyk misses with an uppercut. Smietana saw that one coming.
Usyk looks to clinch
and Smietana connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Usyk wants to clinch.
Smietana swats away the attempt to clinch by Usyk.
Usyk moves in looking to clinch but Smietana pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smietana's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Usyk connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Smietana scrambles back to his feet.
Smietana with a nice cross.
Smietana lands the left hand.
Smietana paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Usyk lands a right hook to the body.
Smietana is breathing heavily.
Smietana avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smietana is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Usyk with a body shot.
Usyk punishes Smietana's body with a nice straight punch.
Usyk goes for a small jab and connects. Now Usyk goes in closer pressing the issue. Left hook, right straight! Smietana stumbles back but Usyk runs in with a huge uppercut knocking Smietana to the ground! What a finish! You have to wonder if Smietana will ever be the same after a knockout like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Oleksandr Usyk!