PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Waldo Blue (ranked 22481 p4p, 237 weight class) and Konstantin Uszatov (ranked 4099 p4p, 132 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blue
vs
Uszatov

194 cm
28
275 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

195 cm
28
288 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Waldo Blue!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Konstantin Uszatov!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blue throws a right hand that misses

and Uszatov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Blue won't be happy with that.
Uszatov misses with the ground and pound.
Uszatov in side control, throwing shots but Blue defends.
Blue is looking for a sweep.
Uszatov throwing strikes but Blue manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Blue wants to stand but Uszatov has his arm trapped.
Uszatov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blue is trying to get back to full guard.
Blue blocking the ground and pound attempt from Uszatov.
Uszatov thows a huge punch but Blue dodges it nicely.
Uszatov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Uszatov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Uszatov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uszatov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blue with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Uszatov is looking for a kimura but Blue is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Uszatov to get the leverage.
Uszatov slows the pace down in half guard.
Uszatov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blue's head.
Uszatov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Uszatov thows a huge punch but Blue dodges it nicely.
Blue is looking for a sweep. Uszatov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Uszatov wants to control but Blue is keeping him busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Uszatov lands a nice short elbow.
Uszatov with the ground and pound but Blue uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Blue seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Uszatov distracts Blue with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Uszatov throws a big right hand that misses.
Uszatov throws a big right hand that misses.
Blue on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blue tries to get out of the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Uszatov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Blue not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Blue working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Uszatov.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Uszatov or perhaps it was just good defense by Blue, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Uszatov.
No luck for Blue with that takedown attempt.

Blue gets caught flat footed, as Uszatov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Uszatov is looking to work some ground and pound but Blue has wrist control.
Blue trying to control the position.
Uszatov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Uszatov lands a couple of elbows.
Uszatov is working Blue over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Uszatov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uszatov landing with the ground and pound.
Uszatov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Uszatov trying to control but Blue is working from the bottom.
Uszatov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Uszatov cracks Blue with a solid left hand.
Uszatov trying to control the position from guard on top but Blue is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Uszatov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Uszatov trying to control but Blue is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Uszatov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Uszatov shoots in looking for a takedown. Blue tries to sprawl out of it but Uszatov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blue manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Uszatov shoots in for a takedown but Blue shows good takedown defense.
Blue closes the distance and clinches up with Uszatov, looking for a takedown. Blue pushes Uszatov against the cage but Uszatov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Blue tries for a takedown but Uszatov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Uszatov.
Waldo Blue has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konstantin Uszatov.
Uszatov shoots in for a takedown but Blue shows good takedown defense.
Uszatov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Blue defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blue fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Uszatov closes the distance and clinches up with Blue, looking for a takedown. Uszatov pushes Blue against the cage but Blue circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Uszatov is defended easily by Blue.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Uszatov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Blue's guard.
Blue looking to hit a scissor sweep but Uszatov is one step ahead there.

Uszatov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Blue is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Blue has escaped and now he's on top!

Uszatov is trying to keep Blue in close.
Uszatov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Uszatov has Blue pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blue loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blue is looking to work some ground and pound but Uszatov has wrist control.
Blue trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Uszatov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Uszatov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Blue throws a strike but Uszatov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Konstantin Uszatov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blue keeping moving, preventing Uszatov from controlling successfully.
Uszatov landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uszatov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Uszatov lands a couple of elbows.
Blue preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Uszatov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Uszatov throws a big right hand that misses.
Uszatov throwing strikes from guard but Blue blocks nicely.
Uszatov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Blue keeping moving, preventing Uszatov from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Uszatov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Blue tries to avoid it but Uszatov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Blue to the ground. Blue escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Uszatov fails with a takedown attempt.
Blue feinted with a counter takedown.
Uszatov has a takedown stuffed.
Uszatov moves away from the strike by Blue.
Blue fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Uszatov avoids it really well and circles away.
Uszatov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blue shoots in for a takedown but Uszatov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Blue stuffs the takedown.
Blue stuffs the takedown.
Uszatov is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Uszatov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Blue was covering up waiting for the punch and Uszatov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Uszatov connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Konstantin Uszatov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

and Blue counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Blue thows a huge punch but Uszatov dodges it nicely.
Blue looks to land a strike but Uszatov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Blue is in close to Uszatov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blue with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Uszatov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blue doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blue manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Blue stands up over Uszatov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blue throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Uszatov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blue accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Uszatov keeping moving, preventing Blue from controlling successfully.
Blue throws a strike but Uszatov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Uszatov connects with a couple of short punches.
Blue trying to control the position here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Uszatov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blue has momentary wrist control but Uszatov slips an elbow through the middle.
Blue working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Uszatov.
Blue preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Uszatov throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Uszatov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Uszatov wants to control from the top but Blue keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Konstantin Uszatov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blue throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Uszatov's waist but Uszatov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Blue off to one side.
Uszatov shoots in for a takedown but Blue shows good takedown defense.
Waldo Blue has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konstantin Uszatov.
Blue throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Uszatov's waist but Uszatov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Blue off to one side.

Uszatov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Blue quickly recovers to half guard.

Uszatov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uszatov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Uszatov connects with a nice short shot to Blue's temple.
Waldo Blue has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Uszatov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blue's head.
Uszatov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Uszatov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Uszatov lands strikes from half guard.
Uszatov lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Uszatov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Blue is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Uszatov is looking for submissions but instead, Blue has regained full guard.
Uszatov postures up and lands a big shot to Blue's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Uszatov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Uszatov trying to control the position from guard on top but Blue is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Konstantin Uszatov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Uszatov is stalling in the full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Konstantin Uszatov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Uszatov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konstantin Uszatov!
An out of breath Konstantin Uszatov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.