PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Usikov (ranked 1710 p4p, 222 weight class) and John Carter (ranked 2121 p4p, 278 weight class). Alexander Usikov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Usikov
vs
Carter

175 cm
33
195 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

160 cm
26
185 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Usikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, John Carter!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usikov leaves Carter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Usikov seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Usikov misses with a hook

and Carter counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Carter scoring with punches to the head and body.
Usikov is looking to stand up but Carter isn't so interested in that idea.
Carter is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Carter preventing the sweep.
Carter has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Pablo's Boxing Academy. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Usikov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Usikov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usikov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Carter is working Usikov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Usikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carter postures up and lands a big shot to Usikov's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usikov trying to control the position.
Carter distracts Usikov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Carter scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Usikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carter throwing strikes from guard but Usikov blocks nicely.
Usikov keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.
Carter landing some decent shots from guard.
Carter looking to sit in guard and control but Usikov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Carter looking for a sweep. Not yet Carter, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter is still trying to improve position.
Carter has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Carter is pulling down on Usikov's head to control his posture.
Usikov wants to control from the top but Carter keeps moving.
Carter managing to control the position.
Carter wants to sweep here but Usikov controlling him for the moment.
Carter keeps trying to improve his position.
Usikov is looking to work some ground and pound but Carter has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Usikov's guard.

Usikov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Carter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Usikov's head.
Carter trying to control but Usikov is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Usikov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Usikov is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Carter presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Usikov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Usikov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Carter goes for a takedown in the clinch but Usikov prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Usikov obliges.
Carter wants to take the fight to the mat but Usikov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Alexander Usikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Carter.
Carter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Usikov landing knees to the body.
Usikov landing knees to the head.

It looks like John Carter has been cut.
Carter looks winded!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carter goes for a takedown in the clinch but Usikov prevents it.
Usikov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Carter has Usikov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Usikov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Usikov stops a takedown attempt from Carter.
Usikov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Usikov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Carter's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Usikov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Carter scrambles back to his feet.
John Carter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A decent looking cross lands there for Usikov.
Carter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Usikov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Carter misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Usikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Carter's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A left lands for Usikov.
Usikov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Carter.
Usikov feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Carter on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Carter on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Carter is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Usikov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Carter has his takedown stuffed
and Usikov counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usikov misses with a looping right.
Carter shoots in looking for a takedown. Usikov tries to sprawl out of it but Carter keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Usikov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A little feinted left hand from Usikov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Alexander Usikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Carter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Usikov misses its intended target.

Carter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Usikov manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Carter keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Carter goes for a takedown attempt but Usikov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Carter is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Usikov.
Usikov cracks the inside of Carter's front leg.
Carter with a poor takedown
enabling Usikov to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot to the liver by Usikov. Beautiful body shot.
Usikov lands a head kick. Carter smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Carter is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter shoots for a takedown but Usikov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Usikov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Carter is still on wobbly legs! Can Usikov finish him?
Usikov connects with an inside leg kick.
Carter seems to have recovered his senses.
Usikov connects with the punch.
Usikov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Carter on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Carter throws a big shot that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Usikov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Carter misses with a takedown
and Usikov counters with a nice uppercut.
Carter throws a lazy uppercut
and Usikov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Carter misses with a left hand
and Usikov counters with a nice leg kick.
Carter fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usikov missing with a left hand there. Carter was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Usikov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Carter has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Carter there as he acknowledges the shot.
Carter dives in and grabs Usikov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Usikov pushes down on Carter's head and hops out.
Usikov half committed to a counter leg kick.
Carter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Usikov as he jumps to the side.
Carter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Usikov sprawls well. Usikov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Carter gets slowly back to his feet.
Carter is breathing heavily.
Usikov scores with a head kick.
Usikov throws a head kick that Carter semi-blocks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Carter shoots for a double leg takedown but Usikov sprawls well. He's pushed Carter's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A shot to the body from Carter misses
and Usikov counters with a straight that turns Carter's legs to rubber! Usikov pushes forward with more strikes and Carter goes down, battered and bloody! That's a wrap folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexander Usikov!
In his post fight interview, Alexander Usikov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.