PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Javier Pinales (ranked 1313 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kamaru Usman (ranked 2729 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Pinales
vs
Usman

184 cm
27
184 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
24
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Javier Pinales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kamaru Usman!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usman jabs at Pinales's body.
Pinales avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pinales changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Usman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pinales on his heels. He'll look to pass Pinales's guard now, I'm sure.
Usman controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Usman trying to control the position from guard on top but Pinales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Usman throws a big right hand that misses.
Usman wants to pass the guard but Pinales is keeping the position.
Usman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Usman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pinales keeping moving, preventing Usman from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Usman passes Pinales's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Pinales is not content to let Usman control the position.
Usman wants to pass to mount but Pinales is defending the position.

Pinales looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Usman wants to pass to mount but Pinales is defending the position.
Usman passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Pinales!
Pinales tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usman raining down shots from the mount!
Usman looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Usman looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Usman landing shots from mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Usman there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Usman throwing strikes but Pinales recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Usman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Usman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Usman tries to pass to full mount but Pinales defends it.
Pinales wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usman controlling the pace.
Usman is looking to advance position but Pinales won't allow it.
Usman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Pinales is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Usman pulls his head out easily.
Usman is pressing down on Pinales's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pinales is holding on for now.
Pinales avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Usman.
Usman lands with a punch from half guard.
Pinales is staying active underneath Usman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Usman moves nicely into side control.
Usman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pinales keeps working.
Usman tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Usman wants to control but Pinales is keeping him busy.
Pinales sneaks back into half guard.

Pinales looking for submissions off his back.
Usman lands with a punch from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Usman trying to control from half guard but Pinales is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kamaru Usman dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pinales takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Pinales keeps the fight on the outside.
Usman misses with a lunging right hand

and Pinales counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Usman!

Pinales looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kamaru Usman has got the better of the ground game so far.

Pinales working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Pinales working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pinales tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pinales has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Pinales working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usman is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pinales off and has taken his back!
Usman lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Pinales hold on?!
Usman is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Pinales. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Usman throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Usman is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Usman is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Pinales has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Usman is looking to control Pinales but Pinales is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Usman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pinales has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Usman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pinales is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Pinales prevents Usman from getting a body triangle.

Usman looking to break Pinales's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Pinales remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Usman will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
A lull in the action here.
Usman somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Pinales grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Usman is looking for the choke from the back position but Pinales is controlling his hands well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Usman lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinales covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Usman misses with a punch to the head.
Usman missing with strikes from the back.
Pinales looking very determined here, making life difficult for Usman.

Usman tightening his grip on Pinales, looking for the choke.

Pinales showing good submission defense here.
Pinales avoids the strikes from Usman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usman thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Usman throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Pinales!

Usman working for the choke.
Usman is trying to stick to Pinales's back but Pinales is turning into Usman. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Usman's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Pinales.
Pinales tries to free his leg and advance position but Usman is retaining full guard.
Usman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Pinales drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pinales jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pinales pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Usman is keeping the position for now.
Pinales stopping the sweep attempt from Usman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kamaru Usman 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Usman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pinales keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pinales misses with a body kick.
Usman with the counter takedown but Pinales avoids it easily.

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

Pinales actively working from the bottom here.
Pinales on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Usman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Usman throws a strike but Pinales avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Usman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Usman tries to free his leg and advance position but Pinales is retaining full guard.

Pinales has his foot on Usman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Usman works his way back into a safe position though.
Usman trying to control the position from guard on top but Pinales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Usman slips nicely into half guard.
Pinales keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Usman wants to free his trapped foot but Pinales is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pinales is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Usman pulls his head out easily.
Usman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Usman throwing shots but Pinales is blocking nicely.
Usman is nestled in close to Pinales, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
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. Usman connects with a nice short shot to Pinales's temple.
Usman 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.
Usman passes the guard and advances to mount!
Usman with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Usman goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pinales is on top in guard.
Usman is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Pinales thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Pinales thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Usman seems keen to control Pinales's posture.
Usman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Pinales drops back looking for a leg! Usman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Usman manages to kick Pinales off! Pinales jumps back into Usman's guard.
Usman is pulling down on Pinales's head to control his posture.
Kamaru Usman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pinales preventing the sweep.

Pinales is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Usman looking to control.
Javier Pinales has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Usman trying to control the position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kamaru Usman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Usman has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Kamaru Usman!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Kamaru Usman!
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight for Kamaru Usman!

Kamaru Usman wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Kamaru Usman thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Javier Pinales stepped up to the mic, saying 'I demand a rematch!!! This faggot was running his index finger up my anus every chance that he got! Do you understand how good that felt ... and how distracting it was??? NO HOMO!'.