PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cusumano (ranked 1134 p4p, 905 weight class) and Konichiwa Jempsa (ranked 167 p4p, 140 weight class). Cusumano comes to the cage accompanied by Gamefire. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cusumano
vs
Jempsa

175 cm
38
180
21 - 15 - 1

170 cm
27
170
16 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 21 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Cusumano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Konichiwa Jempsa!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jempsa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cusumano defends it nicely.
Cusumano stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cusumano wants it to stay on the feet.

Jempsa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cusumano!
Cusumano is trying to get back to half guard.
Cusumano wants to get back to his feet.
Cusumano trying his best to control but Jempsa has mounted him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cusumano is squirming around, avoiding Jempsa's attempts to control the action.
Jempsa misses with a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa looking to control but Cusumano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jempsa with a couple of short strikes.
Jempsa working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Jempsa throwing strikes here but Cusumano is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Cusumano is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jempsa wants to control the pace but Cusumano is squirming around nicely.
Jempsa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Jempsa controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Jempsa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Jempsa breaks from Cusumano's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Jempsa avoids the attempt from Cusumano to control.
Jempsa controlling from mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Jempsa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Jempsa sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Jempsa controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano tries to hold on but Jempsa pushes him away.
Jempsa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Jempsa is landing with some decent strikes but Cusumano is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Jempsa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cusumano is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jempsa throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Cusumano is squirming around, avoiding Jempsa's attempts to control the action.
Jempsa throws a wild left hand from mount and Cusumano manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jempsa is stalling here. Cusumano is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Jempsa seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Cusumano has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Jempsa tries to bench press Cusumano off him but Cusumano keeps the position.

Cusumano stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Jempsa just misses with a punch to the body.
Cusumano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cusumano but Cusumano pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steve Cusumano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.
Jempsa shoots in and drives through. Cusumano sprawls well.
Cusumano throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cusumano tries to clinch up but Jempsa circles away and keeps his distance.
Cusumano stuffs the takedown attempt from Jempsa. Jempsa gets slowly back to his feet.
Steve Cusumano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cusumano moves in looking to clinch but Jempsa pushes him off.
Cusumano looks to land a combination but Jempsa avoids it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jempsa misses with a two punch combination.
Cusumano lands a nice hook to Jempsa's body. Jempsa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jempsa darts in looking for a takedown but Cusumano gets double underhooks and turns Jempsa into the cage.
Jempsa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jempsa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cusumano circles away.
Cusumano tries to clinch but Jempsa is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Cusumano. No joy for Jempsa on that attempt.
Steve Cusumano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.

Jempsa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cusumano is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jempsa scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jempsa prevents Cusumano from improving his position.
Jempsa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cusumano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jempsa.
Konichiwa Jempsa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jempsa is trying to control. Cusumano wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cusumano has his hands clasped together around Jempsa's back. He's all about the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano trying to hold on to Jempsa's head to control him but Jempsa postures up.
Jempsa works his foot free and advances to mount.
Cusumano is wriggling around trying to escape.
Jempsa working the ground and pound effectively.
Cusumano trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa trying to control but Cusumano is having none of it.
Jempsa throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Cusumano wants to try and get back to his feet.
Jempsa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cusumano because Jempsa loaded up on that one.
Jempsa controlling the pace for now.
Cusumano is in a horrible position here. Jempsa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano wants to hold on but Jempsa pushes him away.
Cusumano working to try and regain half guard.
Jempsa with good strikes from the mount here!
Jempsa landing shots from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cusumano is trying desperately to improve position.
Jempsa punching from mount but Cusumano doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Cusumano is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cusumano is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jempsa cracks Cusumano with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cusumano holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Jempsa tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Jempsa throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Jempsa lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Cusumano wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Jempsa.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cusumano sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Konichiwa Jempsa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jempsa shoots in looking for a takedown. Cusumano tries to sprawl out of it but Jempsa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cusumano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cusumano swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cusumano tries to clinch but Jempsa moves away
and Cusumano takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cusumano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jempsa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cusumano defends it nicely.
A big left from Cusumano misses.
Cusumano throws a big shot that misses.
Jempsa misses with a takedown attempt - Cusumano sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Steve Cusumano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.
Cusumano misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jempsa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cusumano was covering up waiting for the punch and Jempsa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jempsa stops Cusumano from standing up.
Cusumano seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano keeping moving, preventing Jempsa from controlling successfully.
Jempsa works over Cusumano with some ground and pound from guard.
Cusumano keeping moving, preventing Jempsa from controlling successfully.
Jempsa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cusumano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jempsa postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cusumano wants to stand but Jempsa is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cusumano throws a right hand that Jempsa ducks under and follows up with a left that Jempsa also avoids with ease.
Cusumano tries to clinch there but Jempsa circles away.
Jempsa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jempsa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cusumano slaps away a takedown attempt from Jempsa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cusumano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jempsa moves away.
Jempsa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cusumano throws a low kick but Jempsa moves out of range easily.
Jempsa cracks a nice hook into Cusumano's ribs.
Jempsa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cusumano is fending him off so far but Jempsa persists. Nope, Cusumano circles away and we're back to standing.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown but Cusumano shows good takedown defense.
Cusumano tries to clinch but Jempsa moves out of range.
Cusumano stuffs the takedown attempt from Jempsa. Jempsa gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa misses with a two punch combination.
Jempsa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cusumano is fending him off so far but Jempsa persists. Nope, Cusumano circles away and we're back to standing.
Jempsa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cusumano tries to clinch there but Jempsa circles away.
Cusumano pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Jempsa slips a jab and a cross from Cusumano.
Steve Cusumano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jempsa shoots in looking for a takedown but Cusumano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jempsa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cusumano is looking to wear down Jempsa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Jempsa scores with a takedown into Cusumano's guard.
Cusumano looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cusumano avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jempsa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jempsa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jempsa postures up in Cusumano's guard and throws a big left but Cusumano blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jempsa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cusumano manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jempsa has Cusumano in his guard.

Jempsa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cusumano gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Steve Cusumano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jempsa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cusumano tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Jempsa counters with a shoot takedown. Cusumano fights it but they end up in guard.
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!
Jempsa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Konichiwa Jempsa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jempsa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cusumano's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Konichiwa Jempsa.
I've got Jempsa 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konichiwa Jempsa!
After winning the bout, Konichiwa Jempsa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.