PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Levine (ranked 3897 p4p, 5273 weight class) and El Cucuy (ranked 419 p4p, 464 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as El Cucuy enters the cage!

Levine
vs
Cucuy

180 cm
18
155
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
160
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dustin Levine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, El Cucuy!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Levine dives in and grabs Cucuy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cucuy pushes down on Levine's head and hops out.
Despite the aggression on Cucuy's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Levine shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cucuy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Levine is fighting to break Cucuy's control of his arms but Cucuy is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cucuy throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cucuy keeping moving, preventing Levine from controlling successfully.
Cucuy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Levine. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levine wants to pass the guard but Cucuy is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cucuy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levine looking to pass the guard.
Cucuy keeping moving, preventing Levine from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cucuy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Levine is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Levine rushes Cucuy and presses him up against the cage.

Cucuy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Levine shoots for a double leg takedown but Cucuy sprawls well. He's pushed Levine's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy slaps away a takedown attempt from Levine, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dustin Levine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cucuy connects with a body shot.
Levine is breathing heavily.
Cucuy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A combination from Cucuy does no damage.
Cucuy misses with a two punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cucuy closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levine displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cucuy.
Cucuy misses with a few strikes there.
Levine shoots in and drives through. Cucuy sprawls well.
Levine tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cucuy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Levine somewhat.
Cucuy changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Levine fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cucuy scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Cucuy clinches with his opponent.
Cucuy goes for a takedown in the clinch but Levine prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cucuy stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

El Cucuy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Levine looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cucuy is fending him off so far but Levine persists. Nope, Cucuy circles away and we're back to standing.
Levine shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cucuy but Cucuy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice sprawl there from Levine as Cucuy shoots in.

Oooh a lovely combination from Cucuy sends Levine down but not out. Cucuy dives into side control looking to finish.

Levine is rocked!

Cucuy stands up.
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!
Cucuy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Levine.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dustin Levine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Levine as Cucuy shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cucuy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cucuy looks to land a combination but Levine avoids it well.
Levine shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cucuy pinned against the cage. Cucuy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cucuy throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levine goes for a double leg but Cucuy avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cucuy continues to drive forward.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Cucuy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cucuy shoots in for a takedown but Levine shows good takedown defense.
Levine is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cucuy.
Cucuy scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levine fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cucuy avoids it really well and circles away.
Levine sets himself, and Cucuy steps forward looking for the clinch! Levine avoids it this time.
Levine goes for a double leg but Cucuy avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cucuy continues to drive forward.
Levine being controlled against the cage.

Cucuy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Levine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cucuy bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cucuy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cucuy wants it to stay on the feet.
Cucuy lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Cucuy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Levine defends well and Cucuy ends up having to push Levine into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Levine tries for a takedown but Cucuy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Good exchange - Cucuy coming out on top.
No joy there for Cucuy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cucuy fails with the takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

El Cucuy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Cucuy dives in for a single leg takedown but Levine sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Levine.
Cucuy is looking for the big counter here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cucuy is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levine looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dustin Levine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cucuy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levine shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cucuy but Cucuy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Levine doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cucuy counters by clinching up.

Cucuy pulls guard.
Levine trying to control the position from guard on top but Cucuy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cucuy is on top in guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Levine throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Cucuy escapes and throws Levine's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Levine!
Levine tries to reverse the position but Cucuy maintains control.
Cucuy controlling from the full mount.
Cucuy working the ground and pound effectively.
Cucuy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cucuy is working for a guillotine from mount but Levine frees his head quite easily.
Levine is looking to improve his position but Cucuy isn't that keen on the idea.
Cucuy blocks Levine's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Cucuy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Levine really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cucuy controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Levine sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Levine looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cucuy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cucuy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cucuy slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Levine gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Cucuy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cucuy 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... El Cucuy!