PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cusumano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cusumano comes to the cage accompanied by Descending by Lamb of God. John James struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. John James is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Cusumano
vs
James

175 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Cusumano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, John James!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cusumano shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cusumano.
Cusumano shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Cusumano keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James cracks Cusumano with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cusumano throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cusumano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cusumano dodges the punch combination from James.
Cusumano throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
Nice sprawl there from James as Cusumano shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Cusumano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cusumano is breathing heavily.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cusumano.
Cusumano avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cusumano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano on the wrong end of a nice jab.
John James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James scores with a shot to the body.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cusumano. Cusumano circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cusumano takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cusumano has a takedown stuffed.
James scores with a body shot.
James throws out a powerful jab.
Cusumano shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some wild striking there from James.
Cusumano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cusumano.
An elbow from Cusumano crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano creates some space and throws a big elbow, but James sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if James can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cusumano lands some shots froms side control.
Cusumano lands some shots froms side control.
James wants to get back to his feet but Cusumano drags him back down.
James parries the strikes from Cusumano easily there. Cusumano is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable James to escape.
Cusumano cracks James with a big elbow.
Cusumano throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cusumano fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Cusumano seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James stuffs the takedown.
James misses with a head kick.
James stalks Cusumano and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cusumano's face. Cusumano staggers backwards, shaken.
Cusumano tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Cusumano closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
James looks to land a combination but Cusumano avoids it well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cusumano is defended easily by James.
James lands a glancing blow to the side of Cusumano's head.

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.
James's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and James duly obliges.
Cusumano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.
James closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Cusumano tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.
James bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cusumano's head backwards.
James throws a body punch but Cusumano moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cusumano.
Cusumano shoots in but no luck this time.
A punch combination from James misses.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

James gets caught flat footed, as Cusumano shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
James is looking to stand up but Cusumano isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John James dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cusumano checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cusumano dodges the punch combination from James.
Cusumano is looking to clinch.
James misses with a body shot.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cusumano.
No luck for Cusumano with that takedown attempt.
A punch combination from James misses.
James looks to land a combination but Cusumano avoids it well.
Cusumano shoots in for a double leg but James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cusumano.
Cusumano is trying to move to mount but James reverses beautifully and ends up in Cusumano's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cusumano wants to stand and escape but James is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cusumano thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Cusumano misses with a head shot.
James taking shots to the head.
James's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James is in a horrible position here. Cusumano smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Cusumano has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
James is in a horrible position here. Cusumano smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano lands a heavy elbow.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cusumano. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cusumano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Cusumano landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cusumano dominating with strikes here.
James blocking the ground and pound.
James is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Cusumano looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cusumano tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cusumano has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of James's face.
James is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Cusumano pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cusumano throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Cusumano throws some wild stikes that James manages to avoid easily.
Cusumano looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cusumano looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cusumano throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cusumano with a couple of short strikes.
Cusumano unloads with some shots from mount but James bucks and avoids them well.
James wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cusumano is landing with some decent strikes but James is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cusumano dominated that second round.
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!

Cusumano shoots in but no luck this time.
James misses with a head kick.
James lands a jab-cross combination.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
Cusumano fails with the takedown.
James lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cusumano backs up against the cage.
Cusumano shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Cusumano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch lands to the side of Cusumano 's head but he takes it in his stride.
James motions for Cusumano to come forward. James throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
James swinging wilding here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cusumano takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cusumano is defended easily by James.
Jab, jab by James - just one landing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
James throws a leg kick but Cusumano checks it.
A combination from James does no damage.
Cusumano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.
James throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
James misses with a few strikes there.
Cusumano fails to land the takedown.
John James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cusumano takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cusumano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as James sprawls well. James wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cusumano gets slowly back to his feet.
James scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's two 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.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cusumano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cusumano showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.

Cusumano scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
James is not content to let Cusumano control the position.
Cusumano passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for James!
James wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. James can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Cusumano unloading with bombs!
Cusumano is landing with some decent strikes but James is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
James trying desperately to get to his feet.
Cusumano cracks James with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cusumano thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Cusumano trying to control but James is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Cusumano lands a nice shot to the head.
Cusumano lands a big shot there that rocks James but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Cusumano looking to ground and pound but James is blocking nicely.
Cusumano connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cusumano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cusumano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Cusumano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cusumano has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Cusumano!