PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cusumano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cusumano comes to the cage accompanied by Descending by Lamb of God. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cusumano
vs
Hicks

175 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

165 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 2 - 2 - 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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ben Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cusumano.
Cusumano misses with a hook. Hicks ducked under it nicely.
Hicks throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cusumano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steve Cusumano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hicks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cusumano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hicks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cusumano.
Hicks throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hicks moves in looking to clinch but Cusumano pushes him off.
Hicks digs a good body shot into Cusumano's ribs.
Cusumano takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Cusumano has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hicks tries to break the clinch but Cusumano is controlling the position.
Hicks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cusumano.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Cusumano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hicks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hicks lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cusumano drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hicks gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hicks fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cusumano loads up on a big right hand but Hicks slips the punch.
Cusumano takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cusumano has a takedown stuffed.
Cusumano takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cusumano has a takedown stuffed.
Hicks ducks under a wild hook from Cusumano.
Cusumano on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cusumano misses with a looping left.
Cusumano walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks misses with a low kick as Cusumano jumps back.
Ben Hicks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cusumano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cusumano is breathing heavily.
Hicks punishes Cusumano's body with a nice straight punch.
Hicks cracks Cusumano with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Hicks moves into range and clinches up with Cusumano.
Hicks lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hicks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hicks stops a takedown attempt from Cusumano.
Hicks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cusumano has him pressed against the cage.
Hicks is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cusumano is keeping busy.
Hicks is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Hicks is trying to break the clinch but Cusumano is controlling him.
Cusumano prevents Hicks from breaking the clinch.
Hicks lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hicks tries to break the clinch but Cusumano is controlling the position.
Cusumano has Hicks pressed against the cage, preventing Hicks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cusumano drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hicks gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Hicks.
Cusumano is trying to drag Hicks to the mat but Hicks just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hicks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cusumano has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hicks is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hicks wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hicks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cusumano.
Hicks is trying to break free.
Hicks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cusumano has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hicks is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hicks is pressed up against the cage. Cusumano has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hicks down to the mat. Hicks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hicks stalks Cusumano and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cusumano's face. Cusumano staggers backwards, shaken.
Cusumano takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hicks connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hicks throws and low kick but Cusumano moves out of range easily.
Hicks jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hicks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cusumano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hicks lands a nice shot to the body.
Hicks scores with a shot to the body.
Hicks throws a head kick that misses.
Hicks punishes Cusumano's body with a nice straight punch.
Hicks is looking to clinch but Cusumano is avoiding it.
Hicks moves away from the strike by Cusumano.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hicks misses with a low kick.
Hicks wants to clinch but Cusumano slips to the side

and Cusumano counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hicks wants to stand but Cusumano is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Hicks dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hicks wants to clinch.
Hicks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cusumano.
Hicks stuffs the takedown attempt from Cusumano. Cusumano gets slowly back to his feet.
Cusumano fails to land the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cusumano.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Cusumano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks with a jab.
Cusumano drops his hands momentarily and Hicks takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hicks scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hicks defends it nicely.
Cusumano throws a looping overhand right but Hicks ducks down to avoid it.
Hicks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hicks throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cusumano.
Hicks ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hicks attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hicks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cusumano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hicks scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A nice combination there by Hicks.
Hicks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cusumano avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hicks defends it nicely.
Hicks cracks a nice hook into Cusumano's ribs.

Hicks has managed to clinch.
Cusumano's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hicks is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cusumano is keeping busy.
Cusumano prevents Hicks from breaking the clinch.
Hicks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cusumano keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hicks's efforts to push away.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cusumano avoiding damage as Hicks throws knees to the body.
Cusumano has Hicks pressed against the cage, preventing Hicks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Cusumano has clasped his hands together around Hicks's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Cusumano is trying to ground and pound but Hicks uses the momentary lack of control by Cusumano to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks wants to get back to his feet.
Hicks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cusumano.
Hicks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cusumano not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cusumano slips a nice elbow through Hicks's hands, connecting with Hicks's forehead.
Cusumano is pressing down on Hicks's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hicks is holding on for now.
Cusumano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cusumano not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hicks scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hicks throws a leg kick but Cusumano sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hicks digs a good hook to Cusumano's body.
Cusumano keeps the fight on the outside.
Cusumano tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hicks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cusumano somewhat.
Hicks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hicks tries to clinch but Cusumano is having none of it.
Cusumano shoots for a takedown but Hicks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hicks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Hicks 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!

A jab lands there for Hicks.
Cusumano walks into a stiff left hand from Hicks.
Cusumano loads up on a big right hand but Hicks slips the punch.
Cusumano thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ben Hicks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice body punch from Hicks.
Ben Hicks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hicks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hicks is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cusumano rather than just go for the knockout.
Hicks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
An inside leg kick from Hicks misses.
Cusumano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cusumano shoots in but no luck this time.
Hicks lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cusumano.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Cusumano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A lazy left from Hicks finds it's target.
Hicks throws a one two combo.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hicks!
Cusumano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hicks avoids it really well and circles away.
Hicks lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hicks scores with a jab to the body.
Hicks tries to clinch but Cusumano is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks tries to clinch but Cusumano is having none of it.
Hicks scores with a shot to the body.
No luck for Cusumano with that takedown attempt.
Hicks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hicks moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A jab from Hicks finds it's way through Cusumano's defenses.
Cusumano has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hicks finds it's way round the side to connect with Cusumano's head.
Hicks scores with a jab.
Hicks lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hicks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cusumano missing with a left hand there. Hicks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cusumano fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to clinch.
Hicks throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hicks swats away the attempt to clinch by Cusumano.
Cusumano takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Hicks pushes Cusumano up against the cage in a clinch.
Hicks can't break the clinch.
Hicks lands with a short shot to the head.
Cusumano wants a takedown.
A short right from Hicks.
Hicks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cusumano.
Hicks trying to control the position but instead, Cusumano has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hicks into the cage.
Hicks tries to circle away but Cusumano has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hicks is trying to break the clinch but Cusumano is controlling him.
Hicks has had enough of the clinch but Cusumano keeps him there for the moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hicks.
A short uppercut from Hicks.
Hicks is trying to stall.
Cusumano tries to score a body lock takedown but Hicks shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cusumano drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hicks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hicks looking to stall.
Hicks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cusumano drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cusumano as Hicks tries to tie him up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Hicks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hicks 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Hicks!