PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Max Kellerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Cusumano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cusumano has chosen Descending by Lamb of God as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kellerman
vs
Cusumano

176 cm
22
148 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Max Kellerman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Cusumano!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cusumano looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cusumano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kellerman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cusumano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cusumano looks to land a strike but Kellerman avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cusumano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kellerman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cusumano is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kellerman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cusumano is looking to escape.
Cusumano can't escape the position.
Kellerman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cusumano is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano wants to hold on but Kellerman pushes him away.
Kellerman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cusumano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kellerman controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cusumano is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cusumano holds of for dear life.
Cusumano is looking to improve his position but Kellerman isn't that keen on the idea.
Kellerman controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano controls the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cusumano can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kellerman looking to control but Cusumano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cusumano is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cusumano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cusumano squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Cusumano is looking to improve his position but Kellerman isn't that keen on the idea.
Kellerman wants to control the pace but Cusumano is squirming around nicely.

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 tries to lock up and control but Kellerman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cusumano is squirming around, avoiding Kellerman's attempts to control the action.
Cusumano working to try and regain half guard.
Kellerman trying to control but Cusumano is having none of it.
Cusumano is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cusumano is squirming around, avoiding Kellerman's attempts to control the action.
Kellerman controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kellerman tries to clinch but Cusumano is having none of it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kellerman.
Max Kellerman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kellerman scores with a nice strike.
Kellerman dips to his left and cracks Cusumano with an uppercut!

Cusumano darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kellerman is trying to stand up here but Cusumano is controlling him well.
Cusumano 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.
Cusumano is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kellerman!
Cusumano lands a heavy elbow.
Kellerman taking shots to the head.
Cusumano is landing with some decent strikes but Kellerman is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cusumano unloads with some shots from mount but Kellerman bucks and avoids them well.
Cusumano is breathing heavily.
Kellerman wants to control but Cusumano is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kellerman is trying to stand.
Cusumano lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kellerman hang on?
Kellerman tries to hold on but Cusumano pushes him away.
Cusumano with good strikes from the mount here!
A nice elbow there by Cusumano.
Kellerman is looking to get to half guard.
Cusumano scoring with strikes but Kellerman is staying in there.
Kellerman wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Kellerman in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kellerman is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cusumano unloading with bombs!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cusumano is in the full mount, landing strikes.
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!
Kellerman'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.
Cusumano postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kellerman looks a forlorn figure.
The referee warns Kellerman that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kellerman wants to control but Cusumano is having none of it.
Cusumano working Kellerman over with strikes here.
Cusumano cracks Kellerman with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cusumano working Kellerman over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano punishing his opponent with strikes.
Cusumano landing punches.
Cusumano looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cusumano looking to control but Kellerman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cusumano lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kellerman hang on?
Kellerman in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kellerman is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cusumano punishing his opponent with strikes.
Cusumano scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kellerman?
Cusumano landing strikes from the mount.
Cusumano raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano avoids the attempt from Kellerman to control.
Kellerman avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cusumano.
Kellerman keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Cusumano.
Kellerman taking shots to the head.
Kellerman 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kellerman wants to get back to his feet.
Cusumano throwing shots but Kellerman is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cusumano 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. This is the final round!

Cusumano looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cusumano wants to control but Kellerman is keeping him busy.

Kellerman kicks Cusumano off and gets back to his feet.
Kellerman connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kellerman scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice takedown defense from Kellerman. No joy for Cusumano on that attempt.
Cusumano walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kellerman lands with a cross.
Cusumano has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kellerman finds it's way round the side to connect with Cusumano's head.
Max Kellerman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cusumano misses with a takedown attempt - Kellerman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cusumano takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cusumano tries to move into range but Kellerman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kellerman moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cusumano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kellerman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cusumano takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kellerman lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cusumano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano needs to keep his hands up - Kellerman had a free shot at his head there.
Kellerman fails with the takedown.
Kellerman is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Cusumano looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kellerman!
Cusumano unloads with some shots from mount but Kellerman bucks and avoids them well.
Kellerman tries to lock up and control but Cusumano gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cusumano in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Cusumano throwing strikes here but Kellerman is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kellerman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kellerman tries to lock up and control but Cusumano gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cusumano in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The referee warns Kellerman that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kellerman holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cusumano tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Kellerman keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kellerman is trying to stand up.
Kellerman bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Cusumano wants to stand but Kellerman is controlling the position.
Kellerman trying to control the position from guard on top but Cusumano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kellerman!
Max Kellerman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cusumano thowing shots but they're missing.
Cusumano with good strikes from the mount here!
Cusumano lands a nice shot to the head.
Kellerman is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kellerman flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Kellerman is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cusumano lands a heavy elbow.
Cusumano lands a big elbow.
Kellerman is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Cusumano working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cusumano landing strikes from the mount and Kellerman is in trouble!
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!
Kellerman is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Cusumano looking to finish Kellerman with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kellerman!
Kellerman trying desperately to get to his feet.
Steve Cusumano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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 Kellerman's face.
Kellerman flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Cusumano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cusumano 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

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