PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Igor Kusilutka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Shadow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shadow has chosen Johnny B. Goode as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kusilutka
vs
Shadow

189 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Just Fight (Everything 7$)

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Igor Kusilutka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johny Shadow!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kusilutka tries to clinch but Shadow moves out of range.
Kusilutka looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kusilutka darts in trying to clinch

and Shadow counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Shadow throwing strikes but missing.
Shadow postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shadow sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kusilutka keeping full guard, as Shadow tries to pass.
Shadow throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Shadow working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Kusilutka wants to stand but Shadow is controlling the position.
Kusilutka trying to keep a closed guard but Shadow is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shadow is working Kusilutka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shadow preventing the sweep.
Shadow cracks Kusilutka with a solid left hand.
Kusilutka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shadow throws a big elbow that misses.
Kusilutka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shadow throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kusilutka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shadow controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Shadow working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kusilutka trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shadow looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kusilutka pulls Shadow in close to prevent any damage.

Igor Kusilutka has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kusilutka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shadow swats away the attempt to clinch by Kusilutka.

Kusilutka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusilutka's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Kusilutka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kusilutka trying to control but Shadow is working from the bottom.
Shadow is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kusilutka wants to control from the top but Shadow keeps moving.
Kusilutka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Igor Kusilutka has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kusilutka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shadow as he avoids it easily.
Kusilutka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shadow.
Kusilutka shoots in looking for a takedown but Shadow manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kusilutka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kusilutka tries for a takedown but Shadow sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Kusilutka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shadow fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kusilutka tries to close the distance and clinch but Shadow swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kusilutka wants to clinch.
Igor Kusilutka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kusilutka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shadow's waist but Shadow gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kusilutka off to one side.

Shadow drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kusilutka tries to escape but Shadow is in control.
You can see the frustration on Kusilutka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shadow scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kusilutka to see if he's OK.
Kusilutka is trying to improve his position.
Kusilutka manages to work his way to half guard, despite Shadow's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shadow is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kusilutka wants to control but Shadow is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kusilutka is looking for a sweep. Shadow is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shadow seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kusilutka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Shadow is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kusilutka defends it well.
Kusilutka is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shadow connects with a nice short shot to Kusilutka's temple.
Shadow trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shadow working over Kusilutka with some ground and pound. Kusilutka looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Shadow is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Shadow seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shadow connects with a nice short shot to Kusilutka's temple.
Kusilutka taking some punishment here, with Shadow in his half guard.
Still in half guard, Shadow seems content to control.
Shadow is trying to control. Kusilutka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kusilutka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kusilutka is refusing to be controlled, as Shadow sits in 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.
Shadow not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shadow prevents Kusilutka from improving his position.
Kusilutka on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kusilutka wants to get back to his feet.
Kusilutka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shadow lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shadow prevents Kusilutka from improving his position.

Shadow is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Kusilutka is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Johny Shadow!
Our winner, Johny Shadow, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.