PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mack Branco (ranked 614 p4p, 85 weight class) and Friedrich Von Kuschelbär (ranked 548 p4p, 78 weight class). Branco comes to the cage accompanied by Stranglehold. Von Kuschelbär has chosen Erasure - Always as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Branco
vs
Von Kuschelbär

184 cm
29
190 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

183 cm
30
193 lbs
31 - 15 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mack Branco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Friedrich Von Kuschelbär!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Branco lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Von Kuschelbär has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Von Kuschelbär and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Von Kuschelbär changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Von Kuschelbär misses with an uppercut.
Von Kuschelbär throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Von Kuschelbär backs away, Branco returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Branco jabs Von Kuschelbär to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Branco misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Von Kuschelbär.
Von Kuschelbär with a nice cross.

It looks like Mack Branco has been cut.
Branco works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Branco punishes Von Kuschelbär's body with a nice straight punch.
Von Kuschelbär throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Von Kuschelbär throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Branco sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Von Kuschelbär throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Von Kuschelbär lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Branco at a distance.
A low kick from Branco misses

so Von Kuschelbär counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Branco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Von Kuschelbär gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Branco controls Von Kuschelbär momentarily but Von Kuschelbär frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Branco has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Von Kuschelbär can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Von Kuschelbär looking to pass the guard.
Von Kuschelbär is fighting to break Branco's control of his arms but Branco is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Branco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Von Kuschelbär is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Von Kuschelbär accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Von Kuschelbär preventing the sweep.
Von Kuschelbär makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Von Kuschelbär trying to control but Branco is working from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Branco's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Branco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Von Kuschelbär gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Von Kuschelbär distracts Branco with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Branco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Branco is trying to keep Von Kuschelbär in close.
Von Kuschelbär working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Von Kuschelbär trying to control the position from guard on top but Branco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Von Kuschelbär postures up and lands a big shot to Branco's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Von Kuschelbär scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Von Kuschelbär got a little sloppy there for a moment and Branco has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Von Kuschelbär has managed to get both his arms back between Branco's legs - danger averted.

Branco working for a triangle but Von Kuschelbär defends it easily.
Von Kuschelbär must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Branco working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Friedrich Von Kuschelbär dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mack Branco's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A slow jab from Von Kuschelbär misses its intended target.
Branco checks a leg kick nicely.
Von Kuschelbär fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Branco manages to avoid it.
Branco on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Branco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Von Kuschelbär sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Branco misses its intended target.
Branco tries to work over Von Kuschelbär's front leg with a kick but Von Kuschelbär checks it.
Von Kuschelbär misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Branco.
Von Kuschelbär just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Branco.
Von Kuschelbär slips a straight right by Branco.
Von Kuschelbär steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branco scores with a crisp jab that stopped Von Kuschelbär in his tracks.

Von Kuschelbär scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Von Kuschelbär has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Branco is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Von Kuschelbär's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Von Kuschelbär's back!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Branco looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Von Kuschelbär is controlling Branco 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Von Kuschelbär lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Branco is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Von Kuschelbär looking to sit in guard and control but Branco gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two 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.
Von Kuschelbär keeping moving, preventing Branco from controlling successfully.
Branco slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Von Kuschelbär is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Branco wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Von Kuschelbär, who protects the arm well.
Von Kuschelbär is not content to let Branco control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branco tries to move to mount but Von Kuschelbär blocks the move with his legs.
Von Kuschelbär manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Branco trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Von Kuschelbär manages to pass to mount!
Von Kuschelbär lands a big shot there that rocks Branco but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Von Kuschelbär lands a big shot there that rocks Branco but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Von Kuschelbär putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Von Kuschelbär putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Von Kuschelbär lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Von Kuschelbär lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Branco bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Branco trying to control but Von Kuschelbär is working from the bottom.
Branco is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Friedrich Von Kuschelbär showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mack Branco's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Branco misses with a low kick.
Von Kuschelbär with a nice cross.
Von Kuschelbär throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Von Kuschelbär tries to land a front kick but Branco steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A bone on bone clash there as Branco blocks the leg kick.
Branco lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Branco ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Von Kuschelbär moves away.
Branco checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Von Kuschelbär misses with a body shot.
The fighters circling - Von Kuschelbär throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Von Kuschelbär takes a swing at Branco's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branco avoids the body shot from Von Kuschelbär.
Von Kuschelbär connects with a leg kick. Branco looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Von Kuschelbär blocks the body kick.
Von Kuschelbär swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Branco looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Von Kuschelbär lands a head kick. Branco smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Von Kuschelbär.
A clash of legs there as Von Kuschelbär blocks the low kick.
Branco misses with a body kick.
Von Kuschelbär throws a jab when Branco was well out of range.
Von Kuschelbär is looking to land body kicks.
Von Kuschelbär takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Von Kuschelbär checks a low kick from Branco.
Branco scores with a jab to the jaw.
Von Kuschelbär's jab looks to have found its range, popping Branco under the eye.
Branco ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Von Kuschelbär moves away.
Mack Branco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A left lands for Von Kuschelbär.
Branco dips to his left and cracks Von Kuschelbär with an uppercut!
Von Kuschelbär lands with a good body shot.
Branco throws a leg kick but Von Kuschelbär sees it coming and moves out of range.
Branco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Von Kuschelbär sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mack Branco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Von Kuschelbär, as that shot connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big left from Von Kuschelbär misses.
Branco takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A low kick from Branco misses

and Von Kuschelbär counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Branco gets full guard.

Branco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Von Kuschelbär gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Branco striking off his back but it's not causing Von Kuschelbär any problems.
Branco wants to sweep here but Von Kuschelbär controlling him for the moment.
Von Kuschelbär connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Branco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Von Kuschelbär gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Branco trying to keep a closed guard but Von Kuschelbär is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Von Kuschelbär postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Branco has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Von Kuschelbär has passed into side control.
Branco manages to work his way to half guard, despite Von Kuschelbär's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Von Kuschelbär scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Von Kuschelbär lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Von Kuschelbär looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Branco has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Von Kuschelbär is working away from the top position though.
Von Kuschelbär not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Branco is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Von Kuschelbär pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Friedrich Von Kuschelbär comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Von Kuschelbär 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Friedrich Von Kuschelbär!
In his post fight interview, Friedrich Von Kuschelbär started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.