PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stepka Gusarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeus Mac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Gusarov
vs
Mac

168 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
23
151 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Omnipotent Ensemble [MMABR]

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stepka Gusarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zeus Mac!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mac throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gusarov.

Gusarov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gusarov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mac's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mac avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gusarov.
Gusarov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gusarov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gusarov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gusarov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gusarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mac has hold of Gusarov's hands but Gusarov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gusarov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gusarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mac wants to get back to full guard.
Gusarov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gusarov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusarov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gusarov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ground and pound from Gusarov.
Gusarov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mac's head.
Gusarov trying to control the action but Mac is working from the bottom.
Gusarov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gusarov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mac defending well though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mac is looking to clinch.
Mac swats away the attempt to clinch by Gusarov.
Gusarov tries for a takedown but Mac sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gusarov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mac sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mac misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mac.
Gusarov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mac's waist but Mac gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gusarov off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stepka Gusarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mac.
Mac is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mac with a poor takedown

and Gusarov counters with a shoot takedown. Mac fights it but they end up in guard.
Mac looks gassed!
Gusarov throwing strikes but missing.
Mac utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gusarov thows a big elbow that misses.
Gusarov cracks Mac with a solid left hand.
Gusarov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mac utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gusarov scoring with some ground and pound.
Gusarov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mac's head.
Gusarov thows a big elbow that misses.
Gusarov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mac avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gusarov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gusarov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gusarov throws and elbow that misses. Mac uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gusarov's guard. Nice move by Mac!
Gusarov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mac is one step ahead there.
Gusarov trying to keep a closed guard but Mac is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov looking for a sweep. Not yet Gusarov, not yet.
Mac is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gusarov shoots for a takedown but Mac saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gusarov dives in and grabs Mac's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mac pushes down on Gusarov's head and hops out.
Mac fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gusarov has a takedown stuffed.

Gusarov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mac is looking to escape.
Gusarov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stepka Gusarov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gusarov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mac counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Gusarov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Gusarov tries to clinch up
and Mac counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gusarov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mac swats away the attempt to clinch by Gusarov.
Gusarov shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gusarov stuffs the takedown attempt from Mac. Mac gets slowly back to his feet.
Gusarov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stepka Gusarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusarov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mac paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gusarov tries to clinch up
and Mac counters with a head kick. That will keep Gusarov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Mac misses with a takedown attempt

so Gusarov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mac is breathing heavily.
Gusarov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gusarov is looking to work some ground and pound but Mac has wrist control.
Gusarov connects with a couple of short punches.
Mac utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gusarov is looking to work some ground and pound but Mac has wrist control.
Gusarov throwing strikes but missing.
Mac wants to stand but Gusarov is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gusarov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mac avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gusarov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gusarov wants to control from the top but Mac keeps moving.
Gusarov scoring with some ground and pound.
Gusarov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gusarov connects with a couple of short punches.
Gusarov thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac is looking to stand up but Gusarov isn't so interested in that idea.
Mac utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gusarov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gusarov stands up over Mac, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gusarov distracts Mac with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gusarov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gusarov is working Mac over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gusarov is working Mac over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gusarov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mac has momentary wrist control but Gusarov slips an elbow through the middle.
Gusarov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gusarov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gusarov is in close to Mac's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mac utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gusarov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gusarov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gusarov scoring with some ground and pound.
Mac trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gusarov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gusarov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gusarov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gusarov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Gusarov scores with a takedown into Mac's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stepka Gusarov dominated that second round.
That's time! Gusarov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gusarov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mac paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stepka Gusarov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gusarov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Gusarov or perhaps it was just good defense by Mac which made him look bad.
Gusarov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mac's waist but Mac gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gusarov off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stepka Gusarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mac gets a takedown into half guard.
Gusarov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gusarov wants to get back to full guard.
Gusarov is looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mac looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gusarov tries to roll over but Mac keeps him under control.
Gusarov is working hard here to advance position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Gusarov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mac napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gusarov grinds an elbow into Mac's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gusarov misses with the ground and pound.
Gusarov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mac to see if he's OK.
Gusarov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Mac is looking for a sweep.
Check out the look on Gusarov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Gusarov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mac to see if he's OK.
Mac on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Gusarov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Mac is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gusarov connects with a decent elbow.
Gusarov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Mac takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gusarov connects with a decent elbow.
Gusarov cracks Mac with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Gusarov working the head and body with strikes.
Gusarov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gusarov working the ground and pound.
Gusarov lands a few punches from side control.
Gusarov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gusarov cracks Mac with a big elbow.
Gusarov landing a few strikes.
Zeus Mac has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mac taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gusarov is chipping away with strikes.
Gusarov cracks Mac with a big elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov is putting a hurting on Mac here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mac is looking to regain half guard here but Gusarov keeps moving and retains side control.
Gusarov scores with punches from side control.
Mac is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Mac taking punishment in the form of punches.
Mac takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Gusarov lands a nice forearm strike.
Gusarov scoring with punches and elbows.
Gusarov grinds an elbow into Mac's temple.
Gusarov trying to control the position but Mac is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stepka Gusarov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gusarov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stepka Gusarov!