PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Cusumano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CJ Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cusumano's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Aint no Rest for the Wicked by Cage the Elephant. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cusumano
vs
Hammer

180 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

THE STEEL PENN NUTRITION
Nemesis Cage Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stephen Cusumano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, CJ Hammer!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cusumano misses with a double jab.
Cusumano throws a nice looking combination but Hammer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No joy there for Cusumano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cusumano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hammer circles away quickly and effectively.
A left and a right from Cusumano both land. Nice combination.
Hammer walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hammer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cusumano defends it nicely.
Cusumano slaps away a takedown attempt from Hammer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cusumano really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cusumano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hammer.
Hammer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stephen Cusumano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of CJ Hammer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer slips a jab and a cross from Cusumano.
Stephen Cusumano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cusumano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cusumano misses with a two punch combination.
Cusumano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cusumano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hammer.
Cusumano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hammer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cusumano as he jumps to the side.

Hammer scores with a takedown into Cusumano's guard.
Cusumano wants to stand but Hammer is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano keeping full guard, as Hammer tries to pass.

Hammer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hammer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hammer tries to free his leg and advance position but Cusumano is retaining full guard.
Cusumano knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hammer on the ground.
Hammer is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hammer looks gassed!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hammer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cusumano defends it nicely.
Cusumano misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano stalks Hammer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hammer's face. Hammer staggers backwards, shaken.
Cusumano misses with a wild combination.
Cusumano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cusumano tries to bum rush Hammer with a series of wild strikes but Hammer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hammer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cusumano sprawls well. Cusumano wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hammer gets slowly back to his feet.
Cusumano lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hammer backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Cusumano as Hammer shoots in.
Hammer slips a jab from Cusumano.
Hammer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cusumano.
Cusumano swinging wildly here.
Cusumano looks to land a combination but Hammer avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Cusumano dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cusumano throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cusumano looks to land a combination but Hammer avoids it well.
Hammer shoots in but no luck this time.
Cusumano misses with a two punch combination.
Cusumano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cusumano throws a jab but it's blocked by Hammer.
Hammer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cusumano's waist but Cusumano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hammer off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cusumano misses with a double jab.
Hammer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stephen Cusumano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of CJ Hammer.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cusumano. Hammer does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cusumano throws a series of punches but Hammer avoids them all with ease.
Cusumano swinging wildly here.
Some wild striking there from Cusumano.
Stephen Cusumano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hammer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cusumano but Cusumano pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hammer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cusumano sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hammer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cusumano lands a jab-cross combination.
Stephen Cusumano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cusumano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cusumano swinging wildly here.
Cusumano throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck for Hammer with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer dives in and grabs Cusumano's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cusumano pushes down on Hammer's head and hops out.
Cusumano lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cusumano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hammer moves away.
Hammer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Some wild striking there from Cusumano.
Hammer tries for a takedown but Cusumano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cusumano throws a hook to the side of Hammer's head but Hammer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hammer closes the distance and clinches up with Cusumano, looking for a takedown. Hammer pushes Cusumano against the cage but Cusumano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cusumano swinging wildly here.
A shot to de liver by Cusumano. Beautiful body shot.
Hammer avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cusumano throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice takedown defense from Cusumano. No joy for Hammer on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Cusumano dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cusumano leaves Hammer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Good exchange - Cusumano coming out on top.
Cusumano throws a right hand that Hammer ducks under and follows up with a left that Hammer also avoids with ease.
Cusumano tests Hammer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cusumano misses with a few strikes there.
Horrible takedown by Hammer or perhaps it was just good defense by Cusumano which made him look bad.
Cusumano keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stephen Cusumano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of CJ Hammer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusumano throws a nice looking combination but Hammer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A combination from Cusumano does no damage.
Cusumano cracks Hammer with a good jab.
Cusumano throws a nice looking combination but Hammer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cusumano swings for the body but Hammer moves out of range.
Cusumano throws a nice looking combination but Hammer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hammer takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hammer dodges the punch combination from Cusumano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Hammer with that takedown attempt.
Hammer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cusumano sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hammer somewhat.
Cusumano connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hammer momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Cusumano there.
Hammer is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cusumano misses with a double jab.
Cusumano wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hammer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hammer tries to move into range but Cusumano moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cusumano connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano lands a jab to Hammer's midsection.
Good shot there by Cusumano.
Cusumano lands a lovely overhand right.
Hammer takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hammer shoots in for a double leg but Cusumano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cusumano throws a right hand that Hammer ducks under and follows up with a left that Hammer also avoids with ease.
Cusumano dips to his left and cracks Hammer with an uppercut!
Cusumano throws a one two combo.
CJ Hammer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Cusumano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A lazy left from Cusumano finds it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Cusumano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cusumano, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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