PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oleksandr Usyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edern Ap Nudd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ap Nudd comes into a darkened arena with his song building. In Flames-Take This Life kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Edern Ap Nudd acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Usyk
vs
Ap Nudd

190 cm
32
250 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

180 cm
36
220 lbs
20 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleksandr Usyk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Edern Ap Nudd!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usyk takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ap Nudd ducks under a wild hook from Usyk.
Usyk takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ap Nudd misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Usyk.
Ap Nudd scores with a hook to the body. Usyk takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Usyk stuns Ap Nudd with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Usyk displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
We've been informed that Ap Nudd has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Usyk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Usyk clinches with his opponent.
Ap Nudd throws a head punch that misses.
Usyk is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ap Nudd is keeping busy.
I was talking to Usyk's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Nice elbow from Usyk.

It looks like Edern Ap Nudd has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ap Nudd misses with a body punch.
Ap Nudd tries a body shot but Usyk blocks it.
Usyk using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ap Nudd has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ap Nudd taking a breather.
Ap Nudd tries to throw a body punch but Usyk avoids it by throwing Ap Nudd back against the cage.

Usyk manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ap Nudd ducks under a wild hook from Usyk.
Ap Nudd connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Usyk checks the leg kick.
It looked like Usyk was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ap Nudd.
Usyk lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Usyk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ap Nudd.
Usyk takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Usyk throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Usyk lands a big shot that drops Ap Nudd! Can he finish him?

Ap Nudd is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Usyk controlling from the top position.
Ap Nudd looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Usyk stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usyk moves away from the strike by Ap Nudd.
Ap Nudd throws a quick inside leg kick.
Usyk fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Ap Nudd to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Ap Nudd looks to clinch but Usyk throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Ap Nudd taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:15 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Oleksandr Usyk!