PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Earl Jeffries (ranked 890 p4p, 121 weight class) and Alexander Usikov (ranked 642 p4p, 87 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Jeffries
vs
Usikov

180 cm
31
200 lbs
24 - 14 - 1

175 cm
37
195 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 24 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Earl Jeffries !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Usikov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usikov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It looked like Jeffries was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Usikov.
Usikov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Usikov throws a shot to the body.
Usikov tries a head kick but it misses.
A quick step to the side and Jeffries tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A solid leg kick lands there for Usikov.
Jeffries takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Usikov lands with a hook. Jeffries tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Usikov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jeffries backing away here, and Usikov unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Usikov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jeffries seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Jeffries bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Usikov's head backwards.
Usikov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Jeffries avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
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!
Usikov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Usikov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Usikov lands with an overhand left.
A nice inside leg kick there by Usikov. That's going to slow Jeffries down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Usikov takes the fight into the clinch.
Jeffries tries to throw a body punch but Usikov avoids it by throwing Jeffries back against the cage.
Usikov avoids a wild elbow strike from Jeffries .
Usikov misses with a knee to the head.
Jeffries lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Alexander Usikov has been cut.
Usikov lands an uppercut.
Usikov misses with a knee to the head.
Usikov avoids a wild elbow strike from Jeffries .
Jeffries throws an elbow that misses.
Usikov working Jeffries over with knees to the body.
Usikov's coach down at St Petersburg MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Usikov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Jeffries is breathing heavily.
Nice elbow from Usikov.
Usikov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Usikov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jeffries tries a body shot but Usikov blocks it.

Usikov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Usikov feints and then cracks Jeffries 's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jeffries down.
Jeffries swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jeffries chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Usikov can pounce on him.
Usikov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jeffries checks it well.
Some wild striking there from Usikov.
Jeffries takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Usikov throws out a leg kick but Jeffries moves out of range and Usikov only half commits.

Jeffries has Usikov up against the cage in a clinch.
Jeffries misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jeffries pushes off an throws an elbow but Usikov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Usikov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jeffries blocks it with crossed arms.
Jeffries misses with an elbow strike.
Usikov lands a nice elbow.
Jeffries can't find room to land a body shot as Usikov controls the action.
Usikov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jeffries throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Jeffries .
Usikov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Usikov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Usikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Usikov missing with knees to the body.
Usikov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Usikov misses with a knee strike.
Jeffries tries to work over Usikov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jeffries on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Usikov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jeffries blocks it with crossed arms.
Usikov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Usikov tries to land a knee to the head but Jeffries blocks with his arms.
Jeffries pushes off an throws an elbow but Usikov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jeffries 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jeffries tries a body shot but Usikov blocks it.

Usikov manages to break the clinch.
Usikov looks to land a left hand but Jeffries moved out of range nicely.
Alexander Usikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Usikov wants to land a leg kick but Jeffries is out of range.
Jeffries moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jeffries moves out of range of the body kick from Usikov.
Usikov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jeffries on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Usikov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Usikov digs a good body shot into Jeffries 's ribs.
Some bone on bone action there as Jeffries checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Jeffries will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Usikov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Usikov swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Usikov thows a leg kick but Jeffries checks it
and Jeffries connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Usikov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Jeffries misses the target.

Jeffries tries to keep at a distance but Usikov has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Usikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Usikov'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.

Usikov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Usikov misses with a knee strike.
Usikov lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Earl Jeffries has been cut.
Jeffries misses with the head strike.
Usikov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jeffries blocks it with crossed arms.
Usikov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jeffries misses with a body punch.
Usikov lands a nice knee to the body.
Usikov avoids a wild elbow strike from Jeffries .
Usikov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Usikov tries to land a knee to the head but Jeffries blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Usikov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jeffries blocks it with crossed arms.
Usikov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Usikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jeffries .
Jeffries 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Usikov lands a knee to the head.

Jeffries is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usikov lands a nice elbow.
Oh Jeffries is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Usikov lands a huge knee in the clinch and it's knocked Jeffries out! Massive knee - he's celebrating with his corner and the crowd showing their appreciation!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). Alexander Usikov!
A very excited looking Alexander Usikov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.