PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dechapon Sitsongrit (ranked 1950 p4p, 1726 weight class) and Valerio Cusanno (ranked 262 p4p, 237 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sitsongrit
vs
Cusanno

174 cm
21
156
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
155
4 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA ðŸï¸
Brooklyn Threads

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dechapon Sitsongrit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, Valerio Cusanno!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Cusanno. Those never looked like landing.
Cusanno works Sitsongrit's body with a nice hook.
Cusanno shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sitsongrit sprawls well. Sitsongrit wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cusanno gets slowly back to his feet.
Cusanno looks to throw the jab but Sitsongrit is out of range.
Cusanno cracks Sitsongrit with a good jab.
Cusanno lands with a right hand.

Cusanno drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cusanno stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sitsongrit swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cusanno sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sitsongrit wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cusanno wants to control from the top but Sitsongrit keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusanno tries to free his leg and advance position but Sitsongrit is retaining full guard.
Cusanno is looking to advance position but Sitsongrit has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Sitsongrit controlling the pace for now.
Cusanno is working to get back to half guard.
Cusanno tries to hold on but Sitsongrit pushes him away.
Sitsongrit sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cusanno is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sitsongrit controlling from the full mount.
Cusanno can't escape the position.
Sitsongrit controlling his opponent.
Cusanno is looking to get to half guard.
Cusanno felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Sitsongrit sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sitsongrit can't control as he wanted to and Cusanno manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusanno is trying to control but can't.
Sitsongrit knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cusanno on the ground.
Cusanno wants to improve his position but Sitsongrit is controlling well.
Cusanno gets full guard.

Cusanno is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cusanno controls Sitsongrit momentarily but Sitsongrit frees himself.

Cusanno is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cusanno is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sitsongrit defends well.
Sitsongrit wants to control from the top but Cusanno keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cusanno is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sitsongrit defends well.
Sitsongrit not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Cusanno has his foot on Sitsongrit's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sitsongrit works his way back into a safe position though.

Cusanno is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sitsongrit defends well.
Cusanno is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sitsongrit preventing the sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valerio Cusanno dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cusanno drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sitsongrit looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cusanno slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sitsongrit keeping full guard, as Cusanno tries to pass.
Sitsongrit is trying to keep Cusanno in close.

Cusanno drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cusanno jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cusanno trying to control the position from guard on top but Sitsongrit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sitsongrit seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cusanno slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusanno wants to free his trapped foot but Sitsongrit is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sitsongrit is looking for a sweep. Cusanno is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cusanno tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sitsongrit knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cusanno looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Cusanno passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sitsongrit!
Sitsongrit is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Cusanno is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sitsongrit has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sitsongrit tries to hold on but Cusanno pushes him away.
Valerio Cusanno has got the better of the ground game so far.

Cusanno jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sitsongrit manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Sitsongrit tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cusanno trying to control the position but Sitsongrit is working away.
Sitsongrit on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sitsongrit tries to get out of the position.

Cusanno tries for a kimura but Sitsongrit is defending well.
Cusanno trying to control the action but Sitsongrit is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cusanno is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sitsongrit knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sitsongrit is looking to reverse the position.
Cusanno trying to control the position but Sitsongrit is working away.

Cusanno is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sitsongrit has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cusanno wants to control for a moment but Sitsongrit uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's four 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.
Cusanno trying to control the action but Sitsongrit is working from the bottom.
Sitsongrit wants to control but Cusanno is keeping busy.
Cusanno wants to free his trapped foot but Sitsongrit is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sitsongrit wants to improve his position but Cusanno is controlling well.

Cusanno is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cusanno tries to pass to full mount but Sitsongrit defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valerio Cusanno showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sitsongrit's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cusanno looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sitsongrit!
Sitsongrit manages to get back to half guard.
Cusanno content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cusanno wants to free his trapped foot but Sitsongrit is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cusanno is trying to control. Sitsongrit wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sitsongrit holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Cusanno has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cusanno is controlling the pace.
Cusanno prevents Sitsongrit from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sitsongrit won't allow Cusanno to pass to mount.

Cusanno is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cusanno trying to pass the guard but Sitsongrit defending well.
Sitsongrit wants to improve his position but Cusanno is controlling well.
Cusanno works his foot free and advances to mount.
Dechapon Sitsongrit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cusanno is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sitsongrit to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sitsongrit shrugs it off.
Cusanno trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sitsongrit has given up his back here. Will Cusanno look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Cusanno is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Cusanno is looking to control Sitsongrit but Sitsongrit is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Cusanno avoiding Sitsongrit 's attempts to control his hands.
Sitsongrit is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cusanno is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sitsongrit staying busy and making it hard for Cusanno to control.

Sitsongrit is trying to defend against the choke here but Cusanno has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Cusanno Tightens the hold and Sitsongrit taps out furiously! Cusanno displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Valerio Cusanno!
During a confident post fight interview, Valerio Cusanno thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.