PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valerio Cusanno (ranked 1288 p4p, 2065 weight class) and Leonardo Pancho Garcia (ranked 183 p4p, 260 weight class). Leonardo Pancho Garcia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cusanno
vs
Garcia

172 cm
20
155
5 - 0 - 1

186 cm
20
169
2 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥
Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, Valerio Cusanno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Leonardo Pancho Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cusanno feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Cusanno avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Garcia seems keen to control Cusanno's posture.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet but Cusanno passes into half guard.
Garcia trying to control but Cusanno postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cusanno seems to be looking for submissions.
Garcia wants to control but Cusanno is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusanno is pressing down on Garcia's thigh, looking to free his foot. Garcia is holding on for now.
Garcia is looking to improve his position.
Garcia is positioning himself well to prevent Cusanno advancing to mount.
Cusanno is trying to control the action in half guard but Garcia is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Cusanno is working for a submission of some sort.
Cusanno trying to control from half guard but Garcia is working away.

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.
Cusanno is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Garcia is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Cusanno looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Cusanno gets the takedown into side control.
Garcia tries to buck Cusanno off but Cusanno is having none of it.

Cusanno looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Garcia is trying to control Cusanno's posture but Cusanno avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusanno taking a breather here.
Garcia is looking to regain half guard here but Cusanno keeps moving and retains side control.
Garcia looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Cusanno trying to control the position but Garcia is working away.

Cusanno is trying to get an arm triangle but Garcia is defending well.

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.
Garcia tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Cusanno looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Cusanno is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Garcia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garcia can't do much from the bottom here.
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!

Garcia throws a lazy right hand but Cusanno sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cusanno tries to clinch but Garcia moves out of range.
Garcia misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cusanno avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cusanno lunges at Garcia with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Garcia's hand.
Garcia throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Garcia lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A lazy left from Garcia finds it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Garcia misses.
Garcia misses with a straight left.
Cusanno attempts a counter takedown but Garcia avoids it well and moves away.
Garcia throws a series of punches but Cusanno moves out of range.
Leonardo Pancho Garcia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cusanno half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Garcia gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cusanno to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cusanno stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garcia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cusanno content to stall in guard here.

Garcia is looking for a triangle but Cusanno pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Garcia is looking for a triangle but Cusanno pushes his legs off easily.

Garcia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cusanno passes into side control.
Cusanno is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garcia can do to turn this around?
Cusanno has control of an arm but Garcia manages to advance to Cusanno's back!

Cusanno showing good submission defense here.
Cusanno looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusanno is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Garcia has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Garcia is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Cusanno knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Cusanno for a finish.
Cusanno is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Garcia is riding his opponent, not letting Cusanno buck him off.
Cusanno prevents Garcia from getting a body triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cusanno defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Cusanno just trying to survive but Garcia is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Will Garcia go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcia has the hooks in. Cusanno is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Cusanno looking very determined here, making life difficult for Garcia.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Pancho Garcia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Garcia lands a jab-cross combination.
Garcia scores with a nice strike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Garcia. Cusanno does a little dance to reset his feet.

Cusanno looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Garcia!
Garcia manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cusanno seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Garcia does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Garcia desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia is refusing to be controlled, as Cusanno sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia is pressing down on Cusanno's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Garcia trying to control the position.
Cusanno trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Garcia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cusanno trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Garcia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cusanno is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Garcia working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cusanno is defended easily by Garcia.
Leonardo Pancho Garcia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cusanno keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Garcia.
Garcia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cusanno.
Cusanno tries to counter with a takedown but Garcia is quick to defend against it.
Leonardo Pancho Garcia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Garcia throws a body punch but Cusanno moves out of range.
Cusanno tries to counter with a takedown but Garcia is quick to defend against it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cusanno.
Garcia misses with a two punch combination.
Garcia missing with a left hand there. Cusanno was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia connects with a body shot.
Garcia throws out a powerful jab.
Garcia throws a jab when Cusanno was well out of range.
Cusanno staying out of range there.
Garcia throws a hook but Cusanno blocks it.
Garcia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Garcia with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cusanno to score with a decent uppercut.

Garcia tries to sprawl but Cusanno drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Garcia won't allow Cusanno to pass to mount.
Garcia wants to control but Cusanno is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Cusanno is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cusanno wants to pass to mount but Garcia is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garcia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Garcia is looking for a sweep. Cusanno is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcia is refusing to be controlled, as Cusanno sits in half guard.
Garcia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cusanno is working away from the top position though.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Pancho Garcia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Garcia has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Pancho Garcia!