PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chris Wong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleksandr Usyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oleksandr Usyk acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Wong
vs
Usyk

155 cm
18
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
25
132 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chris Wong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Oleksandr Usyk!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wong scores with a shot to the body.
Wong could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Wong cracks Usyk with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Oleksandr Usyk has been cut.

Wong has Usyk up against the cage in a clinch.

Wong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wong shoots in for a takedown but Usyk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Usyk fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wong avoids the head kick by Usyk.
Wong fails with a takedown attempt.

Usyk drives through with a takedown into Wong's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Wong manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Wong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Usyk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wong tries to avoid it but Usyk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wong to the ground. Wong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usyk tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wong sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Usyk somewhat.

Wong darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Usyk pushes Wong off and gets back to his feet.

Wong forces Usyk back against the cage and clinches.
Wong pressing his opponent against the cage.
Wong goes for a takedown attempt but Usyk pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Wong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usyk closes the distance and clinches up with Wong, looking for a takedown. Usyk pushes Wong against the cage but Wong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Usyk looks winded!
Usyk fails to land the takedown.
Wong changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Usyk fails with the takedown

and Wong moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wong pressing his opponent against the cage.

Wong breaks from the clinch.
Wong is trying hard to land a takedown here. Usyk sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wong throws a head kick but Usyk moves out of range.

Wong shoots in and gets a takedown into Usyk's guard.
Wong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Usyk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wong throws a big elbow that misses.
Wong trying to control the position from guard on top but Usyk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wong is really struggling to control Usyk but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Usyk is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usyk trying to control the action but Wong is working from the bottom.
Wong is trying to get back to full guard.
Wong wants to control but Usyk is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Usyk blocks the strikes from Wong.

Usyk is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Wong is just riding it out for now. Usyk eventually gives up the hold.
Wong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Usyk on the ground.
Wong is positioning himself well to prevent Usyk advancing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Wong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oleksandr Usyk's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wong darts in looking for a takedown but Usyk gets double underhooks and turns Wong into the cage.
Chris Wong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wong shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Usyk sprawls well. Usyk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Wong gets slowly back to his feet.
Usyk defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wong.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Wong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wong shoots in but Usyk avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Usyk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wong sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Usyk misses with an uppercut

and Wong counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Usyk!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wong tries to stand but Usyk controls the position and pulls Wong into his guard.
Usyk throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Usyk has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Wong has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usyk is trying to break the clinch but Wong has him pressed against the cage.
Wong is trying to drag Usyk to the mat but Usyk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Usyk tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wong just stands there and leans against the cage.

Wong breaks from the clinch.

Wong clinches with his opponent.

Wong manages to pull guard.
Usyk is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wong keeping moving, preventing Usyk from controlling successfully.
Usyk seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Let's hope that Usyk has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Usyk's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Wong has closed the distance and engaged Usyk in a clinch.
Usyk is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Wong is defending well.
Usyk wants to break the clinch but can't.

Wong manages to pull guard.
Usyk won't allow Wong to sweep him here.
Usyk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usyk advances to half guard.
Wong is refusing to be controlled, as Usyk sits in half guard.
Wong tries to roll over but Usyk keeps him under control.
Usyk lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wong is trying to control but Usyk passes into side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Usyk trying to control the action but Wong is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Oleksandr Usyk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Oleksandr Usyk's cut.
That's time! Wong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Usyk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Usyk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wong tries to avoid it but Usyk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wong to the ground. Wong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Usyk paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wong throws a head kick but Usyk moves out of range.
Chris Wong is winning the standup battle so far.

Wong scores with a takedown into Usyk's guard.

Usyk has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Wong is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wong managing to block the knees to the body from Usyk.
Usyk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Usyk tries to break free but Wong pushes him back against the cage.
Usyk jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wong walks away with a smile on his face. Usyk gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Chris Wong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleksandr Usyk.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Usyk enables Wong to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Usyk manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Usyk wants to get back to his feet but Wong passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wong is looking to pass Usyk's guard but actually Usyk recovers to full guard.
Usyk throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Wong has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Usyk working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wong doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wong manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Usyk keeping moving, preventing Wong from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usyk is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Usyk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wong.
Usyk keeping full guard, as Wong tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usyk is trying to control the position but Wong postures up.

Usyk looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Wong has picked Usyk up and slammed him! Usyk can't keep hold of the triangle and Wong manages to pass to side control!
Wong in side control, throwing shots but Usyk defends.
Usyk is looking to reverse the position.
Wong advances to full mount.
Usyk tries to lock up and control but Wong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wong raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wong trying to control but Usyk is having none of it.
Usyk tries to lock up and control but Wong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wong prevents Usyk from getting the reversal.

Wong with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Wong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Wong!