PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oleksandr Usyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wojtek Kaktus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Usyk
vs
Kaktus

155 cm
25
132 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

166 cm
25
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Oleksandr Usyk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Wojtek Kaktus!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaktus throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Usyk tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kaktus is in Usyk's guard.
Usyk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaktus is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Usyk is controlling him.
Kaktus wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Usyk is now in half guard.
Kaktus is staying active underneath Usyk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kaktus is concentrating on defense, preventing Usyk from advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaktus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Usyk is working away from the top position though.
Usyk is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usyk thows a huge punch but Kaktus dodges it nicely.

Usyk decides to return to a standing position.
Kaktus attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Kaktus throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Usyk tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kaktus is in Usyk's guard.
Usyk trying to keep a closed guard but Kaktus is proving a slippery customer.
Usyk being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaktus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Usyk looking for a sweep. Not yet Usyk, not yet.
Usyk pulls Kaktus in close to prevent any damage.
Usyk is trying to control the position but Kaktus postures up.
Usyk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kaktus is one step ahead there.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Usyk working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usyk misses with a takedown attempt

and Kaktus counters by clinching up.
Usyk tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kaktus smiles and moves away.
Kaktus fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Usyk wants to clinch
letting Kaktus counter with a right hand.

Kaktus shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Usyk is holding on to half guard well.
Usyk could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaktus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Usyk's head.
Usyk has his hands clasped together around Kaktus's back. He's all about the action.
Kaktus looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Usyk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Usyk regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kaktus.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wojtek Kaktus dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kaktus moves into the clinch.
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 Kaktus walks away with a smile on his face. Usyk gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Usyk shoots in looking for a takedown but Kaktus manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Usyk's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Kaktus throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Usyk tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kaktus is in Usyk's guard.
Kaktus trying to control the position from guard on top but Usyk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Usyk keeping full guard, as Kaktus tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaktus looking to sit in guard and control but Usyk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kaktus controls Usyk momentarily but Usyk frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usyk being controlled here momentarily.
Kaktus throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Usyk controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaktus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Usyk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kaktus trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Usyk tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kaktus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kaktus tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Usyk defends well and Kaktus ends up having to push Usyk into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Kaktus gets a double leg takedown into Usyk's guard.

Usyk wriggles free and stands up.
Usyk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kaktus swivels and escapes.
Kaktus lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleksandr Usyk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaktus dodges the punch combination from Usyk.
Despite the aggression on Kaktus's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
No luck for Kaktus with that takedown attempt.
Kaktus lands with an uppercut that bounces Usyk off the cage and back into range.

Kaktus clinches with his opponent.

Kaktus ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kaktus no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kaktus is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Kaktus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Usyk gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usyk wants to stand but Kaktus is controlling his posture from full guard.
Usyk looking to pass the guard.
Usyk won't allow Kaktus to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaktus controlling the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wojtek Kaktus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kaktus leaves Usyk with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kaktus tries to counter by closing the distance.
Usyk lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kaktus circles away quickly and effectively.

Usyk gets caught napping as Kaktus dives in and scores a takedown. Usyk manages to retain guard.
Usyk tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Usyk is trying to keep Kaktus in close.
Usyk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kaktus's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaktus trying to keep a closed guard but Usyk is proving a slippery customer.
Usyk trying to control the position from guard on top but Kaktus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usyk won't allow Kaktus to sweep him here.
Kaktus controls Usyk momentarily but Usyk frees himself.
Usyk wants to control from the top but Kaktus keeps moving.
Usyk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kaktus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Usyk controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kaktus pulls Usyk in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Usyk fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kaktus fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Usyk has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Kaktus has managed to clinch.

Kaktus manages to pull guard.
Kaktus controls Usyk momentarily but Usyk frees himself.
Usyk wants to control from the top but Kaktus keeps moving.
Kaktus is trying to control the position but Usyk postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usyk is fighting to break Kaktus's control of his arms but Kaktus is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Usyk advances position into side control!
Kaktus is not content to let Usyk control the position.
Kaktus really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Usyk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kaktus is looking for a sweep.
Kaktus can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kaktus is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Usyk working the ground and pound.

Usyk decides to stand back up. Usyk steps back and let's Kaktus get back to his feet.
Kaktus dives in and grabs Usyk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Usyk pushes down on Kaktus's head and hops out.
Usyk thinks about countering with a body kick.
Kaktus shoots in but Usyk avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Usyk appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Usyk tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kaktus defends well and Usyk ends up having to push Kaktus into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Oleksandr Usyk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wojtek Kaktus is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleksandr Usyk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kaktus has Usyk up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Wojtek Kaktus.
I've got Kaktus winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wojtek Kaktus!