Justin Wetzell pulls off upset, outgrapples Kasum Kasumov for semifinal slot

Kasum Kasumov began wrestling in high school, and coming from Dagestan, that has proven to be perhaps his greatest strength in the cage. A Master of Sports and champion in Combat Sambo, Kasumov had over 50 amateur fights – with his only loss coming against now-teammate Umar Nurmagomedov. Kasumov has won 16 of 17 fights and is currently on a six-fight win streak, most recently defeating Matheus Mattos last June.

Justin Wetzell’s journey into MMA began with wrestling at a young age, serving as his foundation for his skill set. The 12-fight veteran, who has won nine of his last 10, moved to Denver in 2017, where he began training with Easton Martial Arts and Pound for Pound Kickboxing alongside the likes of Cory Sandhagen and Tywan Claxton. Wetzell last fought in October, defeating Bekhzod Usmonov.

Which of these two will take a spot in the bantamweight semifinals?

Round 1

Kasumov comes forward and lands an inside low kick. Wetzell tries to throw a combination but eats a counter hook. Left hand from Kasumov. Right hand from Kasumov in the clinch. Low kick from Kasumov. Wetzell with a combination before the two clinch up. Wetzell brings Kasumov over to the fence. Right hand by Kasumov. Kasumov slips away. Short uppercut from Wetzell and he brings Kasumov back to the fence. Kasumov circles and we have a jockeying for position. Knee to the midsection by Kasumov. Kasumov pins Wetzell to the fence. Knee by Kasumov to the thigh. Another knee. Knee to the midsection.

Kasumov continues to land the knees. Wetzell breaks it off. Left hand from Wetzell. Left hand from Kasumov. Combination from Wetzell. Right front kick by Kasumov. Wetzell lands, and Kasumov answers back. Wetzell pressures Kasumov to the fence and gets to his back. Kasumov transitions, and he gets his back to the fence. Wetzell searches for the takedown, but Kasumov matches the level and succeeds in wrist control, eventually getting free. Kasumov with the lead hand. Front kick by Kasumov. Kasumov with a sweep attempt as he presses Wetzell into the cage. Kasumov finishes the takedown, but Wetzell goes for a guillotine! Kasumov punches and sees the bell.

Round 2

Sharp left by Kasumov. Kasumov with an inside leg kick. One-two by Kasumov. Straight right hand by Wetzell. Slip to the inside by Kasumov. Another clinch, and Wetzell gets the double underhooks, bringing Kasumov to the fence again. Right hands from Kasumov. Knee by Kasumov, too. Wetzell tries for the takedown, but Kasumov works his way off. Wetzell with a left hand, which catches Kasumov’s attention. Kasumov looks for a deep takedown. Wetzell with elbows to the head. Kasumov keeps chasing for the takedown, but Wetzell tries to square up. Elbows to the side of the head again by Wetzell.

Another knee by Kasumov, but Wetzell doesn’t concede. Wetzell looks for the takedown, but Kasumov with the deep choke. He doesn’t get it but gets to reverse the position on Wetzell. Right knee by Kasumov. Wetzell pummels and gets wrist control. Wetzell trades places with Kasumov again. One minute remaining. Wetzell scoops Kasumov up and scores the takedown. Wetzell’s legs are around Kasumov’s as he lands the right hands. Kasumov gets back to his feet, but Wetzell remains pressing him into the fence – where the round ends.

Round 3

Wetzell with a left hand. One-two from Wetzell. Left hand by Kasumov. Wetzell presses again, but Kasumov quickly gets Wetzell’s back to the fence. Kasumov lands some strikes before the action becomes another clinch control battle. Kasumov gets Wetzell back to a different part of the cage. Kasumov with a pair of knees to the legs. Knee to the midsection and a left hand from Wetzell. Elbows to the side of the head by Wetzell. Knee to the body by Kasumov. Some separation and Wetzel looks to land with the left. Kasumov clinches him up, however, and it’s back to the fence.

Inside elbows from Wetzell. Wetzell lands another and presses Kasumov into the fence for a takedown. He gets the takedown! Kasumov gets back to his feet and looks for one of his own, but Wetzell defends it well. He continues to land on Kasumov on the ground. Wetzell has a triangle around Kasumov, and now he’s got him stretched out into some inverted North-South position. Elbows by Wetzell to the lower back of Kasumov. Kasumov looks to escape, but the triangle remains. He’s got a figure-four around Kasumov’s body, including his shin against the neck. Wetzell pounds away on Kasumov’s legs until the bell.

OFFICIAL RESULT

Justin Wetzell defeats Kasum Kasumov by unanimous decision (30-27x2, 29-28), advancing to the Semifinals in the Bantamweight Bracket. Wetzell will face the winner of Francesco Nuzzi vs. Mando Gutierrez.