PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Huena Ajuricaba (ranked 1556 p4p, 1089 weight class) and Nori Voluspa (ranked 219 p4p, 159 weight class). Nori Voluspa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ajuricaba
vs
Voluspa

180 cm
23
168
4 - 1 - 0

150 cm
26
170
9 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Huena Ajuricaba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nori Voluspa!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Voluspa shoots in looking for a takedown. Ajuricaba tries to sprawl out of it but Voluspa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ajuricaba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Voluspa fails to land the takedown.

Voluspa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ajuricaba manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Voluspa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ajuricaba has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Voluspa has managed to get both his arms back between Ajuricaba's legs - danger averted.
Voluspa wants to control from the top but Ajuricaba keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voluspa stays in close to Ajuricaba's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voluspa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Voluspa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ajuricaba controlling the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Voluspa working his ground and pound in the gym.
Voluspa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Voluspa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Voluspa advances position into side control!
Voluspa wants to control but Ajuricaba is keeping him busy.
Ajuricaba on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ajuricaba's coaches at Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajuricaba defending against the ground and pound.
Ajuricaba is letting Voluspa control him for a moment.
Voluspa tries to score with some ground and pound. Ajuricaba controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ajuricaba takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Voluspa looks up at the clock and then as Ajuricaba takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Voluspa smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The referee asks Voluspa politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Voluspa prefers to stall for the moment though.
Ajuricaba knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Voluspa on the ground.
Ajuricaba prevents Voluspa from improving position.
You can see the frustration on Ajuricaba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voluspa working the head with strikes.
An elbow from Voluspa crashes against the mat.
Voluspa is looking to take a break and control but Ajuricaba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ajuricaba is trying to get back to half guard.
Ajuricaba isn't going anywhere.
Ajuricaba tries to buck Voluspa off but Voluspa is having none of it.

That's four 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.
Ajuricaba managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Voluspa.
Voluspa is looking to take a break and control but Ajuricaba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Voluspa taking a breather here.
Voluspa working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nori Voluspa dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Voluspa is defended easily by Ajuricaba.
Ajuricaba connects with a right hand. Voluspa shakes it off.
Voluspa moves out of range as Ajuricaba strikes.

Voluspa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ajuricaba is trying to defend but Voluspa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ajuricaba wants to control but Voluspa is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ajuricaba is staying active underneath Voluspa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Voluspa is thwarting Ajuricaba's attempts to control the position.
Nori Voluspa has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voluspa moves nicely into side control.
Ajuricaba tries to control but Voluspa manages to take his back.
Voluspa lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Voluspa.
Voluspa has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Ajuricaba.
Voluspa loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Ajuricaba hold on?
Ajuricaba prevents Voluspa from getting a body triangle.

Ajuricaba showing good submission defense here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voluspa wants to control the position but Ajuricaba frees himself and scrambles - Voluspa manages to regain control in side control.
Voluspa lands a few punches from side control.
Voluspa controlling from side mount.

Voluspa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ajuricaba has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Ajuricaba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voluspa cracks Ajuricaba with a big right hand but Ajuricaba just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Voluspa remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Voluspa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The ground and pound from Voluspa seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Voluspa throwing strikes but Ajuricaba manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Voluspa is looking to reverse the position.
Voluspa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ajuricaba off and has taken his back!
Well, with Voluspa on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Ajuricaba is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ajuricaba tries to roll but Voluspa sticks to his back.
Ajuricaba covers up after that shot from Voluspa.
Ajuricaba is keeping busy.
You can see the frustration on Ajuricaba's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Ajuricaba trying to control the position but Voluspa manages to sink in the hooks.
Voluspa trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Voluspa punishes Ajuricaba with strikes from the back mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nori Voluspa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ajuricaba dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Voluspa wants to clinch up but Ajuricaba keeps it at a distance.
Ajuricaba cracks Voluspa with an open hand slap.
Ajuricaba scores with a shot to the body.
Nori Voluspa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ajuricaba throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Voluspa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ajuricaba defends it nicely.
Voluspa tries for a takedown but Ajuricaba circles away easily
letting Ajuricaba counter with a right hand.
Ajuricaba thuds his right hand into Voluspa's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ajuricaba misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ajuricaba takes a swing at Voluspa's ribcage but misses.
Voluspa slips under a jab.
Voluspa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Huena Ajuricaba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nori Voluspa.
Ajuricaba tests Voluspa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ajuricaba lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voluspa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Voluspa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ajuricaba pinned against the cage. Ajuricaba gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Voluspa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Ajuricaba to counter with a crisp jab.
Voluspa fails with the takedown
and Ajuricaba counters with a left to the body.
Ajuricaba connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ajuricaba is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A slapping body kick lands there for Ajuricaba.
Voluspa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ajuricaba counters with a nice uppercut.
Voluspa tries to clinch up but Ajuricaba circles away and keeps his distance.
Ajuricaba throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ajuricaba scores with a hook to the body. Voluspa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Voluspa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ajuricaba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Ajuricaba. No joy for Voluspa on that attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Ajuricaba misses its target.
Ajuricaba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Voluspa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Voluspa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ajuricaba to the mat! Ajuricaba manages to get full guard.
Voluspa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ajuricaba trying to keep a closed guard but Voluspa is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Voluspa wants to pass the guard but Ajuricaba is keeping the position.
Voluspa connects with a couple of short punches.
Ajuricaba is trying to control the position but Voluspa postures up.
Voluspa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ajuricaba working a defensive guard but Voluspa manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voluspa working the ground and pound.
A control attempt from Ajuricaba but he's now mounted!
Ajuricaba working to try and regain half guard.
Voluspa with good strikes from the mount here!
Ajuricaba wants to hold on but Voluspa pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voluspa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ajuricaba?
Ajuricaba wants to hold on but Voluspa pushes him away.
Voluspa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ajuricaba?
Voluspa is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ajuricaba tries to lock up and control but Voluspa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Voluspa controlling his opponent.
Ajuricaba is bucking up trying to escape but Voluspa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Huena Ajuricaba showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Voluspa 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nori Voluspa!
Our winner, Nori Voluspa, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.