PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franjo Tuce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Mitchell Joseph has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Joseph
vs
Tuce

178 cm
23
210 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

187 cm
18
204 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitchell Joseph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franjo Tuce!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuce shoots in for a takedown but Joseph shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A punch combination from Joseph misses.

Tuce shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tuce showed some decent athleticism there.
Tuce wants to pass to mount but Joseph is defending the position.
Tuce is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Joseph!

Tuce swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Joseph is now in Tuce's guard. A big mistake from Tuce there, giving up the dominant position!
Tuce 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.
Tuce wants to improve his position but instead Joseph has moved into half guard.
Joseph tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tuce controls his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuce is looking for a sweep. Joseph is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tuce trying to get back to full guard but Joseph takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Tuce is working to get back to half guard.
Tuce is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Joseph sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Joseph prevents Tuce from getting the reversal.

That's two 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.
Tuce looks gassed!

Joseph looking for a guillotine from mount but Tuce is having none of it.
Tuce tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joseph landing strikes from the mount.
Joseph with shots to the head and body - Tuce looks very uncomfortable down there.
Tuce is in all sorts of trouble here.
Tuce sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Tuce wants to improve his position but Joseph is controlling well.
Joseph is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuce is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Joseph scores with a couple of nice shots.

Joseph gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Joseph shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tuce as he jumps to the side.
Joseph fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Joseph pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Joseph lands a big head kick that sends Tuce tumbling to the mat! Joseph takes a step backwards and waves Tuce back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Tuce is rocked!

It looks like Franjo Tuce has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Joseph.
Tuce is still in real trouble! Can Joseph finish him?

Joseph decides to stand back up.
Tuce seems to have recovered his senses.
Tuce misses with a takedown attempt
and Joseph counters with a head kick.
Franjo Tuce seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joseph goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tuce misses with a takedown
and Joseph counters with a big head kick but Tuce shrugs it off.
Mitchell Joseph has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franjo Tuce.
Tuce changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Joseph tries to avoid it but Tuce manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Joseph to the ground. Joseph escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Joseph goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph lands a head shot.
Tuce misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Joseph moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tuce shoots and misses
and Joseph counters with a right hand to the body.
Joseph lands with a slapping head kick.
Crunch! Joseph slams his shin into Tuce's torso.
Joseph stuffs the takedown attempt from Tuce. Tuce gets slowly back to his feet.
Joseph throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tuce.
Joseph lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Joseph, right into the meat.
Joseph rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tuce moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Joseph with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Joseph tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tuce slaps away a takedown attempt from Joseph, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tuce fails with the takedown.
Joseph moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Joseph dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Franjo Tuce's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tuce misses with a takedown attempt - Joseph sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Joseph throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tuce.
Joseph tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Joseph pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Joseph tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tuce swivels and escapes.

Tuce shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tuce showed some decent athleticism there.

Tuce looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Tuce is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuce working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Joseph's thigh. Joseph counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Joseph kicks Tuce off and gets to his feet.

Joseph shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Joseph slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Joseph scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph cracks Tuce with a solid left hand.
Joseph wants to control from the top but Tuce keeps moving.
Joseph wants to stand but Tuce is controlling his posture from full guard.

Tuce has an active guard here but Joseph has managed to pass into half guard.
Joseph works his way into full mount!
Joseph controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuce is looking to get to half guard.
Joseph working Tuce over with strikes here.
Tuce is trying to escape the mount.
Joseph trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tuce is desperately trying to improve his position but Joseph has a good base and remains in mount.
Joseph takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four 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.
Tuce tries to reverse the position but Joseph maintains control.
Joseph looking to control but Tuce is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Joseph with the ground and pound from mount.
Joseph looking to control but Tuce is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mitchell Joseph overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Joseph looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Joseph dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Franjo Tuce's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Joseph lunges at Tuce with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tuce's hand.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Tuce fails with the takedown.
Joseph fails with a takedown attempt.
Mitchell Joseph is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joseph fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Joseph misses with the combination.
Joseph shoots for a takedown but Tuce saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mitchell Joseph. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joseph misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tuce tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Tuce closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tuce lands in his opponent's guard.
Tuce tries to free his leg and advance position but Joseph is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuce slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tuce is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Tuce trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Joseph wants to get back to his feet but Tuce is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Tuce drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Joseph manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tuce has Joseph in his guard.
Tuce wants to sweep here but Joseph controlling him for the moment.

That's two 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.
Tuce can't keep his opponent in guard - Joseph advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Joseph wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tuce keeps working.

Joseph escapes and gets back to his feet.
Joseph displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tuce.
Joseph lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Joseph throws a head kick that half lands.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Joseph!
Tuce fails with a takedown attempt.
Joseph misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuce fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Joseph avoids it really well and circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Joseph scores with a four punch combination!
Joseph lands with a slapping head kick.

Tuce scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tuce working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Joseph's thigh. Joseph counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Joseph keeping full guard, as Tuce tries to pass.

Tuce has gone for a leg lock! Joseph slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tuce's guard.
Joseph tries to stand but Tuce is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tuce looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Joseph slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
You can see the frustration on Tuce's face as Joseph controls the position.
Mitchell Joseph is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tuce is trying to get back to half guard.

Joseph stands up and beckons Tuce to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tuce shoots in but Joseph avoids the takedown attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitchell Joseph showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Joseph 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Mitchell Joseph!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Mitchell Joseph!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Mitchell Joseph!

Mitchell Joseph wins by unanimous decision!