PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bill Dance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Luciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charles Luciano acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Dance
vs
Luciano

177 cm
21
181 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

176 cm
24
181 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

[MMABR] WIN Nutritional
[MMABR] WIN Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bill Dance!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Luciano!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dance fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dance uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luciano.
Luciano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Luciano just misses with a punch to the body.

Luciano shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dance manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dance looking for a sweep. Not yet Dance, not yet.
Luciano tries to stand but Dance is controlling from the bottom.
Luciano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dance. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dance wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance working a defensive guard here.
Dance wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A combination from Luciano does no damage.
Luciano throws a nice looking combination but Dance bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Luciano misses with a few strikes there.
Luciano moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Luciano throws a nice looking combination but Dance bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Luciano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Luciano throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Luciano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Dance, as that shot connected.
Luciano looks to land a combination but Dance avoids it well.
A punch combination from Luciano misses.
Dance avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luciano misses with a few strikes there.
Dance throws a wild body kick that Luciano sees coming a mile off.
Charles Luciano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dance shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Luciano pushes Dance off looking to stand but Dance dives back in and keeps control.
Dance thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Luciano's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dance working the head and body with strikes.
Luciano avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dance.
Dance missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Luciano is not content to let Dance control the position.
Dance with the ground and pound but Luciano uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Dance throws a big right hand that misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Luciano can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dance working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dance trying to control but Luciano is working from the bottom.
Dance looking to pass the guard.

That's four 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A punch combination from Luciano misses.
Dance scores with a jab.
Luciano tries to bum rush Dance with a series of wild strikes but Dance uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Luciano scores with a shot to the body.
Dance keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Luciano.
Luciano misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dance shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Luciano but Luciano pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dance showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Luciano.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luciano fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Charles Luciano will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Luciano swinging wildly here.
Luciano swinging wildly here.
Luciano throws a series of punches but Dance moves out of range.
Dance is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Dance looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Luciano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dance shoots and misses
and Luciano counters with a stiff right hand.
Luciano thows a body shot but no joy.
Dance connects with a crisp jab.

Dance is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Luciano's half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance stalling.
Luciano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dance.
Luciano regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Dance.
Dance throws a big right hand that misses.
Dance in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dance stops Luciano from standing up.
Dance throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dance stands up over Luciano, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dance working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dance distracts Luciano with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dance stops Luciano from standing up.
Dance stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Luciano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Luciano controlling the position.
Dance works over Luciano with some ground and pound from guard.
Luciano working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dance throwing strikes but missing.
Dance makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dance landing some decent shots from guard.
Dance trying to control the position from guard on top but Luciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dance trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dance wants to control from the top but Luciano keeps moving.
Luciano pulls Dance in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dance works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Dance thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dance missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Luciano controlling the position well.
Ground and pound from Dance.
Dance wants to control but Luciano is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Dance dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Luciano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Dance.
Dance fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luciano manages to avoid it.

Dance bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dance wants to control for a moment but Luciano uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Luciano is trying to stand.
Nice strikes from Dance there.
Dance missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Luciano on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance slips a nice elbow through Luciano's hands, connecting with Luciano's forehead.
Dance throwing shots but Luciano is blocking nicely.
Dance throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dance lands a nice short elbow.
Dance thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dance throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Luciano wants to improve his position but Dance is controlling well.
Dance thows a huge punch but Luciano dodges it nicely.
Luciano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dance.

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.
Dance looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Dance there.
Dance missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dance winds up and cracks Luciano with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dance connects with a nice short shot to Luciano's temple.
Dance is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Luciano tries to get to full guard but Dance has control of the leg.
Luciano keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dance thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Luciano's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dance throwing shots but Luciano is blocking nicely.
Luciano is trying to stand back up but Dance is controlling him
Dance thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Luciano to regain full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dance accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Danga de danga de dang - Dance scores with a four punch combination!
Luciano misses with a double jab

so Dance counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Luciano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dance throwing strikes from guard but Luciano blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dance postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dance tries to free his leg and advance position but Luciano is retaining full guard.
Dance throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Luciano works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Luciano is pulling down on Dance's head to control his posture.
Dance postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Luciano trying to keep a closed guard but Dance is proving a slippery customer.

Luciano pushes Dance off and scrambles back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bill Dance showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dance has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Dance!
Bill Dance retains his welterweight title!