PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leonid Vasilevsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerald Luker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gerald Luker acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Vasilevsky
vs
Luker

175 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
26
147 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leonid Vasilevsky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gerald Luker!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luker clinches up with Vasilevsky and pushes him back against the cage.
Vasilevsky has Luker pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Luker manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A knee to the head by Luker.

Vasilevsky is trying to trip Luker. He has hold of a leg but Luker is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Vasilevsky persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Vasilevsky's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Luker keeping moving, preventing Vasilevsky from controlling successfully.
Vasilevsky won't allow Luker to sweep him here.
Luker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Luker 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasilevsky content to stall in guard here.

Leonid Vasilevsky has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Luker misses with a body kick.

Luker changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vasilevsky looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Vasilevsky is looking for a sweep.
Vasilevsky holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Luker misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Vasilevsky tries to buck Luker off but Luker is having none of it.
Vasilevsky is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasilevsky struggling a bit here.
Luker postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Luker is looking to take a break and control but Vasilevsky is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vasilevsky is looking for a sweep.
Vasilevsky can't do much from the bottom here.

Luker decides to stand up, so the ref orders Vasilevsky to his feet.
Vasilevsky pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leonid Vasilevsky seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Luker shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Luker showed some decent athleticism there.
Luker lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasilevsky keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Luker wants to pass the guard but Vasilevsky is defending well.
Luker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vasilevsky's head.
Vasilevsky is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vasilevsky is looking to control Luker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vasilevsky avoid being mounted?
Luker thows a huge punch but Vasilevsky dodges it nicely.
Vasilevsky missing with punches from the bottom.
Vasilevsky makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vasilevsky.

Luker drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Luker jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Vasilevsky trying to keep a closed guard but Luker is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasilevsky has momentary wrist control but Luker slips an elbow through the middle.
Luker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vasilevsky working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Luker.
Luker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vasilevsky's head.
Vasilevsky preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Luker wants to stand but Vasilevsky is controlling his posture from full guard.
Luker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vasilevsky works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Luker postures up in Vasilevsky's guard and throws a big left but Vasilevsky blocks it.

Vasilevsky looking for a guillotine here but Luker defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasilevsky is trying to control the position but Luker postures up.

Vasilevsky working for a triangle but Luker defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasilevsky keeping moving, preventing Luker from controlling successfully.
Vasilevsky throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Vasilevsky is trying to control the position but Luker postures up.
Luker is looking to work some ground and pound but Vasilevsky has wrist control.
Luker trying to control but Vasilevsky is working from the bottom.

Vasilevsky is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Luker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vasilevsky is proving hard to escape from.
Vasilevsky is trying to keep Luker in close.
Luker stopping the sweep attempt from Vasilevsky.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gerald Luker will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Luker closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vasilevsky quickly recovers to half guard.
Luker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vasilevsky defending well though.
Luker is thwarting Vasilevsky's attempts to control the position.
Vasilevsky moves into full guard.

Vasilevsky has his foot on Luker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Luker works his way back into a safe position though.
Luker throwing strikes from guard but Vasilevsky blocks nicely.

Luker is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Vasilevsky manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Luker stops Vasilevsky from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luker wants to hold on but Vasilevsky pushes him away.
Vasilevsky sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vasilevsky wants to control the pace but Luker is squirming around nicely.
Luker is trying to stand up.
Luker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vasilevsky controlling from the full mount.
Luker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Luker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vasilevsky controlling his opponent.

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.
Luker is squirming around, avoiding Vasilevsky's attempts to control the action.
Vasilevsky controlling his opponent.
Luker is working to get back to half guard.
Luker wants to control but Vasilevsky is having none of it.
Vasilevsky looking to control and managing it successfully.
Luker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vasilevsky. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Luker is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasilevsky controlling from the full mount.
Vasilevsky wants to control the pace but Luker is squirming around nicely.
Vasilevsky tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Luker just holding on.
Luker is looking to get to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Vasilevsky there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Vasilevsky controlling from mount.
Vasilevsky looking to control but Luker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Vasilevsky looking to ground and pound but Luker is blocking nicely.
Leonid Vasilevsky overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Luker working to try and regain half guard.
Vasilevsky controlling his opponent.
Luker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Vasilevsky trying to control but Luker is having none of it.
Luker is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonid Vasilevsky dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Vasilevsky misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vasilevsky shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Luker counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vasilevsky's knee momentarily.
Vasilevsky shoots in for a takedown but Luker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Luker misses with a takedown attempt - Vasilevsky sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Luker dives in and grabs Vasilevsky's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vasilevsky pushes down on Luker's head and hops out.
Luker scores with a leg kick.
Vasilevsky with a lazy takedown attempt

and Luker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vasilevsky's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonid Vasilevsky. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vasilevsky has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Luker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Luker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vasilevsky trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Vasilevsky not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Luker throwing strikes from guard but Vasilevsky blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vasilevsky tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luker is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Vasilevsky wants to sweep here but Luker controlling him for the moment.
Luker sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Vasilevsky escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Luker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vasilevsky is trying to control the position but Luker postures up.
Luker sitting in guard here, content to control.
Vasilevsky keeping moving, preventing Luker from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gerald Luker.

Luker closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vasilevsky quickly recovers to half guard.
Luker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vasilevsky does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Luker is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gerald Luker was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Vasilevsky takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Luker ducks under a wild hook from Vasilevsky.
Vasilevsky throws the left hand but Luker avoids the punch easily.
Vasilevsky misses with a double jab

and Luker counters by clinching up.
Luker is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vasilevsky pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Vasilevsky looking to stall.
Luker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vasilevsky gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Luker is pressed up against the cage. Vasilevsky has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Luker down to the mat. Luker avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vasilevsky circles away.
Vasilevsky throws a lazy head kick

and Luker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Luker wants to stand but Vasilevsky has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Vasilevsky actively working from the bottom here.
Vasilevsky trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Luker manages to pass to mount!
Vasilevsky regains half guard.

Luker is looking for a kimura but Vasilevsky is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Luker to get the leverage.
Vasilevsky moves into full guard.
Vasilevsky utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luker preventing the sweep.
Luker wants to control from the top but Vasilevsky keeps moving.

Vasilevsky is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Luker defends well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vasilevsky looking for a sweep. Not yet Vasilevsky, not yet.

Vasilevsky has his foot on Luker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Luker works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luker throwing strikes from guard but Vasilevsky blocks nicely.
Luker trying to control but Vasilevsky is working from the bottom.
Vasilevsky lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Luker!

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerald Luker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Luker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Gerald Luker!
Judge Suge Night scores the fight for Gerald Luker!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Gerald Luker!

Gerald Luker wins by unanimous decision!