PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kabuko Nabakenya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tucker
vs
Nabakenya

182 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jacob Tucker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kabuko Nabakenya!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nabakenya goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nabakenya leaves Tucker with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nabakenya throws a one two combo.

It looks like Jacob Tucker has been cut.
No joy there for Nabakenya, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tucker shoots in for a double leg but Nabakenya sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tucker doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tucker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nabakenya!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice sprawl there from Nabakenya as Tucker shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nabakenya thuds a left hand into Tucker's body.
Tucker takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nabakenya lands a jab to the head.
Some wild striking there from Nabakenya.
Nabakenya scores with a three punch combo!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker fails with the takedown
and Nabakenya counters with a left and a right that stings Tucker.
Tucker is breathing heavily.
A right-left combo lands from Nabakenya.
Nabakenya throws a nice looking combination but Tucker bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nabakenya throws a front kick aimed at Tucker's knee but Tucker avoids it well.
Nabakenya misses with a few strikes there.
Tucker checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nabakenya feints a jab promting Tucker to slip. Nabakenya then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Tucker slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Tucker doesn't manage to clinch there - Nabakenya circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Nabakenya. Those never looked like landing.
Nabakenya tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown by Tucker or perhaps it was just good defense by Nabakenya which made him look bad.
Nabakenya lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tucker circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabakenya leaves Tucker with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tucker moves forwards but Nabakenya connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Tucker forces Nabakenya back against the cage and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tucker tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nabakenya smiles and moves away.
Nabakenya throws a right hand that Tucker ducks under and follows up with a left that Tucker also avoids with ease.
Nabakenya scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Tucker moves into the clinch.
Tucker tries to pull guard but Nabakenya holds him up against the cage and eventually Tucker drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nabakenya tries to break the clinch but Tucker is controlling the position.

Tucker gets control of Nabakenya's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tucker will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Tucker pulls Nabakenya in close to his closed guard and prevents Nabakenya from doing any damage or advancing position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tucker is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker won't allow Nabakenya to get back to his feet.
Tucker tries to free his leg and advance position but Nabakenya is retaining full guard.

Jacob Tucker has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Tucker looks to land a combination but Nabakenya avoids it well.
Tucker fails with a takedown attempt.
Nabakenya is working the combinations to good effect here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tucker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kabuko Nabakenya dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jacob Tucker's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nabakenya lands a jab-cross combination.
Nabakenya keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nabakenya misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nabakenya throws a series of punches but Tucker moves out of range.
Nabakenya tries to bum rush Tucker with a series of wild strikes but Tucker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nabakenya throws a series of punches but Tucker avoids them all with ease.

Tucker gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tucker gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Nabakenya is breathing heavily.

Nabakenya is working an open guard so Tucker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A combination from Nabakenya does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tucker is defended easily by Nabakenya.
Tucker takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nabakenya throws a series of strikes that have Tucker backpedaling.
Nabakenya throws a right hand that Tucker ducks under and follows up with a left that Tucker also avoids with ease.

Tucker feints and as Nabakenya raises his hands in defense, Tucker changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tucker's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jacob Tucker.
Tucker looks to land a body kick but Nabakenya moved away.
Tucker is looking to clinch.
Tucker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nabakenya paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tucker's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nabakenya connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tucker scrambles back to his feet.
Nabakenya throws a hook but Tucker avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tucker looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nabakenya!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tucker controlling the pace for now.
Tucker with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nabakenya is trying to stand but he's just given Tucker his back.
Nabakenya covers up after that shot from Tucker.

Tucker has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Nabakenya has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Tucker working for a choke but Nabakenya is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Tucker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jacob Tucker's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tucker looks for a takedown but Nabakenya sprawls well.
Nabakenya bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tucker's head.
Nabakenya throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tucker.
Tucker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tucker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nabakenya swinging wildly here.
No joy there for Nabakenya, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tucker shoots in for a double leg but Nabakenya sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nabakenya works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nabakenya moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nabakenya fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabakenya throws a series of punches but Tucker moves out of range.
Tucker lands a nice hook to Nabakenya's body. Nabakenya takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fighters circling - Nabakenya throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tucker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nabakenya's waist but Nabakenya gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tucker off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Tucker with that takedown attempt.
Tucker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nabakenya dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nabakenya connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nabakenya shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tucker eats them both and turns towards Nabakenya to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Tucker tries to clinch up but Nabakenya circles away and keeps his distance.
Nabakenya will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kabuko Nabakenya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tucker misses with a takedown attempt - Nabakenya sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tucker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nabakenya throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jacob Tucker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nabakenya uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tucker.
Tucker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nabakenya avoids it really well and circles away.
Tucker is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nabakenya.
Tucker tries to close the distance and clinch but Nabakenya swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tucker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tucker sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jacob Tucker wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nabakenya tries to bum rush Tucker with a series of wild strikes but Tucker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tucker shoots in for a double leg but Nabakenya sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tucker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nabakenya swats away the attempt to clinch by Tucker.
Tucker has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nabakenya tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tucker is able to avoid easily.
Tucker throws a big shot that misses.
Tucker dodges the punch combination from Nabakenya.
Tucker shoots in looking for a takedown but Nabakenya manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tucker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nabakenya misses with the combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nabakenya cracks Tucker with a good jab.
Tucker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nabakenya is fending him off so far but Tucker persists. Nope, Nabakenya circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kabuko Nabakenya.
I think Nabakenya 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kabuko Nabakenya!