PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tico Ponce De Leon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jovan Vukota (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.

Ponce De Leon
vs
Vukota

172 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tico Ponce De Leon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jovan Vukota!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponce De Leon scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ponce De Leon takes a kick to the side of the head.
Ponce De Leon attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ponce De Leon scores with a head kick. Vukota tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ponce De Leon fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Vukota has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ponce De Leon scores with a leg kick.
Ponce De Leon feints and then cracks Vukota's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Vukota down.
Ponce De Leon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ponce De Leon throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Ponce De Leon lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick from Ponce De Leon lands but Vukota takes it in his stride.
Vukota tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ponce De Leon makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Vukota really felt that one!
Ponce De Leon avoids the head kick by Vukota.
Vukota scores with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vukota fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vukota throws a head kick but Ponce De Leon moves out of range.
Vukota tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ponce De Leon pivots, looking for a leg kick but Vukota is out of range and Ponce De Leon settles back down.
Vukota throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Vukota throws a lazy head kick
and Ponce De Leon counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vukota's knee momentarily.
Vukota takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vukota's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Ponce De Leon forces Vukota back against the cage and clinches.
Ponce De Leon tries to land a knee to the head but Vukota blocks with his arms.
Ponce De Leon lands a knee to the head.
Ponce De Leon with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ponce De Leon throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vukota blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vukota tries to break the clinch but Ponce De Leon is controlling the position.
Ponce De Leon with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ponce De Leon using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ponce De Leon tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ponce De Leon prevents Vukota from breaking the clinch.

Vukota breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ponce De Leon lands a high kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vukota wants to clinch
and Ponce De Leon counters with a leg kick.
Ponce De Leon pushes Vukota away with a front kick.
Ponce De Leon tries a head kick but it misses.
A low kick from Ponce De Leon is predictable there
and Vukota counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ponce De Leon is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ponce De Leon throws a leg kick

and Vukota counters by moving into the clinch.
Ponce De Leon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ponce De Leon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vukota has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ponce De Leon working Vukota over with knees to the body.
Vukota is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vukota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ponce De Leon is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Ponce De Leon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vukota misses with a head kick.
Ponce De Leon lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ponce De Leon thumps Vukota with a low kick.
Ponce De Leon lands a high kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Vukota.
Vukota misses with a head kick.
Vukota looks winded!
Vukota wants to clinch.
Vukota throws a lazy head kick
and Ponce De Leon counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ponce De Leon bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ponce De Leon.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ponce De Leon is looking to slow Vukota down with leg kicks.
Ponce De Leon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ponce De Leon tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Vukota is able to avoid easily.
Ponce De Leon throws a head kick but Vukota moves out of range.
Ponce De Leon misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Ponce De Leon dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ponce De Leon throws a leg kick but Vukota sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ponce De Leon throws a leg kick but Vukota moved away.
Vukota tries a head kick but it misses.
Ponce De Leon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ponce De Leon tries to score with a low kick but Vukota moves his leg out of the way.
Vukota tries a head kick but it misses.

Ponce De Leon has closed the distance and engaged Vukota in a clinch.
Ponce De Leon has Vukota pressed against the cage, preventing Vukota from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ponce De Leon throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ponce De Leon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vukota has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ponce De Leon tries a knee to the head but Vukota blocks it.
Ponce De Leon scores with a knee to the head.
Ponce De Leon has Vukota pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vukota is trying to break free.
Ponce De Leon dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ponce De Leon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vukota's face.
Ponce De Leon unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vukota lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Vukota takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ponce De Leon throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vukota blocks it with crossed arms.
Ponce De Leon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ponce De Leon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vukota has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vukota takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ponce De Leon is trying to break free.
Ponce De Leon working Vukota over with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vukota on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ponce De Leon tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Vukota is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ponce De Leon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ponce De Leon throws a sloppy head kick
and Vukota counters with a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ponce De Leon scores a nice knee to the body.
Ponce De Leon is pushing Vukota up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vukota tries to circle away but Ponce De Leon has him pinned against the cage.
Ponce De Leon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vukota.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vukota looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ponce De Leon lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ponce De Leon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ponce De Leon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vukota has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ponce De Leon prevents Vukota from breaking the clinch.
Vukota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vukota wants to break free but Ponce De Leon has control.
Ponce De Leon throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vukota tries to circle away but Ponce De Leon has him pinned against the cage.
Vukota is looking to break free of the clinch but Ponce De Leon has double underhooks.
Ponce De Leon is stalling here.
Ponce De Leon tries a knee to the head but Vukota blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon misses with a knee to the head.
Ponce De Leon with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ponce De Leon tries to land a knee to the head but Vukota blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ponce De Leon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vukota has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ponce De Leon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ponce De Leon is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ponce De Leon throws a knee to the head but misses.

Ponce De Leon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vukota tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ponce De Leon throws a head kick that misses.
Ponce De Leon avoids the head kick by Vukota.
Vukota throws a head kick that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Ponce De Leon dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Vukota throws a head kick that half lands.
Ponce De Leon swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Vukota throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vukota stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ponce De Leon.
A head kick by Vukota misses
and Ponce De Leon counters with a thumping low kick.
Vukota fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ponce De Leon throws a leg kick
and Vukota counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Vukota gets a clinch.
Ponce De Leon misses with a knee strike.
Ponce De Leon with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vukota has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ponce De Leon crunches a lovely knee into Vukota's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ponce De Leon with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ponce De Leon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vukota has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ponce De Leon lands a knee to the head.
Tico Ponce De Leon has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ponce De Leon with a knee to the head.
Vukota avoiding damage as Ponce De Leon throws knees to the body.
Vukota on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ponce De Leon looking to throw knees to the head but Vukota is blocking nicely.
Ponce De Leon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ponce De Leon misses with a knee strike.
Ponce De Leon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vukota has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vukota wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vukota tries to circle away but Ponce De Leon has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vukota has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ponce De Leon keeps control of Vukota as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Vukota's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vukota tries to break the clinch but Ponce De Leon is controlling the position.
Ponce De Leon tries a knee to the head but Vukota blocks it.
Vukota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vukota is looking to break free of the clinch but Ponce De Leon has double underhooks.
Ponce De Leon looking to throw knees to the head but Vukota is blocking nicely.
Ponce De Leon tries to land a knee to the head but Vukota blocks with his arms.
Ponce De Leon lands a nice knee to the body.
Ponce De Leon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vukota's face.
Ponce De Leon keeps control of Vukota as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ponce De Leon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tico Ponce De Leon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vukota is trying to break the clinch but Ponce De Leon is controlling him.
Vukota tries to break the clinch but Ponce De Leon is controlling the position.
Ponce De Leon lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ponce De Leon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vukota is trying to break the clinch but Ponce De Leon has him pressed against the cage.
Vukota working hard to break the clinch.
Ponce De Leon is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Vukota is looking to break free of the clinch but Ponce De Leon has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ponce De Leon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ponce De Leon takes the fight into the clinch.
Ponce De Leon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ponce De Leon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vukota's efforts to push away.
Vukota wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tico Ponce De Leon.
Well Ponce De Leon 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tico Ponce De Leon!