PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Valdemar Tuco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and wesley snipes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tuco comes to the cage accompanied by Frank Dellé - Pound Power. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tuco
vs
snipes

165 cm
20
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valdemar Tuco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, wesley snipes!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

snipes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - snipes lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tuco is trying to control the position but snipes postures up.

Tuco is looking for a triangle but snipes pushes his legs off easily.
snipes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tuco's head.
snipes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tuco's head.
snipes lands a couple of elbows.
Tuco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
snipes stands up over Tuco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
snipes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tuco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. snipes manages to get himself to full guard.
snipes looking for a sweep. Not yet snipes, not yet.

Tuco postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! snipes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tuco, into his guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells snipes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuco 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.
snipes throwing strikes from guard but Tuco blocks nicely.
snipes trying to control the position from guard on top but Tuco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
snipes is looking to work some ground and pound but Tuco has wrist control.
snipes preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tuco is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

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.
Tuco wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tuco prevents a takedown attempt there.
snipes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tuco fights it off and pushes away nicely.
snipes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tuco.
Nice takedown defense from Tuco. No joy for snipes on that attempt.
Valdemar Tuco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of wesley snipes.
Tuco swinging wilding here.
snipes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tuco's waist but Tuco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing snipes off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Tuco. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tuco.
wesley snipes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
snipes misses with a takedown attempt - Tuco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
snipes looks gassed!
snipes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tuco's waist but Tuco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing snipes off to one side.
snipes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tuco.
Tuco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but snipes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
snipes misses with a double jab

and Tuco counters with a takedown into side control.
Tuco is chipping away with strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
snipes is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuco wants to lay and pray for a moment but snipes keeps working.
Tuco misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Tuco wants to lay and pray for a moment but snipes keeps working.

Tuco is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. snipes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
snipes misses with a strike from the bottom.
snipes dodges the ground and pound from Tuco.
snipes tries to buck Tuco off but Tuco is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
snipes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tuco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdemar Tuco dominated that 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.

snipes misses with a takedown attempt
and Tuco counters with an outside leg kick.

Tuco feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tuco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. snipes is keeping the position for now.
snipes doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
snipes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
snipes keeping full guard, as Tuco tries to pass.

Tuco decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
snipes moves away from the strike by Tuco.
Tuco looks to score with a jab to the body but snipes is just out of range.
snipes fails with the takedown
and Tuco counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

snipes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Tuco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. snipes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tuco has momentary wrist control but snipes slips an elbow through the middle.
snipes cracks Tuco with a solid left hand.
Tuco 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.
Tuco keeping moving, preventing snipes from controlling successfully.
snipes is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
snipes won't allow Tuco to sweep him here.
snipes pushing down on Tuco's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
snipes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
snipes works his foot free and advances to mount.
snipes lands with some strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, snipes cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Tuco bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Tuco controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tuco drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but snipes manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tuco has snipes in his guard.

Tuco had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. snipes is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Tuco Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take snipes's back instead.

Tuco looking for the choke from the back.
snipes turns into Tuco and is now in his guard.
snipes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four 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.
Tuco looking to hit a scissor sweep but snipes is one step ahead there.
Tuco keeping moving, preventing snipes from controlling successfully.

snipes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tuco wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
snipes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tuco counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Valdemar Tuco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of wesley snipes.
Tuco throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
snipes has his takedown stuffed
and Tuco cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Valdemar Tuco will probably get the nod.
That's time! Tuco's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

snipes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and snipes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
snipes fails with the takedown

and Tuco counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in snipes's guard now.
Tuco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
snipes keeping full guard, as Tuco tries to pass.
Tuco is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
snipes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tuco's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
snipes working some strikes from top position.
Tuco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
snipes lands a couple of digs.
Tuco throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Tuco tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tuco doesn't manage to clinch there - snipes circles away.

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.

snipes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tuco is looking for a sweep.
snipes advances nicely into full mount.
Tuco is trying desperately to improve position.
snipes scoring with strikes but Tuco is staying in there.
snipes landing punches.
Tuco tries to lock up and control but snipes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tuco is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
snipes avoids the attempt from Tuco to control.
Tuco working to try and regain half guard.
snipes working Tuco over with strikes here.
snipes is landing with some decent strikes but Tuco is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tuco is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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.
snipes tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
snipes cracks Tuco with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Tuco really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tuco wants to control but snipes is having none of it.
wesley snipes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tuco really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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 Valdemar Tuco.
Well Tuco 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valdemar Tuco!