PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Draco Tusker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Black
vs
Tusker

170 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Draco Tusker!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Tusker misses its intended target.
Tusker with a jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Black looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Black is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Tusker reverses the position - he's now on top in Black's guard.
Tusker wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Black is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tusker is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black keeping moving, preventing Tusker from controlling successfully.
Tusker looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black keeping moving, preventing Tusker from controlling successfully.
Tusker might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Black haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Draco Tusker has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Tusker throws a looping overhand right but Black ducks down to avoid it.

Black shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Black showed some decent athleticism there.
Black could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Tusker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Black pulls his head out easily.
Black has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tusker blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tusker is desperately trying to improve his position but Black has a good base and remains in mount.
Black sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Black throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tusker because Black loaded up on that one.
Black throwing strikes but Tusker uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Black wants to stand up but Tusker manages to regain full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Black passes Tusker's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Black trying to pass the guard but Tusker defending well.
Tusker is trying to get back to full guard.

Black stands up from half guard.
Black moves out of range as Tusker strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Black closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Black passes to side control.

Black is trying to get an arm triangle but Tusker is defending well.
Black working the ground and pound from side control.

Black stands up.
Tusker throws a big shot that misses.
Tusker cracks Black with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Black clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black leaning against his opponent.

Black's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black blocks a jab.
Tusker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Black.

Black closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Black is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tusker knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tusker tries to bench press Black off him but Black keeps the position.

Black decides to stand back up.
Tusker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Black.
Tusker misses with a left hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Tusker looks winded!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Black moves out of range of the strikes.
Tusker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Black.

Black looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Black wants to pass to mount but Tusker is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Black dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Black staying out of range there.

Tusker gets caught napping as Black dives in and scores a takedown. Tusker manages to retain guard.
Black is pushing down on Tusker's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tusker is fighting to maintain full guard but Black has managed to sneak the leg through.

Black escapes and gets back to his feet.
Black moves out of range as Tusker strikes.
Black tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tusker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Black somewhat.
Black avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tusker loads up on a big right hand but Black slips the punch.
Tusker looks to land a left hand but Black moved out of range nicely.
Michael Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Black looking to score a takedown here. Tusker is defending well but Black drives through and ends up in Tusker's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Black wants to pass the guard but Tusker is keeping the position.

Black stands up and waves to Tusker to follow him.

Black closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Nice sprawl there from Black as Tusker shoots in.

Black closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Black thows a huge punch but Tusker dodges it nicely.
Black is pressing down on Tusker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tusker is holding on for now.
Tusker regains full guard. Nicely done.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Tusker is retaining full guard.
Tusker looking to control.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Tusker is retaining full guard.

Tusker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Black can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Black wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tusker, who protects the arm well.

Black stands up and beckons Tusker to his feet.

Black moves into the clinch.

Black's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tusker misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Tusker gets caught napping as Black dives in and scores a takedown. Tusker manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black forces his way into half guard.
Black wants to pass the guard but Tusker is defending well.
Black passes to full mount!
Black looking to finish Tusker with some ground and pound. This is bad for Tusker!
Tusker avoids a series of strikes thrown by Black.
Black misses with some ground and pound and Tusker recovers position to half guard.
Black lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Black is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tusker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Black misses with a head shot.
Tusker is looking to get to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Black.
Black working the ground and pound effectively.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Black unloads with some shots from mount but Tusker bucks and avoids them well.
Black looking to finish with strikes here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Black punishing his opponent with strikes.
Black unloading with bombs!
A nice elbow there by Black.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Black dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tusker throws a right hand that misses
and Black counters with a nice body shot.
Tusker misses with a left hand

and Black moves into the clinch.

Black manages to break the clinch.

Black drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tusker dodges the ground and pound from Black.

Black is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tusker knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Black is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tusker has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tusker wants to get back to his feet but Black drags him back down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Black stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tusker tries to sprawl but Black drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Black trying to pass the guard but Tusker defending well.

Black decides to stand up.
Tusker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Black moves away.
Tusker misses with a looping left.
Tusker throws a looping overhand right but Black ducks down to avoid it.

Black dives in and scores a takedown into Tusker's guard.
Black stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tusker swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Black avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tusker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tusker is trying to keep Black in close.

Black gets to his feet - Tusker follows without any prompting.

Black closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Black is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Black lands a big elbow.
Black lands a couple of good shots and Tusker has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Black gets his hands free as Tusker looks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tusker grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Black missing with strikes.
Tusker grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Black scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Tusker wants to get back to his feet.
Black throwing damaging strikes from the back! Tusker could be in trouble here!
Black is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Tusker up.
Tusker is trying to remain composed but Black is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Tusker covering up well under a series of strikes from Black.
Black lands punches and elbows.
Black throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tusker is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Michael Black overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Black is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Michael Black is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Black is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tusker looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Draco Tusker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tusker is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Black showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Black, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Black!