PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gioacchino Cucchiara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and First Last (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.

Cucchiara
vs
Last

190 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 New York, Gioacchino Cucchiara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, First Last!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cucchiara shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Last as he jumps to the side.
Cucchiara shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Last sizes up Cucchiara with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cucchiara shoots for a takedown but Last saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gioacchino Cucchiara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Last throws a right hand that Cucchiara ducks under and follows up with a left that Cucchiara also avoids with ease.
Cucchiara tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Last swivels and escapes.
Cucchiara shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Last as he jumps to the side.
Cucchiara shoots in but Last avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Last should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Cucchiara shoots for a double leg takedown but Last sprawls well. He's pushed Cucchiara's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cucchiara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Last.
Last misses with a hook. Cucchiara ducked under it nicely.
Last throws a head kick that misses.
No luck for Cucchiara with that takedown attempt.
Last misses with a two punch combination.
Cucchiara avoids a punch combination nicely.
Last misses with a wild combination.
Cucchiara shoots in but Last avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cucchiara fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A big left from Last misses.

Cucchiara decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Last trying to hold on to Cucchiara's head to control him but Cucchiara postures up.

Cucchiara is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Last can do anything to dispel that myth.

Last looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cucchiara is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cucchiara is breathing heavily.
Cucchiara works his way into full mount!
Last wants to control but Cucchiara is having none of it.
Cucchiara pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Last is working to get back to half guard.

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.

Cucchiara moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Last has worked his arm free - good work by Last!
Last really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cucchiara. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Last keeping his opponent close.
Last is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Last is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Last keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Last wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

First Last dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cucchiara shoots in looking for a takedown. Last tries to sprawl out of it but Cucchiara keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Last manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cucchiara blocks a jab.
Last misses with a hook. Cucchiara ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cucchiara closes the distance and clinches up with Last, looking for a takedown. Cucchiara pushes Last against the cage but Last circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Last fails to land with a series of punches.
Cucchiara displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Last throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Last takes a swing at Cucchiara's ribcage but misses.
First Last is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Cucchiara closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cucchiara lands in his opponent's guard.

Cucchiara postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Last is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cucchiara, into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Last content to stall in guard here.

Cucchiara looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Last passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Last stalls from top position.
Let's hope that Last has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Cucchiara is looking to regain half guard here but Last keeps moving and retains side control.
Last is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Cucchiara's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cucchiara manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cucchiara wants to sweep but Last has passed to side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Cucchiara is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Last is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, First Last just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Last throws a body punch but Cucchiara moves out of range.
Cucchiara shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gioacchino Cucchiara. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Last throws a nice looking combination but Cucchiara bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Last throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cucchiara shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Last as he jumps to the side.
Last misses with a body shot.
Cucchiara shoots in looking for a takedown. Last tries to sprawl out of it but Cucchiara keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Last manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Last pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

First Last showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Last is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cucchiara.
Cucchiara fails to land the takedown.
Last misses with a two punch combination.
Cucchiara ducks under a wild hook from Last.
Last is looking to land body kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Last, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
First Last seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Last throws a head kick that misses.
Last misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Last misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gioacchino Cucchiara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Last throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cucchiara changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Last tries to avoid it but Cucchiara manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Last to the ground. Last escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Last is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Last tries to land a front kick but Cucchiara steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cucchiara fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gioacchino Cucchiara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Last ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cucchiara moves away.
Cucchiara looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

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.
Last throws out a loose jab but Cucchiara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Cucchiara.
Cucchiara will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Last misses with a straight left.
Last misses with a body kick.
Last rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cucchiara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A slow jab from Last misses its intended target.
Last throws a body punch but Cucchiara moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Last misses with a wild combination.
Last stuffs the takedown attempt from Cucchiara. Cucchiara gets slowly back to his feet.
Last scores with a decent looking hook.

It looks like Gioacchino Cucchiara has been cut.
Last misses with a wild body shot.
Cucchiara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Last as he avoids it easily.
Cucchiara fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cucchiara.
Last throws a leg kick but Cucchiara checks it.
Last lands a right hook to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Last throws a good cross that connects.
Cucchiara fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gioacchino Cucchiara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Last tries a head kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
First Last comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Last 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... First Last!