PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Soares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Soares
vs
Spencer

168 cm
23
148 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

180 cm
22
147 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Soares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Spencer!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Columbo Gatti and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soares misses with an uppercut.
Soares uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spencer.
Soares tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Spencer lands with a shot to the body.
Soares misses the shot to the body.
Spencer swings for the body but Soares moves out of range.
Soares misses with a leg kick.
Spencer is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Soares with a body shot.
Spencer scores with a hook to the body. Soares takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Horrible takedown attempt by Soares or perhaps it was just good defense by Spencer, which made it look bad.
Spencer fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Soares looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spencer wants to land a leg kick but Soares is out of range.
We've been informed that Spencer has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Soares takes a swing at Spencer's ribcage but misses.

Soares fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Spencer to the ground. Soares is now in Spencer'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!
Spencer 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares tries to stand but Spencer is controlling from the bottom.
Soares wants to stand and escape but instead Spencer has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Soares wants to stand up but Spencer is controlling him.
Spencer sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Spencer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Soares wants to get back to his feet but Spencer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Spencer controlling from the top position.
Spencer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Spencer is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Spencer decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Soares, up you get!
Soares throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Soares throws a poor cross that misses
and Spencer counters with a nice uppercut.
Soares dodges the punch combination from Spencer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer slaps away a takedown attempt from Soares, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Soares walks into a straight right hand from Spencer.
Mark Spencer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soares looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Spencer throws out a counter right but Soares avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Soares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soares takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Soares misses with a looping right.
Spencer appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Spencer scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Soares doesn't seem bothered though.
Spencer connects with a body shot that sends Soares's belly button to the back.
Spencer is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Soares rather than just go for the knockout.
Soares tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Soares thows a left - swing and a miss!
Soares shoots in looking for a takedown. Spencer tries to sprawl out of it but Soares keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Spencer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer dodges the punch combination from Soares.

Spencer closes the distance and clinches.
Spencer lands a body shot.
Come on Spencer - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nice elbow from Spencer.

It looks like Lucas Soares has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spencer struggles to land a body shot inside as Soares controls his hands.

Spencer manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Soares. Those never looked like landing.
Spencer throws a right hand that Soares ducks under and follows up with a left that Soares also avoids with ease.
Soares seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Soares dives in and grabs Spencer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Spencer pushes down on Soares's head and hops out.
Spencer scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Soares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Spencer is looking for the big counter here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Spencer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lucas Soares's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Soares will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Some wild striking there from Soares.
Spencer ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Spencer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Spencer scores with a sloppy right hand. Soares should have avoided that one.
Spencer throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Spencer lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Spencer has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Spencer gets a clinch.
Soares taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spencer lands a nice uppercut.

Spencer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Soares is defended easily by Spencer.

Spencer has Soares up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Spencer scores with a nice short uppercut.

Spencer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Soares shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Spencer defends it nicely.
Spencer doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Soares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spencer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Spencer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little feinted left hand from Soares on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Some wild striking there from Spencer.

Spencer clinches with his opponent.
Spencer is pressed up against the cage. Soares has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spencer down to the mat. Spencer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Soares looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer connects with a crisp jab.

Soares closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Spencer quickly recovers to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soares is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Spencer wants to control but Soares is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Spencer holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Soares seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Soares has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Spencer works to full guard.
Soares wants to stand but Spencer is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Soares walks into a stiff left hand from Spencer.
Spencer scores with a crisp jab that stopped Soares in his tracks.
Mark Spencer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Soares takes a swing at Spencer's ribcage but misses.
Soares throws a series of punches but Spencer moves out of range.
Spencer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Spencer lands a jab to the nose.
Spencer blocks a head kick by Soares.
Soares has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Spencer finds it's way round the side to connect with Soares's head.
Spencer slips a jab and a cross from Soares.
Spencer steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Soares.
Spencer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soares.
Lucas Soares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soares throws a sloppy head kick and Spencer moves out of range easily.
Spencer moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spencer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soares was well out of range. Poor timing from Spencer.
Soares throws a right hand that Spencer ducks under and follows up with a left that Spencer also avoids with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Spencer. Those never looked like landing.
Soares throws a series of punches but Spencer avoids them all with ease.
Spencer slips a jab and a cross from Soares.
Spencer connects with a single shot there.

Spencer forces Soares back against the cage and clinches.
Spencer misses with a punch to the body.
Soares takes a shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Spencer.
Spencer's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Soares is looking to control Spencer's arms but Spencer gets an underhook and turns him. Now Soares has his back to the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Spencer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lucas Soares's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Spencer closes the distance and clinches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Spencer.
A nice left hand lands by Spencer.
Spencer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Spencer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Spencer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Spencer throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Soares on the side of the head.
Spencer connects with the punch.

Soares tries to keep at a distance but Spencer has taken the fight into the clinch.
Soares tries to throw a body punch but Spencer avoids it by throwing Soares back against the cage.
Spencer lands an elbow that stopped Soares in his tracks for a moment.
Soares misses with a punch to the body.
Spencer lands a hook to the side of the head.

Spencer breaks from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soares tries for a takedown but Spencer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Soares tries to keep at a distance but Spencer has taken the fight into the clinch.
Spencer with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spencer breaks from the clinch.
Spencer slips a straight right by Soares.
Spencer is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Soares takes one to the side of the head.
Spencer with a nice cross.
Soares pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Soares is trying hard to land a takedown here. Spencer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Spencer dips to his left and cracks Soares with an uppercut!
Spencer misses with a wild combination.
Spencer lands a two punch combo.
Spencer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soares moves away.
Soares tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Spencer defends well and Soares ends up having to push Spencer into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Soares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spencer lands with a nice combination. Soares backs away looking to recover.

Soares is rocked!

Lucas Soares's cut is getting worse.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soares walks into a jab.
Oh Soares is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Spencer lands a left and a right that send Soares crashing to the mat, dazed. Spencer thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Soares looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Spencer! Soares is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mark Spencer!