PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wily Swagger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Swagger might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Waylon Jennings - Good Ol' Boys. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Swagger
vs
Tucker

177 cm
44
200 lbs
28 - 14 - 1

188 cm
21
210 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 28 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Wily Swagger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tucker defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Swagger.
Swagger looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Swagger shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tucker but Tucker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tucker misses with a few strikes there.
Tucker throws out a loose jab but Swagger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Swagger has his takedown stuffed
enabling Tucker to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wily Swagger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Swagger shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Swagger showed some decent athleticism there.
Tucker trying to control but Swagger postures up.
Swagger missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tucker can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swagger takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tucker is trying to control but can't.
Tucker felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Tucker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Swagger.
Swagger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Swagger working Tucker over with strikes.
Swagger thows a huge punch but Tucker dodges it nicely.
Swagger throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Swagger missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Swagger.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tucker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Swagger.
Swagger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Swagger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swagger looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tucker with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Swagger looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Swagger is looking for a kimura but Tucker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Swagger to get the leverage.
Swagger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tucker is trying to get back to full guard.
Tucker on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swagger thows a huge punch but Tucker dodges it nicely.
Swagger throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Swagger is trying to work for a kimura but Tucker is defending well.

Swagger seems to be looking for submissions.

Swagger is working for a kimura but Tucker is defending it quite comfortably.

Swagger is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Swagger throwing shots but Tucker is blocking nicely.
Tucker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Swagger.
Swagger looks to land a strike but Tucker avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Tucker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Swagger has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Swagger throwing strikes from guard but Tucker blocks nicely.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Swagger scoring with punches to the head and body.
Swagger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Swagger gets a takedown into half guard.

Swagger is looking for a kimura but Tucker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Swagger to get the leverage.
Tucker manages to get to full guard.

Swagger is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tucker is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tucker has escaped and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tucker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Swagger has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tucker has managed to get both his arms back between Swagger's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swagger escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tucker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Swagger has his foot on Tucker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tucker works his way back into a safe position though.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Swagger here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Swagger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tucker defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Swagger has his foot on Tucker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tucker works his way back into a safe position though.

Swagger looking for a guillotine here but Tucker defends easily.
Tucker is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Swagger looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Swagger is looking for a triangle but Tucker pushes his legs off easily.

Swagger throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tucker uses it to pass to side control.
Swagger tries to buck Tucker off but Tucker is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swagger is working hard here to advance position.
Tucker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Swagger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Swagger sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Swagger is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tucker pulls his head out easily.

Swagger is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tucker pulls his head out easily.
Swagger might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Swagger looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Swagger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Swagger is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tucker pulls his head out easily.

Swagger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Swagger looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Swagger is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tucker pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wily Swagger dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! 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.

Tucker jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Tucker!
Swagger shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tucker as he avoids it easily.
Tucker lands the left hand.
Tucker is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Swagger shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tucker but Tucker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Good shot there by Tucker.
Tucker cracks Swagger with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swagger gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nice body punch from Tucker.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Swagger closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tucker to the mat! Tucker manages to get full guard.
Swagger postures up and lands a big shot to Tucker's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swagger stands up over Tucker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Swagger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Swagger with a flurry of punches that miss.
Swagger distracts Tucker with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Swagger throwing strikes but missing.
Tucker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tucker is trying to keep Swagger in close.
Swagger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Swagger throwing strikes but missing.

That's two 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.
Swagger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Swagger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Swagger thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Swagger with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Decent striking displayed by Tucker there.
Donk. Tucker catches Swagger right on the button with a cross.

Tucker tries to sprawl but Swagger drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Swagger missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tucker preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Tucker on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swagger missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tucker won't allow Swagger to pass to mount.
Swagger looks to land a strike but Tucker avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Swagger working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tucker's head.
Tucker pulls Swagger in close to his closed guard and prevents Swagger from doing any damage or advancing position.
Swagger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Swagger postures up in Tucker's guard and throws a big left but Tucker blocks it.
Swagger throws an elbow that misses. Tucker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Swagger's guard. Nice move by Tucker!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swagger looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tucker has picked Swagger up and slammed him! Swagger can't keep hold of the triangle and Tucker manages to pass to side control!
Swagger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Swagger manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Swagger looking for submissions off his back.

Swagger is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tucker pulls his head out easily.
John Tucker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wily Swagger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Swagger looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Tucker.
I think Swagger has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wily Swagger!
Wily Swagger bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
John Tucker spoke after the fight, saying 'Thanks my fans for their support.'.