PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antero Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Mela
vs
Tucker

175 cm
33
216 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

188 cm
21
210 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Antero Mela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Tucker. Mela does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tucker misses with a body shot.
Tucker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mela.
Tucker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tucker.
Tucker throws out a counter right but Mela avoids it with no problem.
Tucker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Mela.
Mela bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Mela closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tucker's guard.
Mela trying to control the position from guard on top but Tucker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mela in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mela controls the pace.
Mela passes into half guard.
Tucker tries to get to full guard but Mela has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mela in particular looking to stall.

Mela is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Mela is looking for a kimura but Tucker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mela to get the leverage.
Tucker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mela. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mela wants to take a breather but Tucker is having none of it.

Mela is trying to work for a kimura but Tucker is defending well.
Tucker is in trouble now - Mela has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela looking to control but Tucker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mela lands with some strikes.
Mela unloading with bombs!

Mela goes for an armbar but Tucker turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Tucker.
Mela bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tucker's guard.

Mela wants to pass the guard but Tucker is keeping the position.
Tucker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mela has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Mela 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.
Tucker taking shots to the head.

Mela looking to secure an arm triangle but Tucker defends it well.
Mela throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Mela throwing strikes here but Tucker is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Tucker is in a horrible position here. Mela smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela wants to control the pace but Tucker is squirming around nicely.

Mela swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Tucker is now in Mela's guard. A big mistake from Mela there, giving up the dominant position!

Mela working for a triangle but Tucker defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mela has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Mela dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mela pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tucker takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tucker fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mela lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tucker just misses with a punch to the body.
Tucker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mela.
Tucker defending well as Mela loads up on a big left hand.
Despite the aggression on Tucker's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Mela lands with a shot to the body.
Mela tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tucker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Mela backs off Tucker throws a huge counter combo but Mela manages to avoid it all.
Tucker missing with a left hand there. Mela was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tucker swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mela showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tucker.
Mela is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Mela shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tucker sprawls well. Tucker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mela gets slowly back to his feet.
Mela throws a sloppy body shot
and Tucker counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like John Tucker has been cut.
Tucker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Tucker throws a series of strikes that have Mela backpedaling.
John Tucker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tucker ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mela throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tucker stuffs the takedown.
Mela misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tucker is looking for the big counter here.
Mela lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tucker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A shot to the liver by Tucker. Beautiful body shot.
Mela has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mela there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mela misses with an uppercut
and Tucker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mela is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tucker can do to turn this around?
Tucker connects with a nice looking jab.
No luck for Mela with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antero Mela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mela works Tucker's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker swings for the body but Mela moves out of range.
Tucker ducks under a wild hook from Mela.
Tucker is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Tucker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mela fails with the takedown.
Tucker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mela moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Mela on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tucker.
Some wild striking there from Mela.
Mela doesn't manage to clinch there - Tucker circles away.
Mela digs a good body shot into Tucker's ribs.
Tucker throws the left hand but Mela avoids the punch easily.
Mela tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tucker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tucker throws out a counter right but Mela avoids it with no problem.
Mela throws a one two combo.
Mela takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mela tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tucker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Mela misses the target.
A big right from Tucker misses.
Tucker slips a jab from Mela.
A little jabbing left from Tucker on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
John Tucker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mela swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tucker.
Tucker scores with a body shot.
Tucker scores with a sloppy right hand. Mela should have avoided that one.
Some wild striking there from Mela.
Mela moves out of range of the strikes.
Mela misses the shot to the body.
Mela goes for a double leg but Tucker avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tucker continues to drive forward.
Mela doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tucker counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mela walks into a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela throws a hook to the side of Tucker's head but Tucker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mela throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mela connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tucker momentarily.
Mela looks to score with a jab to the body but Tucker is just out of range.
Mela swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tucker throws out a counter right but Mela avoids it with no problem.
Tucker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mela misses with a looping right.
Mela scores with a nice head shot.
Mela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tucker manages to avoid it.
A jab from Mela misses.
Mela keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mela misses with a hook.
Tucker appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Mela misses with a straight right.
Tucker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mela.
Tucker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
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 Antero Mela will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Tucker's cut.
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!

Mela scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tucker in his tracks.
Tucker throws a jab but it's blocked by Mela.
Tucker displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tucker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tucker manages to avoid it.
Mela misses the shot to the body.
Mela moves away from the strike by Tucker.
Mela loads up on a big right hand but Tucker slips the punch.
Mela closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mela dives in and grabs Tucker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tucker pushes down on Mela's head and hops out.
Mela moves out of range as Tucker strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mela is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A jab from Mela misses.
Tucker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mela takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mela takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela cracks a nice hook into Tucker's ribs.
Tucker stalks Mela and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mela's face. Mela staggers backwards, shaken.
Mela drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tucker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mela takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tucker throws a hook but Mela avoids it easily.
Tucker lands with a straight right. Mela didn't see that one coming.
John Tucker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tucker punishes Mela's body with a nice straight punch.
A shot to the body from Tucker misses
and Mela counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tucker swinging wildly here.
Tucker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mela misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker misses with a series of wild punches.
Tucker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tucker takes a swing at Mela's ribcage but misses.
Tucker lands with a good body shot.
Tucker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tucker.
Mela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tucker.
Mela ducks right into an uppercut from Tucker.
Mela slips under a jab.
Mela tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tucker defends well and Mela ends up having to push Tucker into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antero Mela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mela.
Tucker throws a predictable looking body shot
and Mela connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tucker is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Tucker tries to bum rush Mela with a series of wild strikes but Mela uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mela fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Tucker finds it's way through Mela's defenses.
Mela connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tucker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mela lands an overhand right.
Tucker throws a lazy right hand but Mela sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice defenses there by Tucker.
Tucker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tucker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mela.
Mela cracks Tucker with an open hand slap.
Mela lands with a straight right. Tucker didn't see that one coming.
The fighters circling - Mela throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tucker tries to move into range but Mela moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tucker lands with an uppercut that bounces Mela off the cage and back into range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mela pushes Tucker up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela working aggressively here.
Mela lands a body shot.
Mela tries to throw a body punch but Tucker avoids it by throwing Mela back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mela.
Tucker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tucker wants to get back to striking at distance but Mela won't allow it.
Mela blocks an uppercut.
Tucker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tucker working hard to break the clinch.

Mela gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mela trying to pass the guard but Tucker defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mela lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Tucker.
I think Mela 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antero Mela!
The defeated John Tucker had this to say: 'Thanks my fans for their support.'.