PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Tucker (ranked 5902 p4p, 268 weight class) and Duke Dukerson (ranked 5740 p4p, 263 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Duke Dukerson was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tucker
vs
Dukerson

176 cm
26
139 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

165 cm
24
144 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Melvin Tucker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Duke Dukerson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tucker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dukerson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tucker.

Dukerson has managed to clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Dukerson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Dukerson can't find room to land a body shot as Tucker controls the action.

Tucker lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Dukerson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tucker pulls his head out easily.
Tucker is looking to take a break and control but Dukerson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tucker prevents Dukerson from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker is taking a breather. Dukerson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Dukerson is refusing to be controlled, as Tucker sits in half guard.
Dukerson wants to improve his position but Tucker is controlling well.
Dukerson keeps trying to improve his position.
Tucker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dukerson is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tucker drops his hands momentarily and Dukerson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

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.
Tucker doesn't manage to clinch there - Dukerson circles away.

Dukerson drives through and clinches with Tucker against the cage.
Dukerson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dukerson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tucker.
Dukerson managing to block the knees to the body from Tucker.
Dukerson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dukerson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Dukerson just leaning against Tucker, taking a breather.
Dukerson lands an uppercut.
Dukerson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dukerson is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Melvin Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dukerson avoiding damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Dukerson misses with a body punch.
Dukerson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dukerson can't find room to land a body shot as Tucker controls the action.
Tucker wants to take the fight to the mat but Dukerson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dukerson slows down the pace here.
Dukerson prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker blocking some punches.
Tucker is trying to break the clinch but Dukerson has him pressed against the cage.
Tucker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tucker tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dukerson smiles and moves away.
Tucker darts in trying to clinch

and Dukerson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dukerson is thwarting Tucker's attempts to control the position.
Tucker misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tucker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dukerson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dukerson's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Dukerson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tucker walks into a jab.
Dukerson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tucker takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Dukerson throws a body punch but Tucker moves out of range.

Dukerson has managed to clinch.
Tucker has been working on his balance at Bi-Polar Asylum LV's #1 Public Training Center , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Dukerson.
A head punch on the inside from Dukerson fails to land.
Tucker is trying to drag Dukerson to the mat but Dukerson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Duke Dukerson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dukerson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dukerson has a couple of punches blocked by Tucker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukerson prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Melvin Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker blocking some punches.
Dukerson just leaning against Tucker, taking a breather.
Dukerson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dukerson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dukerson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dukerson lands with a right to the head.
Dukerson stalling.
A short left from Dukerson.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dukerson.

Tucker is rocked!

Tucker is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Dukerson can't fight it off and eventually Tucker manages to take the fight to the floor. Dukerson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Oh Tucker is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tucker looking to sit in guard and control but Dukerson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker 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.
Tucker seems to have got his legs back now.
Dukerson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dukerson advances to half guard.

Tucker looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dukerson is taking a breather. Tucker says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Dukerson drops an elbow to the side of Tucker's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dukerson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tucker knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tucker is looking to improve his position.

Dukerson 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tucker is staying active underneath Dukerson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tucker is looking to control Dukerson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tucker avoid being mounted?
Melvin Tucker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tucker looks like he's trying to stand up.

Dukerson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tucker doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dukerson.
Dukerson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Dukerson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tucker wants to clinch up but Dukerson keeps it at a distance.
Dukerson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Tucker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dukerson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dukerson throws a lazy right hand but Tucker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dukerson throws a shot from downtown. Tucker moves away and avoids it.
Dukerson has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Tucker moves in looking to clinch but Dukerson pushes him off.
Tucker fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tucker clinches.
Tucker is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tucker wants to break free but Dukerson has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukerson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dukerson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tucker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tucker is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dukerson to keep the fight standing.
Dukerson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Dukerson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Dukerson manages to end up in side control.

Dukerson is working to tighten his grip on Tucker's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Tucker has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Dukerson is really squeezing tight and eventually Tucker passes out! Dukerson breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Duke Dukerson!
Duke Dukerson spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.