PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Bruno (ranked 5256 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ghita Pluta (ranked 22902 p4p, 0 weight class). Ghita Pluta will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Bruno
vs
Pluta

176 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
29
205 lbs
0 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tommy Bruno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ghita Pluta!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bruno clinches up against the cage.
Pluta looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Bruno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bruno dives in and grabs Pluta's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pluta pushes down on Bruno's head and hops out.
Pluta throws out a counter right but Bruno avoids it with no problem.

Bruno moves into the clinch.

Bruno manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pluta.
Pluta shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bruno but Bruno pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Bruno moves into the clinch.

Bruno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bruno has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pluta taking a breather.

Bruno breaks the clinch.

Bruno closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bruno is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Pluta swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bruno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Bruno rushes Pluta and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pluta is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bruno gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tommy Bruno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ghita Pluta.
Pluta is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Pluta on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pluta prevents a body shot from Bruno.

Bruno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bruno could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Bruno clinches up against the cage.

Bruno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Pluta gets tackled into the cage by Bruno. Bruno maintains the clinch.
Bruno digs a right hand into Pluta's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pluta's gas tank.

Bruno manages to break the clinch.

Bruno clinches up with Pluta and pushes him back against the cage.

Bruno breaks from the clinch.

Bruno closes the distance and pushes Pluta back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pluta fails to pull guard.

Bruno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pluta has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Bruno is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Bruno closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bruno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bruno tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pluta paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tommy Bruno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bruno darts in and clinches Pluta up against the cage.

Bruno breaks the clinch.

Bruno takes the fight into the clinch.

Bruno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bruno doesn't manage to clinch there - Pluta circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pluta! But no joy.

Bruno closes the distance and pushes Pluta back into the cage.

Bruno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bruno tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pluta paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Bruno closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pluta tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bruno just stands there and leans against the cage.

Bruno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bruno closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bruno breaks the clinch.

Bruno clinches with his opponent.

Bruno gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Pluta is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bruno lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pluta backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bruno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pluta keeps the fight on the outside.
Bruno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pluta tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Bruno drives through and clinches with Pluta against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Bruno.
Pluta prevents a body shot from Bruno.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruno lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pluta backwards.
Bruno with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Bruno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bruno moves into the clinch successfully.
Bruno lands an elbow inside that Pluta shrugs off.

It looks like Ghita Pluta has been cut.

Bruno breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bruno fails to pull guard.
Bruno stops a takedown attempt from Pluta.
Bruno taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Bruno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bruno fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pluta changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pluta keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Bruno dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ghita Pluta's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bruno is looking to clinch but Pluta is avoiding it.
Bruno moves in looking to clinch but Pluta pushes him off.
Pluta tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Bruno forces Pluta back against the cage and clinches.
Pluta tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bruno has Pluta pushed against the cage.
Pluta jumps guard but Bruno turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bruno is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pluta can do to turn this around?

Bruno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bruno closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pluta's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bruno throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bruno would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bruno is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pluta is breathing heavily.
Bruno postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bruno stands and steps away. Pluta gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bruno tries to clinch there but Pluta circles away.
Bruno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pluta tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Bruno tries to clinch there but Pluta circles away.
Bruno tries to clinch but Pluta is having none of it.

Bruno has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bruno trying to land knees to the body.

Bruno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pluta avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Bruno closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Good body shot from Bruno.
Tommy Bruno has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Bruno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pluta keeps the fight on the outside.
Bruno fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tommy Bruno is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bruno forces Pluta back against the cage and clinches.
Bruno has Pluta pushed against the cage.
Pluta goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bruno prevents it.
Tommy Bruno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ghita Pluta.
Bruno landing knees to the body.
Bruno softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bruno holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Bruno breaks the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bruno wants to clinch.
Pluta feints the counter takedown.

Bruno drives through and clinches with Pluta against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bruno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pluta circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pluta counters with a stiff right hand.
Bruno tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Bruno shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pluta manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bruno wants to get up but he can't break Pluta's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pluta is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pluta has a closed guard, preventing Bruno from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruno is looking to work some ground and pound but Pluta has wrist control.
Bruno has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pluta is proving hard to escape from.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pluta swats away the attempt to clinch by Bruno.
Bruno moves in looking to clinch but Pluta pushes him off.

Bruno clinches up with Pluta and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pluta wants to get back to striking at distance but Bruno won't allow it.
Bruno stalling.

Bruno breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Bruno dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ghita Pluta'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. This is the final round!

Bruno drives through and clinches with Pluta against the cage.

Bruno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bruno fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bruno tries to clinch up but Pluta circles away and keeps his distance.
Bruno fails with a takedown attempt.

Bruno moves into the clinch successfully.

Bruno breaks from the clinch.
Bruno moves in looking to clinch but Pluta pushes him off.
Bruno shoots in but no luck this time.
Pluta lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bruno moves into the clinch.

Bruno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bruno shoots in for a takedown but Pluta shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Bruno. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bruno tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pluta swats him away and circles back towards the center.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruno looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pluta jumps guard but Bruno turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Pluta drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Bruno has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Pluta regains guard immediately.
Bruno 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.
Bruno working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bruno's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bruno is working Pluta over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bruno lands a couple of digs.
Bruno won't allow Pluta to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruno keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pluta's head.

Bruno gets to his feet - Pluta follows without any prompting.
Bruno is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bruno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bruno fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pluta circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tommy Bruno is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bruno tries to clinch up but Pluta circles away and keeps his distance.

Bruno fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pluta, pushing him back against the cage.
Bruno is trying to pull guard but Pluta turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Bruno is trying to break the clinch but Pluta has him pressed against the cage.
Bruno has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bruno wants to get back to striking at distance but Pluta won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruno is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pluta fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Bruno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bruno tries to clinch but Pluta is having none of it.
Bruno tries to close the distance and clinch but Pluta swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pluta circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bruno tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pluta swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bruno tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Bruno gets a clinch.
Pluta tries to pull guard but Bruno holds him up against the cage and eventually Pluta drops back down to his feet.

Bruno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bruno pushes Pluta up against the cage in a clinch.

Bruno breaks the clinch.
Bruno wants to clinch up but Pluta keeps it at a distance.
Bruno is looking to clinch but Pluta is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bruno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bruno fails with an attempt to clinch.

Bruno moves into the clinch successfully.

Bruno manages to break the clinch.

Bruno takes the fight into the clinch.
Pluta is trying to break the clinch but Bruno has him pressed against the cage.
Bruno is stalling here.
Ghita Pluta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruno blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Bruno showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bruno has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Bruno!
Post fight, an emotional Tommy Bruno said 'Dio Porco!'.