PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carwyn Cain (ranked 4554 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Tucker (ranked 3775 p4p, 0 weight class). Tucker has chosen Ace of Spades as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Cain
vs
Tucker

175 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Carwyn Cain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cain.
Cain wants to control but Tucker is keeping him busy.
Tucker is trying to get back to half guard.
An elbow from Cain crashes against the mat.
Cain wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tucker keeps working.
Cain lands some shots froms side control.
The strikes coming from Cain are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker is looking for a sweep.

Cain is trying to get an arm triangle but Tucker is defending well.
Cain in side control, throwing shots but Tucker defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cain is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tucker has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cain works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Cain goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Tucker rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cain's guard! Nice work there by Tucker!
Cain trying to keep a closed guard but Tucker is proving a slippery customer.
Tucker preventing the sweep.
Tucker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tucker with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tucker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cain swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tucker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker trying to control the position from guard on top but Cain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tucker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Cain is looking for a triangle but Tucker pushes his legs off easily.
Tucker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cain 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 lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cain looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tucker puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ground and pound from Tucker.
Cain is pressing down on Tucker's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Cain looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cain keeping moving, preventing Tucker from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cain controls Tucker momentarily but Tucker frees himself.
Cain wants to sweep but no luck.
Tucker pushes down on Cain's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cain is looking to control Tucker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cain avoid being mounted?
Cain wants to improve his position but Tucker is controlling well.
Tucker working Cain over with strikes.
Cain 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Tucker there.
Cain wants to sweep but Tucker has passed to side control!
Tucker wants to control but Cain is keeping him busy.
Tucker advances to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cain really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cain is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Tucker dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tucker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cain, pushing him back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tucker.

Tucker breaks the clinch.
Tucker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tucker ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tucker. Cain does a little dance to reset his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tucker.
Tucker scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tucker stuffs the takedown attempt from Cain. Cain gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cain looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cain uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tucker.
Tucker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cain takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tucker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cain moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cain shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Tucker is defending against the submission attempts here by Cain.
Cain wants to control but Tucker is keeping him busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cain lands a nice short elbow.

Cain is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tucker has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cain lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tucker is defending against the submission attempts here by Cain.
Cain throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cain trying to control the action but Tucker is working from the bottom.
Tucker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cain.
Tucker has hold of Cain's hands but Cain slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cain wants to pass to mount but Tucker is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker is looking to escape.
Tucker regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cain.
Cain lands a couple of elbows.
Cain missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tucker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cain working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tucker's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cain stands up over Tucker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cain with a nice head shot there.
Cain throws a big right hand that misses.
Cain missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cain trying to control the position from guard on top but Tucker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cain won't allow Tucker to get back to his feet.
Cain throws an elbow that misses. Tucker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cain's guard. Nice move by Tucker!

Cain looking to control.

Cain is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cain trying to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tucker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Tucker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tucker's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cain under the eye.

Cain looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cain is looking to stall here but Tucker recovers full guard.
Cain throws a big right hand that misses.
Tucker looking for a sweep. Not yet Tucker, not yet.
Cain pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tucker is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cain wants to control from the top but Tucker keeps moving.
Cain is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tucker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cain trying to control but Tucker is working from the bottom.
Cain throws a big right hand that misses.
Tucker keeping moving, preventing Cain from controlling successfully.
Cain throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cain looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
John Tucker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Cain has closed the distance and engaged Tucker in a clinch.
Cain creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Carwyn Cain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.

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

Cain feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cain throws a big right hand that misses.
Cain looking to sit in guard and control but Tucker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tucker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cain controlling the position.
Tucker looking to sit in guard and control but Cain gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cain wants to pass the guard but Tucker is keeping the position.
Cain postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cain postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain throws a big elbow that misses.
Cain looking to sit in guard and control but Tucker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cain had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tucker defends it easily.
Cain not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tucker trying to control the position from guard on top but Cain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cain looking for a sweep. Not yet Cain, not yet.

Cain is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tucker is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker wants to control from the top but Cain keeps moving.
Tucker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
John Tucker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tucker looking to sit in guard and control but Cain gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tucker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cain.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tucker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tucker controlling Cain's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carwyn Cain showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tucker has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Tucker!