PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Tucker (ranked 2155 p4p, 262 weight class) and Raulian Satoshi (ranked 2598 p4p, 299 weight class). Tucker's entrance music is Ace of Spades. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tucker
vs
Satoshi

169 cm
25
150 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
157 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Tucker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Raulian Satoshi!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Tucker. Satoshi does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Tucker backs off Satoshi throws a huge counter combo but Tucker manages to avoid it all.
Satoshi blocks a jab.
Satoshi shoots in for a takedown but Tucker shows good takedown defense.
Satoshi throws a sloppy head kick and Tucker moves out of range easily.
Tucker attempts a counter takedown but Satoshi avoids it well and moves away.
Satoshi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've been told by Tucker's head coaches at Cozad The Island that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Tucker gets a takedown into half guard.
Satoshi wants to improve his position but Tucker is controlling well.
Satoshi is trying to maintain the position but Tucker is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Satoshi keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Tucker wants to free his trapped foot but Satoshi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker working Satoshi over with strikes.
Tucker slips a nice elbow through Satoshi's hands, connecting with Satoshi's forehead.
Tucker trying to control from half guard but Satoshi is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tucker seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Satoshi trying to control here.
Satoshi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Tucker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tucker working the head and body with strikes.
Tucker is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Satoshi tries to roll over but Tucker keeps him under control.
Tucker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tucker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Satoshi has hold of Tucker's hands but Tucker slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Satoshi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tucker is keen to just control but Satoshi is a slippery customer.
Tucker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tucker lands strikes from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tucker not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Satoshi has hold of Tucker's hands but Tucker slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tucker slows the pace down in half guard.
Satoshi trying to control but Tucker postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Tucker scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Satoshi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tucker scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tucker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Satoshi on the ground.
Ground and pound from Tucker.
Satoshi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tucker lands strikes from half guard.
Tucker is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tucker slips a nice elbow through Satoshi's hands, connecting with Satoshi's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Satoshi is trying to get back to full guard.
Satoshi is controlling Tucker's trapped leg to prevent Tucker from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Satoshi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Satoshi.
Tucker trying to control but Satoshi is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Satoshi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tucker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tucker throws a right hand that Satoshi ducks under and follows up with a left that Satoshi also avoids with ease.
Satoshi throws out a loose jab but Tucker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Satoshi has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Satoshi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Satoshi shoots in for a double leg but Tucker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Satoshi throws a right and a left that Tucker avoids nicely.
Tucker tries to score with a low kick but Satoshi moves his leg out of the way.
Tucker misses with a straight left.
Tucker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Satoshi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Satoshi throws a lazy body kick

and Tucker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Satoshi won't be happy with that.
Satoshi taking a bit of punishment here - Tucker scoring with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tucker trying to control the action but Satoshi is working from the bottom.
Satoshi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Satoshi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Tucker is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Satoshi has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tucker working the ground and pound from side control.
Tucker working the ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Satoshi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tucker cracks Satoshi with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Satoshi is looking for a sweep.
Satoshi wants to control but Tucker postures up.
Satoshi tries to bench press Tucker off him but Tucker keeps the position.
Tucker in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Tucker is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Satoshi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker controls the position.
Satoshi taking a bit of punishment here - Tucker scoring with strikes.
Tucker in side control lands a decent elbow.
Tucker lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Satoshi down.
Tucker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Satoshi keeps working.
Tucker connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Satoshi some visible discomfort.
Check out the look on Tucker's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Satoshi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Check out the look on Tucker's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tucker swings around for an armbar but Satoshi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tucker's guard.
Tucker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Satoshi stands up out of Tucker's guard for a moment - Tucker manages to land a nice upkick.
Satoshi wants to control from the top but Tucker keeps moving.
Tucker wants to sweep here but Satoshi controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tucker wants to stand but Satoshi is controlling the position.
Satoshi throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Tucker dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tucker keeps the fight on the outside.
Satoshi with a poor takedown

and Tucker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tucker throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tucker is working Satoshi over against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Tucker.
Satoshi managing to block the knees to the body from Tucker.
Tucker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tucker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Satoshi wants a takedown.
Tucker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Satoshi.
Tucker prevents Satoshi from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker tries to land knees in the clinch but Satoshi avoids the damage to the body.
Satoshi dodges an elbow strike from Tucker.
Tucker tries to land knees in the clinch but Satoshi avoids the damage to the body.
Tucker lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tucker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tucker walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tucker leaves Satoshi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
John Tucker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raulian Satoshi.
Satoshi closes the distance but Tucker moves to the side

so Tucker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tucker connects with a couple of short punches.
Tucker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tucker is in close to Satoshi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tucker controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tucker distracts Satoshi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tucker postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tucker lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker trying to control but Satoshi is working from the bottom.
Tucker is working Satoshi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tucker controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tucker keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Satoshi's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tucker scoring with some ground and pound.
Satoshi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tucker is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker trying to control the position from guard on top but Satoshi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tucker with a nice head shot there.
Tucker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Satoshi wants to stand but Tucker is controlling the position.
Tucker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tucker scoring with some ground and pound.
Tucker looking to sit in guard and control but Satoshi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tucker working for a triangle but Satoshi defends it easily.

Tucker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Satoshi defends well.
Satoshi pushing down on Tucker's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
John Tucker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tucker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Satoshi can do to turn this around?
Satoshi tries to pass to full mount but Tucker defends it.
Tucker trying to control from the bottom.
Tucker on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tucker tries to get out of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tucker wants to get back to full guard but Satoshi has passed into side control.
Raulian Satoshi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tucker wants to control but Satoshi postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Tucker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tucker 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Tucker!
John Tucker seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.