PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Tucker (ranked 2034 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salaiman Firouzadeh (ranked 2621 p4p, 0 weight class). Tucker's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Ace of Spades. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tucker
vs
Firouzadeh

169 cm
26
150 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

178 cm
25
156 lbs
6 - 0 - 1

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 8 - 3 - 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 - 0 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Salaiman Firouzadeh!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Firouzadeh drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tucker strikes from his own guard.
Tucker 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.
Firouzadeh stays in close to Tucker's body and controls the position.
Tucker has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
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.
Firouzadeh trying to control the position from guard on top but Tucker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Firouzadeh preventing the sweep.

Tucker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Firouzadeh doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Firouzadeh manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tucker looking for a sweep. Not yet Tucker, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Firouzadeh being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firouzadeh controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Tucker drives through and clinches with Firouzadeh against the cage.
Tucker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tucker lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Tucker works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Firouzadeh is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tucker postures up and lands a big shot to Firouzadeh's brow.
Tucker is looking to work some ground and pound but Firouzadeh has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Firouzadeh is keeping the position for now.
Firouzadeh is looking to stand up but Tucker isn't so interested in that idea.
Tucker throws a big elbow that misses.
Tucker slips nicely into half guard.
Firouzadeh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tucker.
Tucker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tucker seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tucker is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tucker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tucker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Firouzadeh taking some punishment here, with Tucker in his half guard.
Firouzadeh wants to control but Tucker is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tucker is nestled in close to Firouzadeh, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tucker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ground and pound from Tucker.
Tucker looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Firouzadeh with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Firouzadeh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tucker.
Tucker seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Firouzadeh is rocked!
Tucker lands with a punch from half guard.
Firouzadeh is still in real trouble! Can Tucker finish him?
Tucker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Firouzadeh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tucker.
Firouzadeh punching from the bottom.
Firouzadeh is looking to control Tucker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Firouzadeh avoid being mounted?
Tucker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tucker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tucker wants to stand up but Firouzadeh has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Firouzadeh seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker lands strikes from half guard.
Tucker prevents Firouzadeh from standing back up.

Tucker is working for a submission of some sort.
Tucker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Tucker is looking for a kimura here.
Tucker is looking to take a break and control but Firouzadeh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Firouzadeh trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Tucker dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Firouzadeh.
Tucker is looking to counter the offense by Firouzadeh and move into the clinch.
Firouzadeh wants to clinch but Tucker slips to the side
and Tucker counters with a right hand to the body.
Firouzadeh moves in looking to clinch but Tucker pushes him off.
Tucker appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Firouzadeh shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tucker but Tucker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tucker is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Firouzadeh.
Tucker's jab looks to have found its range, popping Firouzadeh under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Firouzadeh scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Tucker clinches.
Tucker lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker controlling the action here for a moment.
Firouzadeh trying to stall but Tucker improves his position.
Tucker is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Firouzadeh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Firouzadeh jabs Tucker to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Firouzadeh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
John Tucker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salaiman Firouzadeh.
Firouzadeh fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Firouzadeh is defended easily by Tucker.
Salaiman Firouzadeh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tucker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tucker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Firouzadeh gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Firouzadeh drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tucker pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tucker does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Firouzadeh closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tucker quickly recovers to half guard.

Tucker has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Firouzadeh is on him like a limpet, forcing Tucker back against the cage.

Tucker gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice strikes from Tucker there.
Tucker working the head and body with strikes.
Tucker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Firouzadeh looks like he's trying to stand up.
Firouzadeh taking some punishment here, with Tucker in his half guard.
Firouzadeh is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tucker scores with a couple of nice shots.

Tucker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Firouzadeh is just riding it out for now. Tucker eventually gives up the hold.
Tucker working over Firouzadeh with some ground and pound. Firouzadeh looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker working Firouzadeh over with strikes.
John Tucker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tucker thows a huge punch but Firouzadeh dodges it nicely.
Firouzadeh is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tucker's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tucker's back!
Firouzadeh struggling to keep hold of the position.
Tucker trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Firouzadeh tries to keep control of the position but Tucker is staying busy.
Firouzadeh keeps control of the position as Tucker tries to break free.
Firouzadeh trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Tucker doesn't escape.
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. This is the final round!

Tucker closes the distance and clinches.
Firouzadeh being controlled against the cage.
Tucker lands a shot to the body.
Tucker keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Firouzadeh's efforts to push away.
Still in the clinch, Tucker scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tucker manages to break the clinch.

Tucker moves into the clinch successfully.
Tucker lands with a left to the head.
Firouzadeh misses with a body punch.
A frustrated look appears on Firouzadeh's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tucker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tucker swats away the attempt to clinch by Firouzadeh.
Nice defenses there by Tucker.
Tucker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Firouzadeh stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Firouzadeh wants it to stay on the feet.

Tucker takes the fight into the clinch.
Firouzadeh can't break the clinch.
Firouzadeh doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Firouzadeh managing to block the knees to the body from Tucker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Firouzadeh is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tucker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tucker is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Stalling in the clinch from Tucker.
Firouzadeh can't break the clinch.
Firouzadeh tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tucker just stands there and leans against the cage.
John Tucker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salaiman Firouzadeh.

Tucker breaks the clinch.
John Tucker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Firouzadeh tries to clinch up.
Tucker slaps away a takedown attempt from Firouzadeh, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Firouzadeh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tucker circles away.
Tucker is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Firouzadeh.
Firouzadeh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Tucker clinches up with Firouzadeh and pushes him back against the cage.
Tucker comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker slows down the pace here.

Tucker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tucker throws a body kick that misses.
Firouzadeh fails with a takedown attempt.
Tucker feinted with a counter takedown.
Tucker slaps away a takedown attempt from Firouzadeh, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Tucker clinches up with Firouzadeh and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tucker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Firouzadeh stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Firouzadeh wants it to stay on the feet.
Firouzadeh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tucker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Firouzadeh.

Tucker darts in and clinches Firouzadeh up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Tucker breaks from the clinch.
Firouzadeh changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tucker tries to avoid it but Firouzadeh manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tucker to the ground. Tucker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
John Tucker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tucker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Salaiman Firouzadeh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Firouzadeh tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tucker avoids it.

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

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 Peter Branson scores the fight for John Tucker!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for John Tucker!
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for John Tucker!

John Tucker wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, John Tucker thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.