PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rob Brooks (ranked 23894 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mattia Luci (ranked 4889 p4p, 0 weight class). Mattia Luci will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Brooks
vs
Luci

220 cm
26
194 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rob Brooks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mattia Luci!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luci throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Brooks tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Luci is in Brooks's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Brooks is on top in guard.

Luci wants to stand but Brooks is controlling the position.
Brooks wants to stand but Luci has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Brooks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Luci controls Brooks momentarily but Brooks frees himself.

Luci has his foot on Brooks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Brooks works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brooks throws an elbow that misses. Luci uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Brooks's guard. Nice move by Luci!

Brooks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Luci manages to get himself to full guard.

Brooks won't allow Luci to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Brooks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Luci wants to sweep here but Brooks controlling him for the moment.
Luci wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Brooks is now in half guard.
Luci wants to improve his position but Brooks is controlling well.
Luci preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Brooks is thwarting Luci's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Luci regains full guard. Nicely done.
Brooks won't allow Luci to sweep him here.
Brooks 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.
Brooks would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Brooks postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Luci is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Brooks, into his guard.

Brooks keeping moving, preventing Luci from controlling successfully.
Luci wants to stand but Brooks is controlling his posture from full guard.
Luci is looking to advance position but Brooks has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks lands with some strikes.
Brooks unloading with bombs!
Luci really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Luci keeps trying to improve his position.
Brooks lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Brooks unloading with bombs!

Brooks is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Luci is surviving well by controlling Brooks's body position as best he can.

Brooks moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Luci has worked his arm free - good work by Luci!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brooks stands up.
Brooks closes the distance and clinches up with Luci, looking for a takedown. Brooks pushes Luci against the cage but Luci circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Luci closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luci sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Brooks defending well though.
Luci wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brooks keeps working.
Luci scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Brooks is not content to let Luci control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rob Brooks will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Luci shoots in for a double leg but Brooks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Brooks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Luci fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Brooks is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Luci misses with a right hand
and Brooks counters with a one-two to the body.
Brooks misses with a body shot.
Luci looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brooks is fending him off so far but Luci persists. Nope, Brooks circles away and we're back to standing.
Rob Brooks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mattia Luci.
Luci shoots for a takedown but Brooks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Luci swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Brooks counters with a one-two to the body.
Brooks lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Luci at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brooks shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Luci counters with a nice uppercut.
Mattia Luci seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Brooks shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Luci manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Luci is breathing heavily.

Brooks stands and steps away. Luci gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Luci throws a solid leg kick but Brooks takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Luci.
Luci throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Brooks counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Brooks.
Brooks gets underhooks to prevent Luci's takedown attempt.
Luci tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Luci wants to get back to striking at distance but Brooks won't allow it.

Brooks breaks from the clinch.
Luci displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Brooks throws out the jab.
Brooks shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Luci as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Luci defends it nicely.
Brooks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Luci as he avoids it easily.

Luci shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Luci was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Brooks wants to control but Luci postures up.
Brooks is looking to reverse the position.
Luci tries to move to mount but Brooks blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Brooks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Luci can do to turn this around?
Brooks is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luci scores with a couple of short elbows.
Brooks gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four 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.
Brooks won't allow Luci to pass to mount.
Rob Brooks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brooks moves into full guard.
Luci wants to control from the top but Brooks keeps moving.
Brooks trying to keep a closed guard but Luci is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luci's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Brooks dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Luci doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Brooks moves into the clinch.

Luci breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Luci shoots in but no luck this time.
Brooks misses with a wild body shot.
Rob Brooks is winning the standup battle so far.
Brooks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luci was well out of range. Poor timing from Brooks.
Luci misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Luci fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Brooks, pushing him back against the cage.
Luci can't break the clinch.
Brooks throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Luci throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Luci has Brooks up against the cage in a clinch.

Brooks breaks from the clinch.
Brooks avoids a kick to the body.
As Luci looks to move away, Brooks throws a big counter combo but Luci just gets out of the way.
Luci has his takedown stuffed
and Brooks counters with a two punch combo.
Rob Brooks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mattia Luci.
Luci takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Luci tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brooks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Luci somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Luci.
Luci throws a left and a right that both miss

and Brooks counters by clinching up.
Brooks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Luci keeps control of Brooks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Brooks breaks the clinch.

Brooks gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Brooks wants to get back to striking at distance but Luci won't allow it.
Luci has Brooks pressed against the cage, preventing Brooks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Luci has Brooks up against the cage in a clinch.
Luci tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Brooks smiles and moves away.

Luci clinches up against the cage.
Luci tries to score a body lock takedown but Brooks shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Luci wants a takedown but no success here.
Brooks has had enough of the clinch but Luci keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks wants to get back to striking at distance but Luci won't allow it.
A short body shot lands from Luci as the two fighters clinch.
Luci lands a knee to the head.
Luci is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Brooks to keep the fight standing.

Brooks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Brooks lands a right hook to the body.

Luci has Brooks up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Brooks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Brooks, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Brooks!