|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vinny Baldelli (ranked 1813 p4p, 2727 weight class) and James Tuati (ranked 272 p4p, 402 weight class). Tuati is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Ka Mate. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.
 |
|
 |
| 188 cm
23
187
4 - 4 - 0 |
|
185 cm
23
199
2 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Very quick |
|
Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vinny Baldelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Tuati!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuati tries to clinch but Baldelli is having none of it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Tuati defending well as Baldelli loads up on a big left hand.
Baldelli moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tuati uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Baldelli.
Tuati has managed to clinch.
Tuati prevents Baldelli from breaking the clinch.
Tuati tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Baldelli is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Baldelli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tuati tries to clinch up but Baldelli circles away and keeps his distance.
Baldelli misses with a low kick.
Baldelli keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tuati gets a clinch.
Baldelli tries to break the clinch but Tuati is controlling the position.
Baldelli breaks the clinch.
Tuati doesn't manage to clinch there - Baldelli circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuati tries to clinch up but Baldelli circles away and keeps his distance.
Tuati is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tuati closes the distance and clinches.
Tuati has a couple of punches blocked by Baldelli.
Baldelli gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tuati.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuati tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Baldelli's elbow.
Tuati throws a punch but it's blocked by Baldelli.
Tuati breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baldelli tests Tuati's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tuati has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Tuati moves in looking to clinch but Baldelli pushes him off.
Tuati doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tuati slips a straight right by Baldelli.
Baldelli finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tuati fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Baldelli leaves Tuati with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vinny Baldelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Tuati.
Tuati fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baldelli, pushing him back against the cage.
Tuati fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Tuati.
Baldelli on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tuati misses with a punch on the inside.
Baldelli wants to get back to striking at distance but Tuati won't allow it.
Tuati prevents a body shot from Baldelli.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuati prevents Baldelli from breaking the clinch.
Baldelli tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tuati's elbow.
Baldelli breaks from the clinch.
Tuati moves out of range of the strikes.
The fighters circling - Baldelli throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baldelli is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Baldelli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Baldelli lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tuati takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vinny Baldelli is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tuati rushes Baldelli and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baldelli working hard to break the clinch.
Tuati keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Baldelli's efforts to push away.
Tuati lands a shot to the body.
Baldelli is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tuati manages to pull guard.
Tuati has Baldelli pulled in close to control his posture.
Tuati looking for subs off his back but Baldelli has passed one foot through into half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuati looking for submissions off his back.
Tuati trying to hold on to Baldelli's head to control him but Baldelli postures up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tuati controlling the position well.
Tuati slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tuati 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Vinny Baldelli will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Tuati fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baldelli swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Baldelli tries to keep at a distance but Tuati has taken the fight into the clinch.
Baldelli wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tuati has him pressed against the cage.
Tuati misses with some punches.
Baldelli lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tuati or not.
Tuati gets through Baldelli's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tuati lands with a right to the head.
Tuati throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tuati gets through Baldelli's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tuati misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tuati drags the fight down to the ground.
Tuati is looking for a triangle but Baldelli pushes his legs off easily.
Baldelli knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tuati on the ground.
Tuati is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
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.
Baldelli wants to control from the top but Tuati keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tuati holds on and takes a little breather.
Tuati wants to sweep but no luck.
Tuati looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Tuati being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Baldelli will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tuati looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Baldelli is fending him off so far but Tuati persists. Nope, Baldelli circles away and we're back to standing.
Tuati avoids the body shot from Baldelli.
No luck for Tuati with that takedown attempt.
Tuati doesn't manage to clinch there - Baldelli circles away.
Tuati closes the distance and pushes Baldelli back into the cage.
Tuati lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Baldelli swings wildly with an uppercut but Tuati uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baldelli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tuati tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baldelli paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tuati closes the distance and clinches.
Baldelli's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tuati tries to close the distance and clinch up but Baldelli swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tuati tries to clinch up.
Baldelli bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuati tries to move into range but Baldelli moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tuati lands with a light punch inside.
Baldelli takes a shot to the head.
Baldelli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tuati is looking to clinch.
Baldelli thumps Tuati with a low kick.
Jab by Tuati.
Tuati avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Baldelli misses.
Tuati darts in and clinches Baldelli up against the cage.
Tuati is working for takedown but Baldelli is calmly controlling the position for now.
Vinny Baldelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Tuati.
Baldelli is trying to break the clinch but Tuati is controlling him.
Tuati lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tuati's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Baldelli lands the left hand.
Tuati is looking to clinch but Baldelli is avoiding it.
Baldelli throws a chopping leg kick but Tuati manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tuati looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Baldelli.
Vinny Baldelli is winning the standup battle so far.
Tuati is looking to clinch but Baldelli is avoiding it.
Tuati tries to clinch there but Baldelli circles away.
Baldelli moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Baldelli misses with a straight right.
Tuati fails in his attempt to clinch.
A low kick lands for Baldelli.
Jab by Baldelli.
Tuati tries to close the distance and clinch but Baldelli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tuati moves into the clinch.
Baldelli wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Baldelli's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tuati drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Baldelli gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Baldelli working hard to break the clinch.
Baldelli takes a shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baldelli.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but James Tuati will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!
A low kick lands for Baldelli.
Baldelli misses with a looping right.
Tuati fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tuati clinches with his opponent.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tuati.
Tuati manages to break the clinch.
Tuati keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baldelli swats away the attempt to clinch by Tuati.
Tuati moves into the clinch.
James Tuati seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Baldelli's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baldelli blocks an uppercut.
Baldelli wants to break free but Tuati has control.
Still in the clinch, Tuati scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tuati gets through Baldelli's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tuati misses with a punch on the inside.
Tuati keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Baldelli's efforts to push away.
Tuati lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuati breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baldelli misses with a hook. Tuati ducked under it nicely.
Baldelli throws out a leg kick but Tuati moves out of range and Baldelli only half commits.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tuati looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tuati moves in looking to clinch but Baldelli pushes him off.
Tuati wants to clinch up but Baldelli keeps it at a distance.
Tuati tries to clinch up but Baldelli circles away and keeps his distance.
Tuati darts in and clinches Baldelli up against the cage.
Baldelli's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baldelli scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Baldelli avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck for Tuati with that takedown attempt.
Baldelli throws a jab when Tuati was well out of range.
Tuati fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab from Baldelli finds it's way through Tuati's defenses.
Tuati wants to clinch but Baldelli slips to the side
and Baldelli counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Baldelli keeps the fight on the outside.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuati has closed the distance and engaged Baldelli in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tuati.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tuati lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Baldelli is trying to break the clinch but Tuati has him pressed against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Tuati.
Baldelli wants to break the clinch but can't.
A right handed body shot lands from Tuati.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tuati lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tuati jumps guard.
Baldelli preventing the sweep.
Tuati is pulling down on Baldelli's head. It's preventing any offense from Baldelli, at least for the moment.
Baldelli won't allow Tuati to sweep him here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuati has control of Baldelli's left arm, preventing Baldelli from doing any damage.
Tuati lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Tuati is stalling in the full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tuati pushes down on Baldelli's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tuati stalling.
Baldelli slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that's the end of the fight!
James Tuati comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tuati 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Tuati!
After winning the bout, James Tuati thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
45% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
