PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tapu Koko (ranked 1051 p4p, 1392 weight class) and Jean Lucroy (ranked 158 p4p, 198 weight class). Koko comes to the cage accompanied by Aotearoa. This should be fireworks!

Koko
vs
Lucroy

187 cm
30
213
18 - 8 - 0

182 cm
30
206
11 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Savage Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tapu Koko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Lucroy!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koko connects with the punch.

It looks like Jean Lucroy has been cut.
Koko clobbers Lucroy with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Koko throws a lazy uppercut

and Lucroy counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Koko!
Koko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Koko tries to get out of the position.
Lucroy has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Koko!
Koko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Koko reaches up to try and control the position but Lucroy seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Koko rolls and tries to escape and now Lucroy has his back!
Lucroy misses with an elbow to the head.
I would not like to be Koko right now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Lucroy has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Lucroy punches Koko on the ear.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Lucroy is persistently looking for the submission but Koko is defending it well.
Lucroy missing with strikes from the back.
Lucroy controlling from the back.
Lucroy lands with a hammerfist to the side of Koko's head.
Lucroy biding his time, controlling Koko.

Lucroy has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Koko has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucroy not allowing Koko to control his hands.

Koko is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lucroy gets his way!
Lucroy throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Lucroy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lucroy punishes Koko with strikes from the back mount.

Lucroy has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lucroy is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Lucroy.
Koko is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lucroy is landing with strikes from the back.
Lucroy is working the ground and pound. Can Koko escape?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Lucroy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jean Lucroy's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lucroy blocks a jab.
Koko throws a big shot that misses.
Koko with a jab.
Koko's corner calls for a 1-2. Koko obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Koko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lucroy shoots in looking for a takedown. Koko tries to sprawl out of it but Lucroy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Koko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Koko has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Koko stalling in the clinch.
Lucroy tries to pull guard but Koko won't allow it.
Koko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lucroy throws a fast counter high kick but Koko manages to duck under it in time.

Koko lands a big right hand that sends Lucroy crashing to the mat! Koko stays standing though and waves Lucroy back to his feet!

Lucroy is rocked!

That has opened up Jean Lucroy's cut even more.
Koko is stalking Lucroy. Lucroy circles to his left. Keeps circling left. Bam! Straight right from Koko, and it's lights out! Lucroy really payed the price for that rookie mistake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Tapu Koko!
After the fight, Tapu Koko was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.