PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anwar Rinda (ranked 648 p4p, 238 weight class) and Ricky Luciano (ranked 79 p4p, 30 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Rinda
vs
Luciano

173 cm
28
155
12 - 8 - 0

178 cm
28
146
18 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

MADNESS Apparel
The Dirty Needle Project

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Anwar Rinda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricky Luciano!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Luciano.
Luciano stuffs the takedown attempt from Rinda. Rinda gets slowly back to his feet.
Decent striking displayed by Luciano there.
A big right from Rinda misses.
Luciano shapes to counter with a head kick.
Luciano's coach down at JAG Battle Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Luciano's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Luciano rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Rinda counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rinda slows the pace down in half guard.
Luciano controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinda trying to control the action but Luciano is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinda wants to pass to mount but Luciano is defending the position.
Luciano is trying to maintain the position but Rinda is very close to passing his half guard.
Rinda wants to control but Luciano is keeping him busy.
Luciano wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Luciano throws a sloppy head kick and Rinda moves out of range easily.
Rinda half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
The fighters circling - Luciano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Luciano throws a shot from downtown. Rinda moves away and avoids it.

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.
Rinda has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Luciano.
Luciano throws a head kick but Rinda moves out of range.
Luciano loads up on a big right hand but Rinda slips the punch.
A slow jab from Luciano misses its intended target.
Rinda throws a looping overhand right but Luciano ducks down to avoid it.
Luciano misses with a straight right.
Rinda drops down looking for a counter takedown but Luciano sprawls and moves away.
A head kick by Luciano misses

so Rinda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rinda wants to pass the guard but Luciano is keeping the position.
Rinda trying to control the position from guard on top but Luciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rinda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano seems keen to control Rinda's posture.
Luciano keeping moving, preventing Rinda from controlling successfully.
Rinda is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Luciano wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Rinda decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Luciano is not content to let Rinda control the position.
Luciano is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano trying to control from the bottom.
Luciano trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Rinda manages to pass to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luciano wants to control but Rinda is having none of it.
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 Anwar Rinda will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rinda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Luciano thuds his right hand into Rinda's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A lazy left from Rinda finds it's target.
Luciano with a jab.
Nice shot lands for Luciano.
Luciano misses with a leg kick

and Rinda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rinda advances position into side control!
Rinda controlling the position.
Luciano is not content to let Rinda control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Anwar Rinda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rinda's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Luciano tries to buck Rinda off but Rinda is having none of it.
Luciano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rinda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rinda content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Rinda is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Luciano has escaped the position, nice work there.

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.

Rinda is trying to get an arm triangle but Luciano is defending well.
Rinda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Luciano keeps working.
Rinda is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rinda is trying to get an arm triangle but Luciano is defending well.
Rinda wants to control but Luciano is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A nice leg kick lands there from Luciano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rinda works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rinda definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rinda fails with the takedown.
Luciano moves away from the strike by Rinda.
Luciano throws a combination that misses
and Rinda counters with a straight right hand.
Rinda throws out a loose jab but Luciano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Decent striking displayed by Luciano there.
Some bone on bone action there as Rinda checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ricky Luciano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Luciano throws a head kick but Rinda moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Rinda on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ricky Luciano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luciano throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rinda slips a straight right by Luciano.
Rinda changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A head kick misses from Luciano.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rinda misses the jab.

Rinda gets the takedown into side control.
Luciano is holding Rinda down, trying to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Anwar Rinda will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Luciano takes a swing at Rinda's ribcage but misses.
Rinda attempts a counter takedown but Luciano avoids it well and moves away.
Luciano lands a head kick!
Luciano fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rinda is out of range.
Luciano lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Luciano throws out a loose jab but Rinda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rinda ducks under a wild hook from Luciano.
Rinda tries to counter with a takedown but Luciano is quick to defend against it.
Rinda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rinda is looking to counter punch.
Rinda scores with a nice head shot.
Luciano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rinda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rinda fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luciano misses with a double jab

so Rinda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rinda controlling from the top position.
Rinda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinda sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rinda trying to control the position from guard on top but Luciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Luciano looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Anwar Rinda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rinda content to stall in guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Luciano lands a glancing blow to the side of Rinda's head.
Luciano motions for Rinda to come forward. Luciano throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rinda moves forwards but Luciano connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Luciano misses with a low kick.
Rinda changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Luciano looks to throw the jab but Rinda is out of range.
Rinda drops down looking for a counter takedown but Luciano sprawls and moves away.
Rinda looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ricky Luciano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano 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.
Rinda takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Luciano connects with a jab.
Luciano throws a nice outside leg kick.
Luciano looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Luciano misses with a jab, cross combination.
Luciano throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rinda on the side of the head.
Luciano lands a nice hook to Rinda's body. Rinda takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Luciano throws a jab when Rinda was well out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rinda or perhaps it was just good defense by Luciano, which made it look bad.
Luciano throws a shot to the body.
Luciano shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rinda eats them both and turns towards Luciano to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slow jab from Luciano misses its intended target.
Luciano misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Luciano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rinda defending well as Luciano loads up on a big left hand.
Ricky Luciano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luciano uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rinda.
Luciano looks to land a right hand but Rinda moved out of range.
Rinda avoids the head kick by Luciano.
Luciano misses with a body shot.
Rinda attempts a counter takedown but Luciano avoids it well and moves away.
Luciano tries a low kick but Rinda avoids it.
Rinda attempts a counter takedown but Luciano avoids it well and moves away.
Luciano will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rinda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Luciano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Luciano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rinda.
A slow jab from Rinda misses its intended target.
Luciano with a nice calf kick.
A swing and a miss from Rinda.
Luciano connects with a high kick.
Luciano misses the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Luciano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rinda has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

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