PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Salomon Mukunzi (ranked 678 p4p, 639 weight class) and Ray Luciano (ranked 103 p4p, 94 weight class). Mukunzi comes into the arena with Champion (ft. D Smoke) - Fireboy DML blaring out of the sound system. Luciano is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: SHORT PEOPLE. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mukunzi
vs
Luciano

178 cm
25
197
8 - 5 - 0

187 cm
26
187
12 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conquer
HELLBENT

Conquer
Conviction

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salomon Mukunzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Luciano!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luciano throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Luciano lands an overhand right.
Luciano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luciano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mukunzi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Luciano.
Mukunzi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Luciano counters with an outside leg kick.
Mukunzi throws a shot from downtown. Luciano moves away and avoids it.
Mukunzi throws a poor cross that misses
and Luciano counters with a right hand to the body.
Mukunzi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Luciano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mukunzi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mukunzi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Luciano wants to land a leg kick but Mukunzi is out of range.
Mukunzi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Luciano moves out of range of the strikes.
Mukunzi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Luciano throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mukunzi looks to score with a jab to the body but Luciano is just out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mukunzi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Luciano.
Luciano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mukunzi is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Luciano's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Luciano takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Mukunzi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Luciano takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Salomon Mukunzi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mukunzi throws a body kick that misses.
Luciano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Luciano throws a leg kick which misses Mukunzi's front leg but catches the back leg as Mukunzi tries to avoid it.
Luciano connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mukunzi. Luciano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Luciano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Luciano lunges at Mukunzi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mukunzi's hand.
Mukunzi missing with a left hand there. Luciano was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Luciano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mukunzi defending well as Luciano loads up on a big left hand.
Mukunzi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Mukunzi throws a low kick, looking for Luciano's leg but Luciano calmly moves out of range.
Luciano lands a nice shot that snaps Mukunzi's head back.
Mukunzi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luciano.
Luciano throws a jab but it's blocked by Mukunzi.
Mukunzi is looking to chop away at Luciano's legs.
Luciano wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luciano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mukunzi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mukunzi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Mukunzi misses with a hook. Luciano ducked under it nicely.
Luciano tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Luciano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Luciano takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Luciano throws a front kick aimed at Mukunzi's knee but Mukunzi avoids it well.
An inside leg kick from Luciano misses.
Mukunzi misses with a right hand
and Luciano counters with a nice uppercut.
Luciano throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Mukunzi counter with a right hand.
Luciano lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mukunzi at a distance.
Luciano connects with a body shot.
Mukunzi misses with a left hand
and Luciano counters with a stiff right hand.
Luciano connects with a body shot.
Luciano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mukunzi throws out the jab.
Luciano tests Mukunzi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Luciano connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi throws an off balance right hand
and Luciano counters with a thumping low kick.
Mukunzi scores with a nice strike.
Mukunzi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mukunzi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Luciano.
Mukunzi misses with a wild body shot.
Luciano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mukunzi tests Luciano's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Luciano clinches with his opponent.
Mukunzi pushes Luciano back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mukunzi tries to break the clinch but Luciano is controlling the position.
Luciano drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mukunzi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Luciano missing with a left hand there. Mukunzi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mukunzi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Luciano looks to score with a jab to the body but Mukunzi is just out of range.
Mukunzi dips to his left and cracks Luciano with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi lands a head shot.
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!
Mukunzi misses with a straight right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mukunzi. Luciano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mukunzi misses with a straight right.
Luciano gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mukunzi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Luciano tests Mukunzi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mukunzi throws a body shot but no joy.
Mukunzi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Luciano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mukunzi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luciano manages to avoid it.
Luciano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mukunzi slips under a jab from Luciano.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luciano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab, jab by Mukunzi - just one landing.
Mukunzi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Salomon Mukunzi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luciano looks to land a right hand but Mukunzi moved out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ray Luciano will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Luciano moves out of range of the strikes.
Mukunzi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luciano moves away.
An inside leg kick from Luciano misses.
Luciano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mukunzi throws out the jab.
Luciano tries a low kick but Mukunzi avoids it.
Mukunzi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Luciano.
A jab from Mukunzi misses.
Luciano only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Mukunzi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Luciano checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
No joy there for Luciano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Luciano has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Luciano.
Luciano slips a straight right by Mukunzi.
Luciano avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luciano scores with a body shot.
Luciano jabs at Mukunzi's body.
Luciano misses with a body kick.
Mukunzi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luciano moves away.
Luciano tries to work over Mukunzi's front leg with a kick but Mukunzi checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mukunzi misses the jab.
Luciano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mukunzi.
Mukunzi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Luciano walks into a left hand.
Mukunzi lands a nice shot to the body.
Luciano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mukunzi.
Luciano misses with a hook. Mukunzi ducked under it nicely.
Mukunzi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luciano was well out of range. Poor timing from Mukunzi.
As Mukunzi backs off Luciano throws a huge counter combo but Mukunzi manages to avoid it all.
Mukunzi misses with a looping right.
Mukunzi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Luciano scores with a jab. Mukunzi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A good leg kick by Mukunzi.
Luciano throws a shot from downtown. Mukunzi moves away and avoids it.
Mukunzi misses the shot to the body.
Luciano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mukunzi.
Luciano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Luciano fails in his attempt to clinch.
Luciano tries for a takedown but Mukunzi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Salomon Mukunzi is winning the standup battle so far.
Mukunzi lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Luciano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mukunzi.
Luciano swinging wildly here.
Luciano throws a lazy right hand but Mukunzi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mukunzi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Luciano circles away quickly and effectively.
Luciano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Luciano throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mukunzi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Luciano tries a quick counter leg kick but Mukunzi is wise to it.
Luciano staying out of range there.
Mukunzi misses with a body shot.
Mukunzi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Mukunzi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Luciano.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Luciano misses with a low kick.
Mukunzi delivers a nice body kick.
Luciano finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Luciano misses with an uppercut.
Mukunzi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Luciano sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano misses with a wild combination.
Luciano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mukunzi dodges the punch combination from Luciano.
Luciano misses with a lunging right hand
and Mukunzi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Luciano doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Luciano takes one on the button.
Luciano lands with a kick to the ribs.
Mukunzi misses with a body shot.
Mukunzi throws a lazy right hand but Luciano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Luciano feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mukunzis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Luciano misses with a low kick as Mukunzi jumps back.
Mukunzi went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Luciano slips a straight right by Mukunzi.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Luciano! But no joy.
Luciano connects with a looping right hand.
Mukunzi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luciano throws a jab but it's blocked by Mukunzi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi is looking to slow Luciano down with leg kicks.
Mukunzi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Luciano.
Luciano ducks under a wild hook from Mukunzi.
Some wild striking there from Mukunzi.
Good work by Mukunzi as he checks the leg kick.
Luciano lands a body shot.
Mukunzi lands with a cross.
Mukunzi misses with a hook. Luciano ducked under it nicely.
Mukunzi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mukunzi works the jab nicely.
Mukunzi tests Luciano's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mukunzi steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Luciano. That one must have hurt.
Mukunzi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A left and a right from Mukunzi both land. Nice combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Salomon Mukunzi dominated that second round.
That's time! Mukunzi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A right-left combo lands from Luciano.
Luciano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mukunzi throws out the jab.
Luciano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mukunzi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mukunzi slips under a jab from Luciano.
It looked like Mukunzi was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Luciano.
Mukunzi throws an off balance right hand
and Luciano counters with a leg kick.
Mukunzi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mukunzi throws a right hand that misses
and Luciano counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mukunzi swings for the body but Luciano moves out of range.
Luciano connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Luciano swinging wildly here.
Mukunzi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luciano.
Luciano misses with a straight left.
Mukunzi moves out of range as Luciano throws a body kick.
Mukunzi swings for the body but Luciano moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mukunzi misses with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Luciano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Luciano throws a low kick but Mukunzi avoids it.
Luciano looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Luciano connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mukunzi's hands.
Mukunzi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Luciano's head.
Mukunzi tries to land a leg kick but Luciano saw it coming and moves away.
Mukunzi throws a body kick that misses.
Mukunzi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Mukunzi misses.
Luciano misses with a body kick.
Mukunzi misses with a straight right.
A swing and a miss from Mukunzi.
Luciano scores with a kick to the body.
Luciano misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mukunzi. Luciano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mukunzi misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A slow jab from Luciano misses its intended target.
Luciano takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luciano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mukunzi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Luciano dives in and grabs Mukunzi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mukunzi pushes down on Luciano's head and hops out.
Mukunzi throws a poor cross that misses
and Luciano counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Luciano misses with a straight right.
Mukunzi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luciano manages to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Mukunzi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mukunzi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Luciano.
Luciano avoids the body shot from Mukunzi.
Mukunzi scores with a body shot.
Mukunzi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Luciano throws a body kick that misses.
Mukunzi walks into a left hand.
Luciano throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mukunzi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Luciano counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mukunzi fails to land with a series of punches.
Mukunzi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Luciano.
A combination from Luciano does no damage.
It looked like Mukunzi was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Luciano.
Mukunzi throws the left hand but Luciano avoids the punch easily.
A swing and a miss from Mukunzi.
Luciano doesn't manage to clinch there - Mukunzi circles away.
Luciano thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mukunzi scores with a decent looking hook.
Luciano looks to score with a jab to the body but Mukunzi is just out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Luciano. That snapped Mukunzi's head back.
Mukunzi throws a body shot but no joy.
Luciano now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Luciano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mukunzi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Luciano closes the distance and clinches up with Mukunzi, looking for a takedown. Luciano pushes Mukunzi against the cage but Mukunzi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mukunzi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano throws a body shot but no joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Luciano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mukunzi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mukunzi throws a hook to the side of Luciano's head but Luciano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A countering left hand to the body from Luciano misses.
Luciano blocks a jab.
Mukunzi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Luciano displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mukunzi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mukunzi throws a hook to the side of Luciano's head but Luciano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Luciano slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mukunzi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luciano was well out of range. Poor timing from Mukunzi.
Luciano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Jab by Mukunzi.
Mukunzi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Luciano.
Mukunzi misses with a right hand
and Luciano counters with a slapping leg kick.
Mukunzi takes a swing at Luciano's ribcage but misses.
Luciano stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Some bone on bone action there as Mukunzi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ray Luciano.
I think Luciano 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ray Luciano!
A victorious Ray Luciano thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.