PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Tucker (ranked 1709 p4p, 3231 weight class) and Finn Faustins (ranked 228 p4p, 379 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tucker might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Ave Maria. Finn Faustins told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Tucker
vs
Faustins

176 cm
23
166
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
162
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Fantasy Threads
BE Younick

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jerome Tucker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Finn Faustins!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tucker decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Faustins wants to get back to his feet.
Tucker content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Faustins trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Tucker manages to pass to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tucker tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Tucker stands up from mount. Strange move.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faustins sizes up Tucker with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Tucker has his takedown stuffed
and Faustins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tucker drives through with a takedown into Faustins's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Faustins manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Tucker needs to keep his hands up - Faustins had a free shot at his head there.
Tucker looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Tucker shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Faustins manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Faustins is wriggling around but Tucker manages to pass to half guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!

Tucker postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Faustins to stand up.
Faustins jabs Tucker right on the nose. Tucker blinks but takes it well.
Faustins lands a right hook to the body.

Tucker shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Faustins manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Faustins is trying to control the position but Tucker postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faustins is working an open guard so Tucker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Faustins uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tucker.
Tucker controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tucker is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Faustins has escaped the position, nice work there.
Faustins being controlled for a moment.
Faustins is trying to control Tucker's posture but Tucker avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tucker remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Tucker is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Faustins knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tucker cracks Faustins with an elbow. That is naaassty.
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 Jerome Tucker will probably get the nod.
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.

Tucker fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Faustins to the ground. Tucker is now in Faustins's guard.
Faustins wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Tucker manages to pass to side control.

Tucker is looking to advance position but Faustins won't allow it.
Faustins is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faustins is looking to improve his position.
Tucker is looking to advance position but Faustins won't allow it.
Tucker is controlling the pace.

Tucker stands up and beckons Faustins to join him on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Tucker shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Faustins napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Tucker stands up and beckons Faustins to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tucker is defended easily by Faustins.
Tucker misses with a takedown attempt - Faustins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Tucker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Faustins looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Jerome Tucker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Faustins is working an open guard so Tucker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Jerome Tucker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Faustins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Faustins jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tucker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faustins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tucker in his tracks.
Faustins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tucker in his tracks.
Faustins tests Tucker's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tucker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Faustins finds it's way round the side to connect with Tucker's head.
Faustins stuffs the takedown.
Tucker tries for a takedown but Faustins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tucker gets a takedown into half guard.
Faustins scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Tucker manages to mount him!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tucker get's back to his feet.
Tucker takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Finn Faustins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Faustins looks to land a right hand but Tucker moved out of range.
Faustins might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Faustins lands with a nice body punch.
Faustins scores with a jab to the head.
Nice shot lands for Faustins.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finn Faustins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab from Faustins does it's job there.
Tucker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Faustins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tucker manages to avoid it.

Tucker shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Faustins manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Faustins is trying to keep Tucker in close.
Tucker's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tucker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Faustins tries to bum rush Tucker with a series of wild strikes but Tucker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tucker doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Faustins counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faustins scores with a jab. Tucker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Tucker gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Faustins.
Faustins scores with a hook.
Faustins scores with a jab to the jaw.
Faustins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tucker in his tracks.
A jab from Faustins misses.
Tucker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Faustins circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker shoots in looking for a takedown but Faustins manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tucker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown but Faustins shows good takedown defense.
Faustins is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Faustins scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Faustins scores with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Faustins lands a slapping body shot.
Faustins lands a slapping body shot.
Faustins keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Faustins lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tucker at a distance.
Faustins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Faustins lunges at Tucker with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tucker's hand.
Tucker moves forwards but Faustins connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Jerome Tucker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jab, jab by Faustins - just one landing.
Faustins displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tucker doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tucker on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Faustins lands with a cross.
Tucker gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faustins throws a good cross that connects.

Tucker is rocked!
Tucker takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Oh Tucker is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tucker takes one to the side of the head.
Tucker misses with a takedown attempt - Faustins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tucker takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tucker seems to have got his legs back now.
Tucker takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tucker goes for a double leg but Faustins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Faustins continues to drive forward.
Faustins is trying to push Tucker away but Tucker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Faustins working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Faustins is trying to break the clinch but Tucker is controlling him.
Tucker has Faustins pressed against the cage, preventing Faustins from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faustins is trying to push Tucker away but Tucker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Tucker jumps guard but Faustins stands there with Tucker around his waist. Tucker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Faustins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Faustins swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tucker.
Tucker tries for a takedown but Faustins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Faustins throws a good cross that connects.
Faustins lands a jab to Tucker's midsection.
Tucker takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tucker slips a jab and a cross from Faustins.
Faustins looks to land a combination but Tucker avoids it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Faustins fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tucker on the side of the head.
Finn Faustins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faustins blocks a head kick by Tucker.
Finn Faustins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Faustins connects with a looping right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finn Faustins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Faustins 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 William Peck scores the fight for Finn Faustins!
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight for Finn Faustins!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Finn Faustins!

Finn Faustins wins by unanimous decision!
The defeated Jerome Tucker had this to say: 'Growing up in my house, my father, who was a Pastor, said that violence was never the answer. Tonight I realised he was right. It was the question. It's always the question.'.