|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Tucker (ranked 2532 p4p, 2234 weight class) and Jacob Handler (ranked 311 p4p, 280 weight class). Tucker comes to the cage accompanied by Ave Maria. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
 |
|
 |
| 176 cm
23
166
4 - 1 - 0 |
|
172 cm
20
165
4 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin |
|
Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jerome Tucker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jacob Handler!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tucker gets a takedown into half guard.
Handler gets full guard.
Handler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tucker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Handler is on top in guard.
Tucker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Handler is aware though and is defending well.
Tucker wants to sweep here but Handler controlling him for the moment.
Handler is in close to Tucker's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Handler wants to control from the top but Tucker keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Handler controls the pace.
Handler postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Handler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Handler's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Handler trying to control the position from guard on top but Tucker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Handler drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tucker looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tucker looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tucker!
Tucker working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Handler tries to improve position but can't.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handler takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Handler dodges the ground and pound from Tucker.
Handler is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Handler is still trying to improve position.
Tucker lands a nice forearm strike.
Handler manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Handler tries to roll over but Tucker keeps him under control.
Handler has hold of Tucker's hands but Tucker slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker uses his free foot to push down on Handler's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Handler.
Handler regains half guard.
Tucker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Handler doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tucker.
Handler is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tucker pulls his head out easily.
Handler works his way to full guard. Good work.
Handler bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tucker's guard.
Handler cracks Tucker with a solid left hand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handler distracts Tucker with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tucker has Handler pulled in close to control his posture.
Tucker wants to sweep but no luck.
Handler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tucker's head.
Handler working some strikes from top position.
Tucker is trying to hold Handler in close to prevent damage but Handler has managed to pass into half guard.
Handler drops an elbow to the side of Tucker's head.
Handler wants to take a breather but Tucker is having none of it.
Tucker is looking for a sweep. Handler is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Handler is nestled in close to Tucker, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Handler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tucker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jacob Handler dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Handler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tucker.
Tucker dives in for a single leg takedown but Handler sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Handler is looking for a takedown.
Tucker jumps guard but Handler stands there with Tucker around his waist. Tucker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Handler goes for a takedown attempt but Tucker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tucker throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Handler was covering up waiting for the punch and Tucker finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Handler throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tucker escapes and throws Handler's legs to the side, diving into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Handler is looking to regain half guard here but Tucker keeps moving and retains side control.
Handler sneaks back into half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Handler regains full guard. Nicely done.
Handler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tucker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Handler throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tucker uses it to pass to side control.
Handler tries to improve position but can't.
Handler wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Handler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Handler is trying to improve his position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker stands up and beckons Handler to his feet.
A lazy body kick from Handler
and Tucker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tucker avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Handler motions for Tucker to come forward. Handler throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tucker misses with a right hand
and Handler counters by clinching up.
Handler goes for a takedown attempt but Tucker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jerome Tucker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Handler.
Tucker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tucker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tucker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Handler closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tucker did well to prevent Handler getting side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tucker is trying to control but can't.
Tucker has hold of Handler's hands but Handler slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tucker wants to control but Handler is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Handler trying to control from half guard but Tucker is working away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker regains full guard. Nicely done.
Handler scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tucker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Handler is one step ahead there.
Tucker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Handler lands a couple of elbows.
Handler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tucker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tucker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jacob Handler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Handler looking to pass the guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handler wants to get up but he can't break Tucker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Handler gets to his feet. Tucker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tucker gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Handler shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tucker is trying to defend but Handler finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Handler moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Tucker.
Handler tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Handler has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tucker is not content to let Handler control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Jacob Handler will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Tucker gets caught napping as Handler dives in and scores a takedown. Tucker manages to retain guard.
Tucker has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Handler off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Tucker misses with a takedown attempt - Handler sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Good leg kick by Handler.
Tucker looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Handler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Handler is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Tucker closes the distance and clinches.
Tucker prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tucker pulls Handler into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tucker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tucker looking for a sweep. Not yet Tucker, not yet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Handler trying to control the position from guard on top but Tucker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tucker is looking for a triangle here but Handler uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tucker is letting Handler control him for a moment.
Handler trying to control the action but Tucker is working from the bottom.
Tucker can't do much from the bottom here.
Handler working the head with strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handler decides to stand back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tucker or perhaps it was just good defense by Handler, which made it look bad.
Handler stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Handler wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Handler feints and as Tucker raises his hands in defense, Handler changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Handler sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tucker's guard.
Jerome Tucker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Handler wants to take a breather but Tucker is having none of it.
Handler is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tucker sees it coming and defends easily.
Tucker taking some punishment here, with Handler in his half guard.
Handler looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tucker with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tucker wants to improve his position but Handler is controlling well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Handler connects with a nice short shot to Tucker's temple.
Handler is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tucker has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tucker is staying active underneath Handler, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Handler landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Handler lands with a punch from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Handler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Handler seems to be working for a kimura but Tucker defends the submission attempt.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker trying to control from the bottom.
Handler landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Handler is nestled in close to Tucker, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Handler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tucker is looking for a sweep. Handler is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Handler working over Tucker with some ground and pound. Tucker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Handler lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Handler working Tucker over with strikes.
And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Handler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Handler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight for Jacob Handler!
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight for Jacob Handler!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Jacob Handler!
Jacob Handler wins by unanimous decision!
Jacob Handler seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Jerome Tucker was interviewed post fight and said '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.'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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
44% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
