PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charles Tucker (ranked 1073 p4p, 1317 weight class) and Shape Shifter (ranked 170 p4p, 208 weight class). Tucker's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Faith of The Heart. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Shape Shifter was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tucker
vs
Shifter

187 cm
28
210
17 - 6 - 0

191 cm
28
215
11 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Urban Fighter
Vegan Gains

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 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Tucker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Shape Shifter!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shifter darts in looking for a takedown but Tucker gets double underhooks and turns Shifter into the cage.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Shifter has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Shifter fails with a takedown attempt.
Tucker lands a nice looking body shot.
Tucker has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The House Of Pain in the buildup to the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shifter with the counter takedown but Tucker avoids it easily.
Tucker lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker misses with a straight right.
Shifter changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tucker throws a leg kick

and Shifter counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shifter.

Tucker manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Shifter wants a takedown but no success here.
Charles Tucker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shape Shifter.
Shifter can't get the takedown.
Shifter tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tucker smiles and moves away.
Shifter misses with a takedown attempt
and Tucker counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tucker throws a jab when Shifter was well out of range.
Shifter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifter avoids the body shot from Tucker.
Shifter is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shifter avoids the body shot from Tucker.
Shifter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tucker loads up on a big right hand but Shifter slips the punch.

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

Tucker kicks Shifter off and gets to his feet.
Nice straight punches there by Tucker. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tucker.
Shifter ducks under a wild hook from Tucker.
Shifter feints a counter leg kick.
A combination from Tucker does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tucker. Shifter does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shifter looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Tucker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Shifter avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shifter changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tucker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shifter.
Tucker was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Tucker throws an off balance right hand

so Shifter counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shifter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tucker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Shifter 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!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shifter is trying to improve his position.
Shifter is still trying to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tucker works to advance to full mount. Shifter defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tucker lands a heavy elbow.
Tucker throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Shifter is desperately trying to improve his position but Tucker has a good base and remains in mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Tucker dominated that round.
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.

Shifter takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Shifter has his takedown stuffed
and Tucker counters with a straight right hand.
Tucker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shifter manages to avoid it.
Shifter changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tucker looks to score with a jab to the body but Shifter is just out of range.
Shifter is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Tucker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shifter sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Despite the aggression on Shifter's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker throws a body shot but no joy.
Tucker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tucker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shifter can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tucker.
A cross from Tucker lands.
Shifter moves away from the strike by Tucker.
Shifter tries to counter by closing the distance.
Tucker throws a looping overhand right but Shifter ducks down to avoid it.
Shifter feints the counter takedown.
Charles Tucker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tucker misses with an uppercut

and Shifter moves into the clinch.
Shifter is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tucker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shifter drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Charles Tucker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shape Shifter.
Tucker prevents the takedown attempt.

Shifter jumps into guard, dragging Tucker to the mat.
Shifter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tucker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shifter had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tucker defends it easily.
Tucker trying to control but Shifter is working from the bottom.

Shifter is looking for a triangle here but Tucker uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Tucker wants to control but Shifter is keeping him busy.
Tucker tries to score with some ground and pound. Shifter controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Shifter tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tucker tries to move to mount but Shifter blocks the move with his legs.
The ground and pound from Tucker seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Shifter is not content to let Tucker control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Tucker misses with the ground and pound.
Shifter is looking to reverse the position.
Tucker postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Shifter is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tucker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shifter keeps working.
Tucker advances to mount.
Tucker can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shifter is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shifter is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Tucker is really struggling to control Shifter but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Shifter is working to get back to half guard.
Shifter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tucker tries to control but Shifter wriggling away.
Shifter is trying desperately to improve position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Tucker dominated that second round.
That's time! Tucker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tucker throws a leg kick which misses Shifter's front leg but catches the back leg as Shifter tries to avoid it.
Shifter dives in for a single leg takedown but Tucker sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Shifter blocks a jab.
Tucker throws out a loose jab but Shifter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shifter feints the counter takedown.
Tucker throws an overhand right that lands on Shifter's shoulder, as Shifter tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tucker.
Shifter feints the counter takedown.
Tucker throws an off balance right hand

and Shifter counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter wants to take the fight to the mat but Tucker manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shifter is working for takedown but Tucker is calmly controlling the position for now.
Charles Tucker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shape Shifter.

Shifter tightens his grip and picks Tucker up, before dumping him to the ground. Tucker manages to land in guard.

Tucker wriggles free and stands up.
Tucker slaps away a takedown attempt from Shifter, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tucker throws a lazy right hand but Shifter sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shifter with the counter takedown but Tucker avoids it easily.
Shifter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tucker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tucker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shifter.
Shifter is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker throws a shot from downtown. Shifter moves away and avoids it.
Tucker throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Shifter is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Tucker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shifter slips a straight right by Tucker.
Tucker with a nice calf kick.
Shifter will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tucker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shifter changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shifter is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Tucker swings away with a leg kick that misses.
And Shifter tries to counter it with a takedown but Tucker pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Tucker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shifter.
Shifter tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shifter shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tucker pinned against the cage. Tucker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tucker is looking to counter punch.
Charles Tucker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tucker jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker looks to throw the jab but Shifter is out of range.
Tucker tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Shifter is able to avoid easily.
Tucker throws a hook to the side of Shifter's head but Shifter sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shifter changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Shifter slips a jab from Tucker.
Shifter feints the counter takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tucker connects with a crisp jab.
Tucker tried to score with a low kick but Shifter checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Tucker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tucker has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

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