PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Tucker (ranked 2952 p4p, 2982 weight class) and Panfilo Acerbi (ranked 367 p4p, 369 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tucker might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Ave Maria. Acerbi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Boom Boom Boom Boom - Venga Boys. Jerome Tucker had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 157.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tucker
vs
Acerbi

176 cm
25
171
5 - 4 - 0

176 cm
21
158
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear
Fantasy Threads

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jerome Tucker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Panfilo Acerbi!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Tucker or perhaps it was just good defense by Acerbi, which made it look bad.
Acerbi looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Acerbi thumps Tucker with a low kick.
Tucker on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Acerbi as he jumps to the side.
Tucker has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Acerbi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Acerbi stuffs the takedown attempt from Tucker. Tucker gets slowly back to his feet.
Acerbi throws out a counter right but Tucker avoids it with no problem.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acerbi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Acerbi tries to get to full guard but Tucker has control of the leg.
Acerbi trying to control here.
Acerbi moves into full guard.
Tucker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tucker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Acerbi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tucker postures up.
Tucker throws a big elbow that misses.
Tucker scoring with punches to the head and body.

Acerbi looking for a guillotine here but Tucker defends easily.
Tucker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acerbi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tucker keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Acerbi's head.
Tucker tries to free his leg and advance position but Acerbi is retaining full guard.

Acerbi has his foot on Tucker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tucker works his way back into a safe position though.
Tucker tries to free his leg and advance position but Acerbi is retaining full guard.

Tucker is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tucker works over Acerbi with some ground and pound from guard.
Acerbi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tucker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Acerbi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Acerbi is looking for a triangle but Tucker pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Acerbi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tucker defends it easily.
Tucker is fighting to break Acerbi's control of his arms but Acerbi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Tucker with a nice head shot there.
Acerbi is trying to control the position but Tucker postures up.
Tucker pushes down on Acerbi's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Tucker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Acerbi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tucker.
Tucker is pressing down on Acerbi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Acerbi is holding on for now.
Acerbi is looking for a sweep. Tucker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tucker is looking for a kimura here.

Tucker is working for a kimura but Acerbi is defending it quite comfortably.
Tucker is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Acerbi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
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. Tucker connects with a nice short shot to Acerbi's temple.
Acerbi gets full guard.
Tucker with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tucker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Acerbi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tucker is looking to work some ground and pound but Acerbi has wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Panfilo Acerbi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tucker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Acerbi! But no joy.
Acerbi takes a swing at Tucker's ribcage but misses.
Acerbi lands a lovely overhand right.
Acerbi misses with a double jab.
Acerbi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Acerbi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Acerbi tests Tucker's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Acerbi lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Acerbi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Acerbi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Acerbi misses with a kick to the body.
Panfilo Acerbi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tucker shoots in looking for a takedown but Acerbi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tucker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acerbi throws a hook to the side of Tucker's head but Tucker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tucker drops down looking for a counter takedown but Acerbi sprawls and moves away.
Acerbi lands with an overhand left.
Tucker fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Acerbi clobbers Tucker with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Acerbi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tucker has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Panfilo Acerbi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tucker walks forward, straight into a front kick from Acerbi.
Panfilo Acerbi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Acerbi lands a slapping body shot.
Acerbi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Acerbi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker needs to keep his hands up - Acerbi had a free shot at his head there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Acerbi cracks Tucker with an open hand slap.
Tucker shoots in and drives through. Acerbi sprawls well.

Acerbi drops Tucker with a beautiful combination! Tucker stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Acerbi is looking for the KO!

Tucker is rocked!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Acerbi. Tucker shrugs it off though.
Oh Tucker is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tucker walks straight into a right hand from Acerbi - that's dropped him! Acerbi jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Tucker from any more punishment! Tucker complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Panfilo Acerbi!
In defeat, Jerome Tucker stepped up to the mic, saying '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.'.