PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Dukic (ranked 23359 p4p, 1946 weight class) and Sam Diego (ranked 503 p4p, 258 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Dukic
vs
Diego

169 cm
29
178
7 - 17 - 1

189 cm
34
180
15 - 20 - 0

Dangerous GnP
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $97

Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bruno Dukic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 20 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Diego!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diego punishes Dukic's body with a nice straight punch.
Dukic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dukic throws a jab when Diego was well out of range.
Dukic works over Diego's head and body with a nice combination.
Diego lands a jab to Dukic's midsection.
Dukic misses with a hook. Diego ducked under it nicely.
Dukic pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Diego back to the cage. Dukic follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The fighters circling - Dukic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diego defending well as Dukic loads up on a big left hand.
Diego looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Decent striking displayed by Dukic there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dukic slips under a jab.
Dukic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diego throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dukic.
Dukic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diego.
Dukic moves into range and connects with a jab.
Diego misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukic works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Dukic keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Dukic dips to his left and cracks Diego with an uppercut!
Dukic throws out a loose jab but Diego uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dukic slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Diego ducks under a wild hook from Dukic.
Diego misses with a left hand
and Diego takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Diego swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dukic keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Diego.
Dukic dives in for a single leg takedown but Diego sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Dukic manages to break the clinch.

Dukic drives through and clinches with Diego against the cage.
Dukic lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Diego breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dukic throws a jab when Diego was well out of range.
Diego ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Diego walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Diego blocking some punches.
Dukic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dukic swings wildly with an uppercut but Diego uses good head movement to avoid it.
I was talking to Dukic's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Dukic breaks the clinch.
Dukic doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Diego connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sam Diego is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diego with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dukic to score with a decent uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego throws a body shot but no joy.
Diego keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dukic.
It seemed like Diego was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Diego on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Diego ducks under a wild hook from Dukic.
Dukic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dukic moves into range and connects with a jab.
Diego takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Dukic is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Dukic moves out of range as Diego strikes.
Diego slips a straight right by Dukic.

Dukic has Diego up against the cage in a clinch.

Dukic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dukic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Diego takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diego uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dukic.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good standup being displayed there by Dukic as he connects with a hook.
Dukic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Diego connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Bruno Dukic has been cut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruno Dukic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diego throws a lazy right hand but Dukic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A left lands for Dukic.
Diego ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Dukic misses with a right hand
and Diego counters with a nice uppercut.
Dukic lands a really nice looking cross but Diego seems unphased.
Dukic looks to land a combination. Diego sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dukic dives in and grabs Diego's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diego pushes down on Dukic's head and hops out.
Dukic connects with a good right hand that stumbles Diego. Diego circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Dukic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dukic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Diego just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Dukic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bruno Dukic's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diego dodges the punch combination from Dukic.
Diego let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Diego throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Dukic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diego has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Diego throws out a loose jab but Dukic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dukic bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Diego's head.
Diego bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diego thuds his right hand into Dukic's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Dukic tries to clinch but Diego is having none of it.
A little jabbing left from Diego on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Dukic fails to land with a series of punches.
Dukic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diego can do to turn this around?
Diego with a nice cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dukic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Diego looks to land a right hand but Dukic moved out of range.
Dukic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dukic takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukic with a lazy takedown attempt
and Diego cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Diego misses with a straight right.
Some wild striking there from Dukic.
Dukic throws a series of strikes that have Diego backpedaling.
Dukic loads up on a big right hand but Diego slips the punch.
Dukic darts in looking for a takedown but Diego gets double underhooks and turns Dukic into the cage.
Diego doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Come on Dukic - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Dukic working aggressively here.

Dukic breaks the clinch.
Diego ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dukic moves away.
Dukic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dukic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dukic has a couple of punches blocked by Diego.

Dukic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dukic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dukic throws a big shot that misses.
Dukic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Diego counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruno Dukic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dukic or perhaps it was just good defense by Diego, which made it look bad.
Dukic slips under a jab from Diego.
Dukic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dukic doesn't manage to clinch there - Diego circles away.
Dukic throws a lazy right hand but Diego sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A little jabbing left from Diego on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego connects with a solid leg kick.
Dukic closes the distance and clinches up with Diego, looking for a takedown. Dukic pushes Diego against the cage but Diego circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dukic throws a nice looking combination but Diego bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dukic bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Dukic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diego.
Dukic seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Dukic clinches with his opponent.
Dukic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Dukic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diego with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dukic to score with a decent uppercut.
The fighters circling - Dukic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A swing and a miss from Dukic.
Dukic shoots and misses
and Diego cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dukic misses with a wild combination.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Diego! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dukic throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Diego counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dukic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diego's waist but Diego gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dukic off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diego connects with a nice looking jab.
Dukic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dukic shoots in and drives through. Diego sprawls well.
Diego misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dukic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diego.
Dukic rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Diego cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Bruno Dukic's cut is getting worse.
Diego missing with a left hand there. Dukic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dukic seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Diego avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Diego.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bruno Dukic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bruno Dukic's cut.
That's time! Dukic'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.

Dukic doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Diego counters with a stiff right hand.
Sam Diego has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dukic wants to clinch.
Dukic wants to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Diego's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Diego swats away the attempt to clinch by Dukic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Dukic has closed the distance and engaged Diego in a clinch.
Diego can't break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dukic.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dukic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diego drops his hands momentarily and Dukic takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sloppy strikes from Diego. Those never looked like landing.
Dukic is looking to clinch but Diego is avoiding it.
Dukic wants to clinch up but Diego keeps it at a distance.
Dukic missing with a left hand there. Diego was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bruno Dukic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diego misses with a looping right.
Dukic throws a hook but Diego blocks it.
A big left from Dukic misses.

Dukic has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right from Dukic on the inside.
Bruno Dukic has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Diego manages to break the clinch.
Diego has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Dukic tries to clinch but Diego moves out of range.
Diego let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Dukic connects with the punch.
Dukic throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Diego counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diego throws a head kick that misses.

Dukic rushes Diego and presses him up against the cage.
Dukic has Diego pushed against the cage.

Dukic breaks the clinch.
Dukic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Diego throws out the jab.
A swing and a miss from Dukic.
Diego let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Diego looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Dukic misses with a looping left.
Diego uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dukic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dukic wants to clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Diego misses.
Dukic pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Diego back to the cage. Dukic follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Dukic moves into the clinch.
Diego tries to break the clinch but Dukic is controlling the position.

Dukic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bruno Dukic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice straight punches there by Dukic. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dukic.
Dukic misses with a right hand
and Diego counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diego misses with a looping right.
Dukic stalks Diego and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Diego's face. Diego staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diego throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dukic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diego misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dukic.
Dukic lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dukic misses with a hook. Diego ducked under it nicely.
Diego throws a counter combo.
Bruno Dukic is winning the standup battle so far.
A combination from Dukic does no damage.
Dukic shoots for a double leg takedown but Diego sprawls well. He's pushed Dukic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Diego throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dukic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diego.
Diego ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dukic moves away.
Diego dodges the punch combination from Dukic.
Dukic misses with an uppercut
and Diego counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A slow jab from Diego misses its intended target.
Dukic throwing a counter right hand but Diego manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruno Dukic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dukic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Dukic!
A very excited looking Bruno Dukic rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.