PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Mulucku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Toscano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mulucku comes to the ring accompanied by Garbo - Perestroika. James Toscano has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mulucku
vs
Toscano

180 cm
22
188 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vlad Mulucku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Toscano!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mulucku throws a hook but Toscano blocks it.
Toscano fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mulucku wants to clinch but Toscano slips to the side

and Toscano holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Mulucku fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Toscano.
Toscano wants a takedown.
Mulucku has had enough of the clinch but Toscano keeps him there for the moment.
Toscano misses with some punches.

Toscano manages to pull guard.
Mulucku wants to stand but Toscano is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Mulucku gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Toscano slips a straight right by Mulucku.
Toscano blocks the body kick.
Vlad Mulucku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Mulucku. Those never looked like landing.
Mulucku wants to clinch

and Toscano counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toscano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mulucku backwards.
Toscano makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mulucku wants to get back to striking at distance but Toscano won't allow it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Toscano.
Toscano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Toscano lands with a short shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Toscano.
Toscano lands an uppercut.
Toscano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Toscano lands a shoulder strike.
Mulucku misses with the head strike.
Toscano lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Toscano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Toscano controlling the action here for a moment.
A shot in the inside from Toscano.
Mulucku is looking to break free of the clinch but Toscano has double underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Toscano takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Toscano lands with a light punch inside.
Toscano slowing the pace effectively.
Mulucku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Toscano looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toscano blocking some punches.
Mulucku working aggressively here.
Mulucku struggles to land a body shot inside as Toscano controls his hands.
Toscano scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mulucku struggles to land a body shot inside as Toscano controls his hands.
Toscano tries to score a body lock takedown but Mulucku shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Vlad Mulucku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Toscano.
Toscano wants a takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Toscano.
Mulucku is trying to break the clinch but Toscano has him pressed against the ropes.
Toscano prevents Mulucku from breaking the clinch.
Mulucku is looking to control Toscano's arms but Toscano gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mulucku has his back to the ropes.
Mulucku stops a takedown attempt from Toscano.
Toscano leaning against his opponent.
Mulucku wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Toscano pulls guard successfully.
Mulucku would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mulucku preventing the sweep.

Toscano has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mulucku can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Toscano throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Toscano dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Mulucku darts in trying to clinch

and Toscano counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mulucku swings wildly with an uppercut but Toscano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Toscano is struggling to control the position.
Toscano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Toscano in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Toscano is trying to stall.
Toscano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Mulucku wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulucku prevents the takedown attempt.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Toscano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Toscano throws a punch but it's blocked by Mulucku.

Toscano manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Toscano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mulucku defends well.

Toscano throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Toscano is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mulucku stands up from Toscano's guard - Mulucku perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mulucku throws a head kick but Toscano moves out of range.
Toscano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mulucku tries to clinch
and Toscano counters with a stiff right hand.
Mulucku throws a big shot that misses.
Mulucku lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Toscano circles away quickly and effectively.

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.
Mulucku tries to clinch

and Toscano moves into the clinch.
Toscano tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mulucku smiles and moves away.
Mulucku tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mulucku moves to clinch but Toscano breaks away
and Toscano counters with a stiff right hand.
A leg kick checked by Toscano.
Mulucku swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Toscano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Toscano forces Mulucku back against the ropes and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Toscano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mulucku tries to clinch
and Toscano counters with a straight right hand.
Mulucku wants to clinch but Toscano slips to the side

and Toscano counters by moving into the clinch.
Mulucku wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mulucku tries to break the clinch but Toscano is controlling the position.
Toscano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Toscano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Mulucku fails to land.
Mulucku is trying to break the clinch but Toscano is controlling him.
Mulucku lands a body shot.
Toscano can't get the takedown.
Toscano tries to score a body lock takedown but Mulucku shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mulucku blocks an uppercut.

Mulucku escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Toscano. No joy for Mulucku on that attempt.
Mulucku moves to clinch but Toscano breaks away
and Mulucku takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mulucku looks to land a combination but Toscano avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulucku misses with a head kick.
Mulucku looks to clinch
and Toscano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mulucku wants to clinch

and Toscano counters by moving into the clinch.
Toscano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vlad Mulucku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Toscano.
Mulucku looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Toscano has a couple of punches blocked by Mulucku.
Toscano keeps control of Mulucku as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Toscano lands a hook that snaps the head of Mulucku backwards.
Toscano lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Toscano keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mulucku's efforts to push away.
Toscano is working for takedown but Mulucku is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mulucku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mulucku is looking to break free of the clinch but Toscano has double underhooks.
Toscano fails to pull guard.
Mulucku is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Mulucku's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Toscano.
Still in the clinch, Toscano scores with a nice short uppercut.
Toscano lands with a left to the head.
Toscano lands a right hand.
Mulucku is looking to break free of the clinch but Toscano has double underhooks.
Toscano blocking some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Toscano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Toscano is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Toscano.
Toscano drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Toscano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Toscano is trying to maintain a safe position but Mulucku gets an underhook and turns Toscano into the ropes.
Toscano has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Toscano is working for takedown but Mulucku is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mulucku is trying to break the clinch but Toscano has him pressed against the ropes.

Toscano ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Toscano no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Mulucku got a little sloppy there for a moment and Toscano has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mulucku has managed to get both his arms back between Toscano's legs - danger averted.
Mulucku wants to get up but he can't break Toscano's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mulucku trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Mulucku stands up and waves to Toscano to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Toscano really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mulucku throws a body kick that misses.
Mulucku misses with a hook.
Mulucku misses with a combination

and Toscano moves into the clinch.

Mulucku breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulucku tries to clinch

and Toscano moves into the clinch.
Mulucku swings wildly with an uppercut but Toscano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mulucku wants to break free but Toscano has control.
Toscano misses with a punch on the inside.
Toscano lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toscano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A nice left hand lands by Toscano.
Toscano keeps control of Mulucku as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Mulucku's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mulucku misses with a punch on the inside.
Toscano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Toscano manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Toscano looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Mulucku stands up from Toscano's guard - Mulucku perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mulucku darts in trying to clinch
letting Toscano counter with a right hand.
Mulucku misses with the combination.
Toscano fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mulucku closes the distance but Toscano moves to the side

and Toscano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Toscano.
Toscano has a couple of punches blocked by Mulucku.
Mulucku tries to throw a body punch but Toscano avoids it by throwing Mulucku back against the cage.
Toscano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Toscano has Mulucku pressed against the ropes, preventing Mulucku from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Toscano blocks an uppercut.
Toscano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mulucku misses with a body punch.
Mulucku throws a punch but it's blocked by Toscano.
Toscano has Mulucku pressed against the ropes, preventing Mulucku from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mulucku is trying to break the clinch but Toscano has him pressed against the ropes.
Mulucku tries a body shot but Toscano blocks it.
Toscano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Toscano manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mulucku would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Toscano dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Toscano gets a clinch.
Toscano throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Muluckus head.

Toscano pulls guard successfully.
Toscano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mulucku manages to get himself to full guard.
Toscano passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Toscano is trying to get an arm triangle but Mulucku is defending well.

Toscano has hold of Mulucku's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Mulucku tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Toscano cranks the arm and Mulucku screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Mulucku, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). James Toscano!