PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Refn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Luciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luciano has chosen The Mechanic as his entrance music. Charlie Luciano will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Refn
vs
Luciano

178 cm
24
174 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

194 cm
23
188 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Rōnin

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nicolas Refn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Charlie Luciano!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Refn scores with a hook to the body. Luciano takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Refn takes a swing at Luciano's ribcage but misses.
Refn misses with a left hand
and Luciano counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Refn thows a body shot but no joy.
Luciano throws a leg kick which misses Refn's front leg but catches the back leg as Refn tries to avoid it.
Refn misses with a wild body shot.
Refn lands with a hook. Luciano tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Luciano scoring well with a low kick there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Luciano.
Luciano dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Refn. That did some damage!
Luciano lands a right hook to the body.
Refn throws a shot to the body.
Refn closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Refn misses with an uppercut.
Luciano takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano throws a one two combo.
Luciano misses with the combination.
Refn lands with a nice body punch.
Luciano slips a jab from Refn.
Luciano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Refn.
Luciano on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Refn swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Luciano counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Refn thinking.
Refn throws a hook but Luciano blocks it.
Jab, jab by Refn - just one landing.
Luciano feints and then cracks Refn's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Refn down.
Luciano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn missing with a left hand there. Luciano was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Luciano throws a body punch but Refn moves out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Refn cracks Luciano with a right hand to the side of the head.
Refn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Luciano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Refn doesn't seem bothered though.
Refn misses with a straight right.
Refn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Luciano.
Luciano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Refn looks to score with a jab to the body but Luciano is just out of range.
Refn on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A lazy left from Refn finds it's target.
Luciano takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Refn throws a jab but it's blocked by Luciano.
Refn swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Luciano takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Refn takes a swing at Luciano's ribcage but misses.
Refn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luciano.
Refn swings away with a body shot that misses
and Luciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Refn comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Refn throws a series of punches but Luciano moves out of range.
Refn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Luciano is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Refn rather than just go for the knockout.
Refn wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Refn jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Refn misses with a body shot.
Refn misses the shot to the body.
Luciano tries to clinch up
and Refn counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Refn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Luciano.
Nicolas Refn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luciano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Refn takes one on the button.
Refn misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Luciano instigates a clinch.
Refn takes an elbow to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Refn dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Refn swings for the body but Luciano moves out of range.
Refn swings for the body but Luciano moves out of range.
Refn thows a body shot but no joy.
A slow jab from Refn misses its intended target.
Refn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice cross by Refn.
Luciano jabs at Refn's body.
Refn just misses with a punch to the body.
Luciano wants to clinch but Refn slips to the side
and Refn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Refn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Luciano slips under a jab from Refn.
Luciano slips under a jab from Refn.
Refn rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Luciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano slips a straight right by Refn.
Luciano throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Refn.
Refn lunges at Luciano with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Luciano's hand.
Luciano lands a head kick. Refn smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Luciano has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Refn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Luciano on the side of the head.
Refn misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Luciano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Refn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Luciano cracks Refn with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Refn misses with an uppercut
letting Luciano counter with a right hand.
Luciano misses with a body kick.
Luciano ducks under a wild hook from Refn.
Luciano takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Refn misses with a straight right.
Luciano avoids the body shot from Refn.
A big left from Luciano misses.
Refn swings widly with a right hand
and Luciano counters with a good low kick that Refn was not able to check.
Refn misses with a few strikes there.
A jab from Refn misses.
Refn looks to land a right hand but Luciano moved out of range.
Luciano fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Refn has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Refn just misses with a punch to the body.
Refn is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Luciano lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Refn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Refn looks to throw the jab but Luciano is out of range.
Refn throws a nice looking combination but Luciano bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Luciano uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Refn.
Refn moves out of range of the strikes.
Luciano tries to clinch up.
Luciano tries a head kick but it misses.
Refn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luciano moves away.
Refn lands a body shot.
Refn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Refn misses with an uppercut. Luciano saw that one coming.
Nicolas Refn is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Refn lands a nice shot to the body.
Luciano is breathing heavily.
Refn throws a hook to the side of Luciano's head but Luciano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Refn jabs at Luciano's body.
Refn swings for the body but Luciano moves out of range.
Luciano slips under a jab from Refn.
Refn throws a body punch but Luciano moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Luciano lands an impressive looking overhand right. Refn doesn't seem phased though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Luciano ducks under a wild hook from Refn.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Refn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luciano manages to avoid it.
Refn throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Refn dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Refn fails to land with a series of punches.
Refn misses with a jab to the body
and Luciano counters with a good low kick that Refn was not able to check.
Refn swings away with a body shot that misses
and Luciano counters with a nice uppercut.
Refn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luciano manages to avoid it.
Luciano throws a body punch but Refn moves out of range.
Refn misses with a wild body shot.
Refn throws a hook but Luciano blocks it.
Refn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Luciano jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Luciano staying out of range there.
Refn is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Luciano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Refn misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Refn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Refn throws a hook but Luciano avoids it easily.
Luciano misses with a body kick.
Luciano throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Refn's head.
Luciano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Refn.
Refn throws a hook to the side of Luciano's head but Luciano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Refn misses with a left hand

and Luciano counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Luciano just misses with a elbow thrown towards Refn's brow.
Luciano pushes off an throws an elbow but Refn leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Luciano lands an elbow just above Refn 's eye.
Luciano taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Luciano unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Luciano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Luciano lands an elbow that stopped Refn in his tracks for a moment.
Charlie Luciano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn dodges an elbow strike from Luciano.
Refn avoids a wild elbow strike from Luciano.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Luciano obliges.
Luciano tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Refn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Luciano pushes off an throws an elbow but Refn leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Luciano is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Luciano landing knees to the head.
Refn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Refn lands an elbow inside that Luciano shrugs off.
Refn dodges an elbow strike from Luciano.
Refn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Luciano just misses with a elbow thrown towards Refn's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Refns head.
Luciano utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Luciano looking to throw knees to the head but Refn is blocking nicely.
Refn tries a knee to the head but Luciano blocks it.

Refn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Refn fails to land with a series of punches.
Luciano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Refn.
Luciano lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Refn punishes Luciano's body with a nice straight punch.
A shot to the body from Refn misses
and Luciano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Luciano scores with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano connects with a body shot that sends Refn's belly button to the back.
Refn misses with a body shot
and Luciano counters with a left to the body.
Refn looks to score with a jab to the body but Luciano is just out of range.
Refn misses the jab.
Refn ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Refn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Refn misses with a straight right.
Refn lands a jab to Luciano's midsection.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Refn looks to throw the jab but Luciano is out of range.
Refn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Luciano on the side of the head.
Nicolas Refn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Refn lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Luciano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Refn has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas Refn!