PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Trainor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Trainor comes to the cage accompanied by The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Trainor
vs
Tucker

175 cm
26
135 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

178 cm
30
157 lbs
17 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lawrence Trainor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tom Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trainor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tucker.

Trainor has managed to clinch.
Trainor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tucker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Trainor just stands there and leans against the cage.
Trainor connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tucker's face.
Tucker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tucker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Trainor is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Trainor landing knees to the body.
Tucker misses with some punches.
Trainor lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Trainor lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tucker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Trainor lands a knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Trainor looking to throw knees to the head but Tucker is blocking nicely.
Trainor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tucker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Trainor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Trainor looking to throw knees to the head but Tucker is blocking nicely.
Trainor looking to throw knees to the head but Tucker is blocking nicely.
Trainor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Trainor misses with a knee strike.
Trainor struggles to land a body shot inside as Tucker controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trainor misses with a knee to the head.
Tucker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Tucker manages to pull guard.
Trainor not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tucker is on top in guard.
Trainor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Trainor trying to keep a closed guard but Tucker is proving a slippery customer.
Tucker trying to control the position from guard on top but Trainor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tucker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trainor has his hands on Tucker's head, controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lawrence Trainor.

Trainor gets a clinch.
Tucker can't break the clinch.
Trainor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Trainor jumps guard and drags Tucker to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tucker wants to control from the top but Trainor keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Trainor wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tucker won't allow Trainor to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trainor keeping moving, preventing Tucker from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tom Tucker.
Tucker throws a looping overhand right but Trainor ducks down to avoid it.
Tucker jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Horrible takedown by Trainor or perhaps it was just good defense by Tucker which made him look bad.
No luck for Trainor with that takedown attempt.
Tucker connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Trainor fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trainor avoids the body shot from Tucker.
Trainor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tucker.
Trainor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Trainor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Trainor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tucker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Trainor clinches up with Tucker and pushes him back against the cage.
Trainor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tucker blocks it with crossed arms.
Trainor misses with a knee strike.
Trainor misses with a knee strike.
Trainor working Tucker over with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Trainor lands a knee to the head.
Tucker avoiding damage as Trainor throws knees to the body.
Trainor tries a knee to the head but Tucker blocks it.
Trainor struggles to land a body shot inside as Tucker controls his hands.
Trainor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tucker is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Trainor dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Trainor forces Tucker back against the cage and clinches.
Trainor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tucker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Trainor has him pressed against the cage.
Tucker tries to pull guard but Trainor forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Trainor prevents a body shot from Tucker.
Trainor putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Tucker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Trainor landing knees to the body.
Tucker jumps guard but Trainor stands there with Tucker around his waist. Tucker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Trainor throws a knee to the head but misses.
Trainor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Trainor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tucker blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Trainor.
Tucker is pressed up against the cage. Trainor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tucker down to the mat. Tucker avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Trainor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Trainor fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trainor darts in and clinches Tucker up against the cage.
Trainor lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Trainor misses with a knee strike.
Tucker misses with a body punch.
Trainor looking to throw knees to the head but Tucker is blocking nicely.
Trainor lands a nice knee to the body.
Tucker tries to pull guard but Trainor won't allow it.
Lawrence Trainor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Tucker.
Trainor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Trainor crunches a lovely knee into Tucker's ribcage.
Trainor scores with a knee to the head.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Trainor here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Trainor tries to land a knee to the head but Tucker blocks with his arms.
Trainor's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trainor using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tucker pushes Trainor back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tucker jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Trainor walks away with a smile on his face. Tucker gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Trainor doesn't manage to clinch there - Tucker circles away.
Trainor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Tucker tries to keep at a distance but Trainor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Trainor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tucker blocks it with crossed arms.
Trainor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tucker is trying to pull guard but Trainor has him pressed against the cage.
Trainor connects with a knee to the head.
Trainor tries a knee to the head but Tucker blocks it.
Trainor using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tucker is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Trainor to keep the fight standing.
Trainor unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tucker lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lawrence Trainor has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trainor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tucker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tucker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Trainor with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Trainor is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tucker fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Trainor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tucker blocks it with crossed arms.
Trainor lands a knee to the head.
Trainor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tucker tries to break free but Trainor pushes him back against the cage.
Tucker is trying to break free.
Tucker tries to break free but Trainor pushes him back against the cage.
Tucker can't break the clinch.
Trainor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Trainor landing knees to the head.
Trainor connects with a knee to the head.
Trainor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Trainor misses with a knee strike.
Tucker is trying to pull guard but Trainor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tucker manages to break the clinch.
Tucker misses the jab.
Trainor tries to clinch but Tucker moves out of range.
Trainor fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big left from Tucker misses.
Tucker throws a body punch but Trainor moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Trainor slips a jab and a cross from Tucker.
Trainor throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Tucker's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tucker throws a right hand that misses
and Trainor counters with a thumping low kick.
Tucker looks to score with a jab to the body but Trainor is just out of range.
Trainor fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Trainor tries to clinch there but Tucker circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Trainor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tucker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Trainor.
Tucker avoids the head kick by Trainor.
Tucker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Trainor.
Tucker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Trainor throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tucker throws a hook to the side of Trainor's head but Trainor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tucker listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Trainor wants to clinch.
Tom Tucker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trainor clinches with his opponent.
Trainor missing with knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tucker.
Trainor with a knee to the head.
Trainor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tucker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Trainor misses with a knee strike.
Tucker tries to pull guard but Trainor holds him up against the cage and eventually Tucker drops back down to his feet.
Trainor with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Trainor manages to pull guard.
Tucker wants to stand but Trainor is controlling his posture from full guard.
Trainor controls Tucker momentarily but Tucker frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tucker stands up and waves to Trainor to follow him.
Trainor has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Trainor there as he acknowledges the shot.
Tucker ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Tucker connects with a nice looking jab.
Trainor takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trainor takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Trainor looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Trainor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tucker tries to avoid it but Trainor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tucker to the ground. Tucker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tom Tucker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tucker blocks a head kick by Trainor.
Tucker thuds his right hand into Trainor's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tucker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Trainor throws a leg kick but Tucker sees it coming and moves out of range.

Trainor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tucker, pushing him back against the cage.
Tucker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Trainor pulls Tucker into guard.
Tucker trying to control the position from guard on top but Trainor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker wants to get up but he can't break Trainor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Trainor kicks Tucker off and gets to his feet.
Trainor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Trainor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tucker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Trainor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tucker pinned against the cage. Tucker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tucker circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Tom Tucker just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Trainor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Trainor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Trainor gets a clinch.
Trainor lands a knee to the head.
Trainor tries to land knees in the clinch but Tucker avoids the damage to the body.
Trainor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Trainor connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tucker's face.
Nice body punch from Trainor.
Trainor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tucker gets underhooks to prevent Trainor's takedown attempt.

Trainor decides to pull guard.
Trainor keeping moving, preventing Tucker from controlling successfully.
Tucker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trainor is looking to sweep but instead, Tucker has passed into half guard.
Nice strikes from Tucker there.

Tucker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Trainor is just riding it out for now. Tucker eventually gives up the hold.

Tucker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Trainor doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tucker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker is thwarting Trainor's attempts to control the position.
Tucker not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tucker sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Trainor trying to hold on to Tucker's head to control him but Tucker postures up.
Trainor tries to kick Tucker off but Tucker keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tucker avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trainor throws a head kick that misses.
Tucker misses with a wild body shot.
Tucker scores with a jab to the body.
Trainor doesn't manage to clinch there - Tucker circles away.
Trainor looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tucker is fending him off so far but Trainor persists. Nope, Tucker circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Trainor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tucker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Trainor shoots in but Tucker avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lawrence Trainor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Lawrence Trainor will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Trainor has Tucker up against the cage in a clinch.
Trainor tries to land knees in the clinch but Tucker avoids the damage to the body.
Trainor prevents a body shot from Tucker.
A frustrated look appears on Tucker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Trainor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Trainor looking to throw knees to the head but Tucker is blocking nicely.
Trainor goes for a takedown attempt but Tucker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tucker lands a body shot.
Trainor tries to clinch but Tucker moves out of range.
Tucker throws a lazy right hand but Trainor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trainor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tucker, pushing him back against the cage.
Trainor unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tucker lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tucker is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Tucker lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Trainor pulls guard effortlessly.
Trainor wants to stand but Tucker is controlling the position.
Tucker throwing strikes from guard but Trainor blocks nicely.
Tucker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tom Tucker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trainor is adopting a defensive guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lawrence Trainor.
Trainor tries to clinch up but Tucker circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Tucker misses the target.
Trainor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tucker changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tucker throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tucker lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker blocks a head kick by Trainor.

Trainor closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Trainor lands in his opponent's guard.
Tucker is trying to keep Trainor in close.
Trainor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tucker's head.

Tucker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Trainor trying to control but Tucker is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trainor engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Tucker keeping moving, preventing Trainor from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lawrence Trainor just wasn't active enough.
Trainor tries to clinch up but Tucker circles away and keeps his distance.

Trainor looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Tucker working for a triangle but Trainor defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tucker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lawrence Trainor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Trainor 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Lawrence Trainor!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Lawrence Trainor!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Lawrence Trainor!

Lawrence Trainor wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Lawrence Trainor thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.