PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salvatore Lucania (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joni Vvit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lucania kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Murder Inc. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lucania
vs
Vvit

193 cm
27
220 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

187 cm
26
199 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Steel Penn\'s Laundry 80% LAUNDRY IS AVAILABLE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Salvatore Lucania!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joni Vvit!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vvit checks a low kick from Lucania.
Vvit misses with the combination.
Joni Vvit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vvit takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vvit misses with a right hand

and Lucania counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lucania won't allow Vvit to sweep him here.
Lucania won't allow Vvit to get back to his feet.
Vvit trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Vvit trying to keep a closed guard but Lucania is proving a slippery customer.
Lucania throws a big elbow that misses.

Vvit scrambles and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lucania lands a nice shot to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lucania.
Vvit misses with a double jab.
Lucania throws a lazy right hand but Vvit sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vvit is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucania takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Lucania looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Vvit!
Lucania working the head and body with strikes.
Vvit told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vvit tries to buck Lucania off but Lucania is having none of it.
Lucania in side control lands a decent elbow.
Lucania tries to advance to mount but Vvit denies him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Lucania lands a decent elbow from side control.

Lucania tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Vvit is trying to control Lucania's posture but Lucania avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Lucania.
Lucania prevents Vvit from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vvit throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Vvit taking punishment in the form of punches.
Vvit manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vvit misses with a head shot. Lucania uses the momentum to regain guard.
Lucania seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Lucania wants to sweep here but Vvit controlling him for the moment.
Vvit is looking to stand up but Lucania won't let him.

Lucania is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vvit defends well.
Vvit must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lucania looking for a sweep. Not yet Lucania, not yet.
Lucania is working hard here to advance position.
Lucania has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Vvit is looking to work some ground and pound but Lucania has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vvit tries to free his leg and advance position but Lucania is retaining full guard.
Vvit trying to control but Lucania is working from the bottom.
Lucania looking for a sweep. Not yet Lucania, not yet.

Lucania looking for a guillotine here but Vvit defends easily.
Vvit is stalling in the full guard.
Vvit throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vvit pushing down on Lucania's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Vvit decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Vvit misses.
Lucania lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vvit scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lucania throws a one two combo.
Lucania with a hook.
Vvit moves out of range of the leg kick from Lucania.
Vvit throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lucania moves out of range as Vvit strikes.
Lucania ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Vvit jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vvit thuds a left hand into Lucania's body.
Vvit throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lucania sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lucania scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Vvit fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Salvatore Lucania will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lucania slips under a jab.
Vvit throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lucania staying out of range there.
Vvit keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lucania thows a body shot but no joy.
Lucania lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Vvit loads up on a big right hand but Lucania slips the punch.
Vvit swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Lucania counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lucania with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vvit looking for a sweep. Not yet Vvit, not yet.
Vvit keeping full guard, as Lucania tries to pass.
Vvit is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vvit is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vvit will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucania throwing strikes from guard but Vvit blocks nicely.
Lucania trying to control but Vvit is working from the bottom.
Vvit manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lucania manages to get himself to full guard.

Lucania is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vvit is aware though and is defending well.
Lucania lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Vvit wants to stand but Lucania is controlling the position.
Lucania is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lucania loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lucania lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucania wants to pass the guard but Vvit is keeping the position.
Lucania trying to control the position from guard on top but Vvit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vvit looking for a sweep. Not yet Vvit, not yet.
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!
Lucania pushes down on Vvit's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Vvit works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lucania stopping the sweep attempt from Vvit.
Lucania wants to control from the top but Vvit keeps moving.
Vvit looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lucania is one step ahead there.
Lucania trying to control but Vvit is working from the bottom.
Lucania content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vvit wants to stand up but Lucania is controlling him.
Vvit utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lucania trying to control but Vvit is working from the bottom.

Lucania thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Salvatore Lucania overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vvit not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vvit trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Vvit wants to improve his position but instead Lucania has moved into half guard.
Lucania content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Vvit blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lucania.
Vvit taking some punishment here, with Lucania in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vvit won't allow Lucania to pass to mount.
Vvit is trying to stand back up but Lucania is controlling him
Lucania looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lucania is looking to take a break and control but Vvit is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vvit is looking to escape.
Vvit tries to roll over but Lucania keeps him under control.
Vvit keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vvit is pressing down on Lucania's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lucania landing with the ground and pound.
Lucania postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vvit keeping moving, preventing Lucania from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Lucania dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lucania keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vvit.
Vvit with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lucania to score with a decent uppercut.
Lucania uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vvit.
Lucania moves out of range as Vvit strikes.
Lucania connects with a nice looking jab.
Lucania slips under a jab.
Vvit swings for the body but Lucania moves out of range.
Vvit cracks Lucania with a good jab.
A slow jab from Vvit misses its intended target.
Vvit scores with a hook to the body. Lucania takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A telegraphed right hand from Vvit misses the target.
Vvit swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vvit rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Lucania counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lucania.
Vvit wants to sweep but no luck.
Lucania stands and throws Vvit's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Vvit is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lucania throwing shots but Vvit is blocking nicely.

Vvit makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Vvit uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lucania has time to react.
Joni Vvit seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vvit scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vvit lands a jab to the nose.
Lucania connects with a nice looking jab.
Vvit misses the shot to the body.
Vvit throws a nice looking combination but Lucania bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Joni Vvit is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lucania lands with a nice body punch.
Vvit takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vvit misses with an uppercut

and Lucania counters with a shoot takedown. Vvit fights it but they end up in guard.
Lucania trying to control but Vvit is working from the bottom.
Vvit is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lucania trying to control but Vvit is working from the bottom.
Vvit trying to keep a closed guard but Lucania is proving a slippery customer.
Lucania is standing up over Vvit. Vvit looks to escape but Lucania dives into side control.
Vvit is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Vvit takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Vvit tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lucania lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucania lands a decent elbow from side control.
Vvit is trying to buck Lucania off.
Vvit is being controlled here.
Vvit is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lucania has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Lucania pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Vvit is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Vvit gets back to half guard.

Lucania is working for a kimura but Vvit is defending it quite comfortably.
Vvit on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucania seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vvit is trying to control but can't.

Vvit has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Lucania is on him like a limpet, forcing Vvit back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Lucania fails to land.
Lucania misses with a body punch.
Vvit wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lucania lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vvit backwards.
Vvit lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lucania backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Vvit.
Lucania works on Vvit's body with a couple of short punches.
Vvit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lucania lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lucania pushes Vvit back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lucania working aggressively here.
Lucania is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vvit is keeping busy.
Joni Vvit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lucania jumps guard but Vvit turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salvatore Lucania showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lucania, 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salvatore Lucania!
After winning the bout, Salvatore Lucania thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.