PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Link Gaetz (ranked 92 p4p, 14 weight class) and Peleki Tuala (ranked 37 p4p, 7 weight class). Tuala has chosen Dock of Fiji as his entrance music. Peleki Tuala has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Link Gaetz's chin.

Gaetz
vs
Tuala

194 cm
32
245 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

190 cm
29
267 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Sin City Allstars
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Link Gaetz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Peleki Tuala!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaetz missing with a left hand there. Tuala was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tuala lands a jab to the nose.
Gaetz throws a body kick that misses.
Tuala lands with a right hand.
Gaetz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tuala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gaetz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuala misses with a lunging right hand
and Gaetz counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gaetz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tuala throws a body shot but no joy.
Gaetz scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Peleki Tuala has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuala throws a jab but it's blocked by Gaetz.
Gaetz looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
A head kick by Gaetz misses
and Tuala counters with a nice body shot.
Tuala dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gaetz. That did some damage!
Tuala tries a low kick but Gaetz avoids it.
It looked like Gaetz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gaetz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tuala throws a jab when Gaetz was well out of range.
Tuala misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gaetz throwing a counter right hand but Tuala manages to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tuala.
Gaetz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuala is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gaetz.
Gaetz is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Tuala misses with a low kick.
Tuala misses with a right hand
and Gaetz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Gaetz looks to score with a jab to the body but Tuala is just out of range.
Tuala is looking to land body kicks.
Tuala lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gaetz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tuala is trying to counter with his kicks.
A head kick by Gaetz misses
and Tuala counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tuala fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tuala. That's going to slow Gaetz down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuala gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Gaetz counter with a right hand.
Tuala misses with a body kick.
Gaetz misses with a two punch combination.
Tuala takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gaetz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tuala.
Gaetz walks into a jab.
Gaetz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tuala misses with a body shot.
Tuala checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tuala misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuala looks to throw a body kick
and Gaetz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A cross from Gaetz lands.
Tuala throws a half hearted mid kick.
It looked like Gaetz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gaetz misses the shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gaetz throws an overhand right that lands on Tuala's shoulder, as Tuala tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters circling - Tuala throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tuala misses with a body shot.
Gaetz appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tuala lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gaetz at a distance.
Tuala looks to land a left hand but Gaetz moved out of range nicely.
Tuala tries to land a front kick but Gaetz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peleki Tuala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Peleki Tuala's cut.
That's time! Gaetz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tuala swings widly with a right hand
and Gaetz counters with a straight right hand.
Tuala throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Tuala scoring well with a low kick there.
Gaetz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tuala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gaetz manages to avoid it.
Peleki Tuala seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tuala misses with a hook
and Gaetz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gaetz connects with a nice looking jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuala scores with a spinning back kick!
Tuala throws the kick towards the body but Gaetz avoids it.
Tuala connects with a leg kick. Gaetz looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuala lands an overhand right.
Tuala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tuala tried to score with a low kick but Gaetz checks it.
Tuala chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A good leg kick by Gaetz.
Gaetz moves out of range of the body kick.
Gaetz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gaetz scoring well with a low kick there.
Gaetz throws a jab when Tuala was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuala misses with a shot to the body
and Gaetz counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Tuala throws a front kick that sends Gaetz stumbling back into the cage.
Tuala dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gaetz avoids the body shot from Tuala.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaetz explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Tuala on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Tuala looks to score with a jab to the body but Gaetz is just out of range.
Tuala misses with a straight right.
Gaetz checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tuala wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tuala lands a nice looking body kick.
Tuala throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gaetz feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tuala comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Tuala - that will leave a mark!
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Gaetz might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Gaetz thows a leg kick but Tuala checks it
and Gaetz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tuala throws a low kick but Gaetz avoids it.
It looked like Gaetz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tuala digs a good hook to Gaetz's body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gaetz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Tuala coming out on top.
Gaetz misses with a straight right.
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!
Tuala misses with a looping left.
Gaetz throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tuala.
Tuala feints and then cracks Gaetz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gaetz down.
Tuala digs a good body shot into Gaetz's ribs.
Gaetz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tuala lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gaetz's sensitive parts.
Tuala connects with a leg kick. Gaetz looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peleki Tuala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Peleki Tuala's cut.
That's time! Gaetz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gaetz moves out of range as Tuala strikes.
As Tuala backs away, Gaetz returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Gaetz is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tuala lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gaetz thows a body kick. Tuala tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Tuala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tuala throws a lazy uppercut
and Gaetz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tuala misses with a right hand
and Gaetz counters with an outside leg kick.
Tuala throws a jab but it's blocked by Gaetz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuala throws a leg kick that is checked
and Gaetz counters with a head kick.
Gaetz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tuala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaetz moves away from the strike by Tuala.
Gaetz's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Tuala lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gaetz takes a step back to recover.
Tuala throws a leg kick but Gaetz moved away.
Tuala avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tuala replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Gaetz blocks it well.
Tuala throws a big shot that misses.
Tuala takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gaetz will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Nice cross by Gaetz.
Tuala swings widly with a right hand
and Gaetz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gaetz throws a jab but it's blocked by Tuala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuala throws a hook but Gaetz avoids it easily.
Gaetz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tuala.
Tuala throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tuala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gaetz.
Tuala appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A big right from Gaetz misses.
Gaetz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tuala.
Tuala takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tuala throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gaetz.
Gaetz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuala looks to land a body kick but Gaetz moved away.
Gaetz was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gaetz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gaetz throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Tuala counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Tuala throws a body kick that misses.
Gaetz throws a sloppy head kick and Tuala moves out of range easily.
Tuala counters with a body kick.
Gaetz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gaetz lands a jab to the nose.
Nice body kick from Gaetz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuala blocks a leg kick.
Gaetz takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gaetz lands with a right hand.
Tuala misses with a low kick.
Tuala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gaetz.
Tuala goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A little feinted left hand from Gaetz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaetz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A cross from Tuala lands.
An inside leg kick from Tuala misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Link Gaetz did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Peleki Tuala's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gaetz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tuala avoids the body shot from Gaetz.
Tuala feints a counter leg kick.
Gaetz misses with a low kick.
Tuala fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tuala looks to throw a body kick
and Gaetz counters with a solid body kick.
Tuala lands a leg kick that knocks Gaetz off balance momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good exchange - Tuala coming out on top.
Tuala connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gaetz's hands.
Gaetz throws a right hand that misses
and Gaetz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuala rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gaetz counters with a body kick that stops Tuala in his tracks momentarily.
Tuala throws a body kick that misses
and Gaetz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tuala takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tuala walks into a stiff left hand from Gaetz.
Tuala throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gaetz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gaetz takes a swing at Tuala's ribcage but misses.
Gaetz misses with a lunging right hand
and Tuala counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gaetz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gaetz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gaetz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
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!
Gaetz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
That kick from Tuala tenderised Gaetz's leg. Gaetz is trying to keep his angry face on.
A big right from Tuala misses.
Gaetz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tuala clobbers Gaetz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gaetz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuala slips under a jab.
Gaetz lands with a nice body punch.
Tuala tests Gaetz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gaetz throws a body shot but no joy.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tuala.
Tuala misses with a leg kick
enabling Gaetz to counter with a crisp jab.
Gaetz staying out of range there.
Gaetz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gaetz avoids the body shot from Tuala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz blocks the body kick.
Gaetz walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tuala.
Tuala misses with a leg kick
letting Gaetz counter with a right hand.
Gaetz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tuala pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tuala misses with a looping left.
Gaetz fires out a quick counter leg kick but Tuala just manages to avoid it.
Gaetz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tuala throws out the jab.
Gaetz moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Peleki Tuala will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Peleki Tuala's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gaetz takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Tuala moves forwards but Gaetz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gaetz misses with a body shot.
Tuala is trying to counter with his kicks.
Tuala attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gaetz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tuala.
Tuala throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gaetz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tuala thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaetz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gaetz moves out of range of the body kick from Tuala.
Gaetz thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaetz misses with a low kick.
A swing and a miss from Tuala.
Gaetz jabs Tuala to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gaetz swings for the body but Tuala moves out of range.
Tuala throws out a counter right but Gaetz avoids it with no problem.
Tuala looks to land a body kick but Gaetz moved away.
Gaetz throws a jab when Tuala was well out of range.
Tuala fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gaetz checks it well.
A jab from Tuala finds it's way through Gaetz's defenses.
Gaetz throws a wild body kick that Tuala sees coming a mile off.
Link Gaetz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuala checks a leg kick.
Tuala looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tuala throws a nice outside leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Gaetz.
Gaetz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tuala is out of range and Gaetz settles back down.
Tuala lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gaetz's sensitive parts.
Gaetz throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tuala counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tuala misses with a lunging right hand
and Gaetz counters with a nice body shot.
Gaetz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuala lands a jab.
Gaetz misses with a looping right.
Gaetz clobbers Tuala with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gaetz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tuala misses with a body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tuala.
Tuala feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gaetz's calf.
Tuala throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuala looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tuala just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromGaetz.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tuala.
Gaetz just misses with a punch to the body.
Gaetz misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tuala counters with a left to the body.
Tuala scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tuala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gaetz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tuala counters with a nice kick to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Gaetz throws a right hand that misses
and Tuala counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gaetz loads up on a big right hand but Tuala slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peleki Tuala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tuala has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 46:49
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 46:49
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peleki Tuala! Peleki Tuala retains his heavyweight title!
A very excited looking Peleki Tuala made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.