PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tinashe Chukwuma (ranked 520 p4p, 485 weight class) and Spinning Fire (ranked 81 p4p, 72 weight class). Tinashe Chukwuma has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Chukwuma
vs
Fire

190 cm
27
254
7 - 2 - 0

209 cm
29
290
19 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Carnage Clothing
PWNAGE™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tinashe Chukwuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Spinning Fire!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chukwuma looks to land a right hand but Fire moved out of range.
Fire changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Chukwuma throws a leg kick

and Fire counters with a takedown into side control.
Fire in the domination position with Chukwuma hanging on.
Fire lands a few punches from side control.
Fire working the ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fire tries to move into full mount but can't pass Chukwuma's legs.
Fire is chipping away with strikes.
Fire landing strikes.
Fire postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fire lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

It looks like Tinashe Chukwuma has been cut.
Chukwuma regains half guard.
Chukwuma avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fire.
Fire looks to land a strike but Chukwuma avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Fire is fighting to break Chukwuma's control of his arms but Chukwuma is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chukwuma looking for a guillotine here but Fire defends easily.
Chukwuma looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Fire postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fire is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fire trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fire is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fire landing with the ground and pound.
Chukwuma trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Chukwuma looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Chukwuma is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Chukwuma has momentary wrist control but Fire slips an elbow through the middle.
Fire content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fire missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fire lands a couple of elbows.
Fire trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fire accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fire cracks Chukwuma with a solid left hand.
Fire in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chukwuma looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fire is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chukwuma utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fire working some strikes from top position.
Fire is working Chukwuma over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Chukwuma is looking for a triangle but Fire pushes his legs off easily.
Fire landing with the ground and pound.
Fire lands a couple of digs.
Fire postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fire lands a couple of digs.
Fire works over Chukwuma with some ground and pound from guard.
Fire chips away with some ground and pound.
Fire missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chukwuma keeping moving, preventing Fire from controlling successfully.
Fire postures up.
Fire with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fire throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fire throwing strikes but missing.
Fire in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fire controlling from the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Chukwuma wants to clinch.
Fire tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tinashe Chukwuma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chukwuma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fire swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chukwuma dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Fire. That did some damage!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Spinning Fire dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tinashe Chukwuma's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fire staying out of range there.
Chukwuma misses with an uppercut.
Chukwuma with a nice cross.
Chukwuma with a nice calf kick.
Fire has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chukwuma looks to land a right hand but Fire moved out of range.
Fire with the counter takedown but Chukwuma avoids it easily.
A big right from Chukwuma misses.

Chukwuma has Fire up against the cage in a clinch.
Fire blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fire wants a takedown but no success here.
Chukwuma tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chukwuma tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Chukwuma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Chukwuma fails to land.
Fire on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Chukwuma misses with a punch to the body.
Chukwuma lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fire backwards.
Chukwuma throws a punch but it's blocked by Fire.
Chukwuma tries to throw a body punch but Fire avoids it by throwing Chukwuma back against the cage.
Fire is trying to stall.
Fire blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Chukwuma.
Chukwuma works on Fire's body with a couple of short punches.
Fire is breathing heavily.
Fire blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Chukwuma swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chukwuma working aggressively here.
Chukwuma misses with a punch on the inside.
Chukwuma stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Fire has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Chukwuma avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Chukwuma scores with a shot to the side of Fire's head.
Fire tries to score a body lock takedown but Chukwuma shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tinashe Chukwuma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Spinning Fire.
Chukwuma digs a right hand into Fire's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Fire's gas tank.
Chukwuma is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Fire's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Chukwuma lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Chukwuma is working Fire over against the cage.
Tinashe Chukwuma has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Chukwuma has Fire pushed against the cage.
A short right from Chukwuma on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice left hand lands by Chukwuma.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chukwuma gets through Fire's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fire is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Chukwuma is defending well.
Chukwuma struggles to land a body shot inside as Fire controls his hands.
Chukwuma misses with a body punch.
Chukwuma misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chukwuma scores with a shoulder strike.
Fire drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Chukwuma gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Chukwuma.
Chukwuma unloads a knee to the mid-section. Fire lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Chukwuma effectively controlling the action here.
Chukwuma lands a hook that snaps the head of Fire backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Chukwuma.
Chukwuma tries to work over Fire's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fire.
Chukwuma fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Chukwuma lands a hook that snaps the head of Fire backwards.
Chukwuma makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
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!
Chukwuma doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chukwuma lands with a light punch inside.
Fire blocks an uppercut.
Chukwuma lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fire pressing his opponent against the cage.
Chukwuma misses with the head strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tinashe Chukwuma dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tinashe Chukwuma's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Chukwuma turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Chukwuma lands an overhand right.
Fire takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Chukwuma lands with a straight right. Fire didn't see that one coming.
Fire slips under a jab.
Fire displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chukwuma throws out the jab.
Fire with the counter takedown but Chukwuma avoids it easily.
Chukwuma connects with a jab.
A nice leg kick from Chukwuma, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chukwuma throws a jab when Fire was well out of range.
Fire feints the counter takedown.
A low kick from Chukwuma is predictable there

and Fire counters with a single leg into guard. Chukwuma didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fire loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Chukwuma throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire throws an elbow that misses. Chukwuma uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fire's guard. Nice move by Chukwuma!

Spinning Fire has got the better of the ground game so far.
Chukwuma throws a big right hand that misses.
Chukwuma wants to pass the guard but Fire is keeping the position.
Chukwuma controlling from the top position.
Chukwuma being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Chukwuma trying to move into half guard but instead Fire has managed to sweep!

Chukwuma trying to control the position.
Fire postures up and lands a big shot to Chukwuma's brow.
Fire sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chukwuma working for a triangle but Fire defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fire accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fire wants to control from the top but Chukwuma keeps moving.

Chukwuma is looking for a triangle but Fire pushes his legs off easily.
Chukwuma not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Chukwuma is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fire is aware though and is defending well.
Fire with a nice head shot there.

That's four 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.
Chukwuma keeping moving, preventing Fire from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fire throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Chukwuma with a nice calf kick.
Chukwuma scores with a jab to the jaw.
Chukwuma throws a leg kick but Fire sees it coming and moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Chukwuma has a couple of punches blocked by Fire.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fire is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Chukwuma is defending well.

Fire wants the takedown. Chukwuma is fighting it off but Fire persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Chukwuma's guard against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tinashe Chukwuma showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Chukwuma 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tinashe Chukwuma!
Tinashe Chukwuma seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Spinning Fire spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll back stronger'.