PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Luciano (ranked 350 p4p, 718 weight class) and Eric Distefano (ranked 52 p4p, 112 weight class). Luciano comes to the cage accompanied by SHORT PEOPLE. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Luciano
vs
Distefano

187 cm
24
187
10 - 1 - 0

183 cm
24
188
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

Conviction
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Luciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eric Distefano!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luciano lands a nice looking body kick.
Luciano moves into range and connects with a jab.
Luciano scores with a hook.
Luciano throws a lazy right hand but Distefano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Distefano is looking to land body kicks.
Distefano has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Luciano.
Luciano looks to land a right hand but Distefano moved out of range.
Distefano is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Distefano tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Luciano counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Distefano moves out of range as Luciano throws a body kick.
Distefano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Luciano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Distefano sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Distefano takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano can't find room to land a body shot as Distefano controls the action.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Distefano controls his hands.
Distefano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Distefano.
Distefano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Luciano lands a body shot.
Distefano throws a punch but it's blocked by Luciano.
Luciano is looking to break free of the clinch but Distefano has double underhooks.
A right hook to the body lands for Luciano.
Distefano working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Luciano has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Luciano tries to work over Distefano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Luciano lands a shoulder strike.
Distefano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Distefano lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Luciano backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Luciano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Distefano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Distefano prevents a body shot from Luciano.
Luciano digs a right hand into Distefano's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Distefano's gas tank.
Distefano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Luciano lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Luciano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Luciano tries to bum rush Distefano with a series of wild strikes but Distefano uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Distefano steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Distefano lands with a nice combination. Luciano backs away looking to recover.
Luciano throws a hook but Distefano blocks it.
Luciano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Distefano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Luciano throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Distefano has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Luciano misses the jab.
Luciano throws a jab when Distefano was well out of range.
Distefano tries to counter by closing the distance.
No joy there for Luciano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Luciano missing with a left hand there. Distefano was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Distefano replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Luciano blocks it well.
Luciano throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Luciano blocks the body kick.
A low kick from Luciano is predictable there
and Distefano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Distefano swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Luciano is looking to slow Distefano down with leg kicks.
Ray Luciano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Distefano slips under a jab from Luciano.
It seemed like Distefano was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Distefano doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Luciano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Distefano circles away quickly and effectively.
Luciano throws a lazy right hand but Distefano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Distefano ducks under a wild hook from Luciano.
Distefano takes one on the button.
Luciano tries to land a front kick but Distefano steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Luciano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Luciano swings widly with a right hand
enabling Distefano to counter with a crisp jab.
Luciano misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano throws a poor cross that misses
and Distefano counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Luciano tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Distefano throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luciano misses with a wild body shot.
Crunch! Luciano slams his shin into Distefano's torso.
A nice leg kick lands there from Luciano.
A chopping leg kick lands by Luciano.
Luciano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Distefano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Distefano tries to land a front kick but Luciano steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Distefano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Luciano.
Distefano wants to counter the offense by Luciano and move into the clinch position.
We've been told by Luciano's head coaches at Ice Cream Parlour that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Distefano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Luciano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Distefano.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Luciano dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Distefano takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Luciano lands with a thumping leg kick.
Luciano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Distefano can do to turn this around?
Luciano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Distefano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Luciano misses with an uppercut. Distefano saw that one coming.
Distefano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Distefano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Distefano blocks a leg kick.
Distefano scores with a punch to the head.
Distefano throws a jab but it's blocked by Luciano.
Luciano went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Distefano walks into a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Distefano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Distefano is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Distefano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luciano swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Luciano lands a jab to Distefano's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Distefano blocks the body kick.
Jab from Distefano.
Distefano checks a leg kick nicely.
Distefano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Luciano.
Distefano misses with a body kick.
Nice body punch from Luciano.
Luciano throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Distefano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Luciano throws an overhand right that lands on Distefano's shoulder, as Distefano tries to avoid the shot.
Luciano scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Luciano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Distefano lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Luciano misses with a shot to the body
and Distefano finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Luciano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Distefano follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

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

and Distefano moves into the clinch.
Distefano throws a punch but it's blocked by Luciano.
Luciano misses with a punch on the inside.
Distefano misses with a punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Distefano.
Luciano wants to stall.
Luciano taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Distefano controls his hands.
Distefano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Distefano tries to work over Luciano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Luciano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Distefano fails to land.
Distefano lands a hook to the side of the head.
Distefano throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Luciano trying to stall but Distefano improves his position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Luciano.
Distefano pushes off an throws an elbow but Luciano leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Distefano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Distefano misses with a punch on the inside.
Distefano works on Luciano's body with a couple of short punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Luciano.
Distefano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Distefano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Distefano lands a body punch.
Distefano blocking some punches.
Distefano tries a body shot but Luciano blocks it.
Luciano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Distefano has him pressed against the cage.
Distefano can't find room to land a body shot as Luciano controls the action.
Distefano misses with some punches.

Luciano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Luciano lands a two punch combo.
Luciano throws a body punch but Distefano moves out of range.
Nice body kick there by Distefano.
Luciano throws the kick towards the body but Distefano avoids it.
Distefano thinks about the counter body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Luciano.
Luciano throws a combination that misses
and Luciano takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luciano throws a lazy right hand but Distefano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Luciano moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromDistefano.
Luciano slips under a jab.
Luciano throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Luciano loads up on a big right hand but Distefano slips the punch.
Luciano lands a head shot.
Ray Luciano is winning the standup battle so far.
Luciano misses with a low kick as Distefano jumps back.
It seemed like Distefano was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Distefano moves out of range as Luciano throws a body kick.
Distefano misses with a straight right.
Luciano is looking to counter with a body kick.
A big right from Luciano misses.
Distefano thinks about the counter body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice uppercut there from Luciano.
Luciano scores with a jab to the body.
Luciano loads up on a big right hand but Distefano slips the punch.
Nice cross by Luciano.
A lazy body kick from Luciano
and Distefano counters with a stiff right hand.
Distefano throws a half hearted mid kick.
Luciano misses with a few strikes there.
Distefano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Luciano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Luciano.
Luciano misses with a low kick.
Distefano misses with a straight right.
Luciano throws a jab but it's blocked by Distefano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Luciano misses with a low kick.
Distefano looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Luciano steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Distefano.
Luciano explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Luciano finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Luciano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Distefano manages to avoid it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Distefano! But no joy.
Luciano lands a nice looking body shot.
Luciano misses with a lunging right hand
letting Distefano counter with a right hand.
Luciano misses with an uppercut. Distefano saw that one coming.
Distefano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Luciano throws a leg kick
and Distefano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Luciano scores with a jab to the body.
Distefano tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Distefano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Distefano ducks under a wild hook from Luciano.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Distefano moves out of range as Luciano strikes.
Distefano is trying to counter with his kicks.
Luciano tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Luciano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Luciano misses with a lunging right hand
and Distefano counters with a stiff right hand.
Luciano scoring well with a low kick there.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Luciano.
Luciano feints and then cracks Distefano's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Distefano down.
Luciano throws out a loose jab but Distefano uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Distefano.
Luciano throws a big shot that misses.
Distefano takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Distefano lands with a nice body kick.
Distefano's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Distefano moves away from the strike by Luciano.
A little jabbing left from Distefano on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Luciano moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Eric Distefano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ray Luciano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A swing and a miss from Luciano.
Good shot there by Luciano.
A big right from Luciano misses.
Distefano counters with a body kick.
Distefano misses with an uppercut.
Distefano throws a looping overhand right but Luciano ducks down to avoid it.
Distefano checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano misses with an attempted mid kick.
Luciano loads up on a big right hand but Distefano slips the punch.
Luciano misses with the combination.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Distefano! But no joy.
Luciano throws a jab but it's blocked by Distefano.
Luciano misses with an uppercut.
Distefano replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Luciano blocks it well.
Luciano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Distefano.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luciano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Distefano takes one to the side of the head.
Luciano punishes Distefano's body with a nice straight punch.
A jab from Luciano misses.
Luciano misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Luciano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Luciano, 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Luciano!
A relieved looking Ray Luciano thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.