PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Neckpunch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francesco Luongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luongo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Alexisonfire - The Northern. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Neckpunch
vs
Luongo

183 cm
25
185 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

185 cm
24
170 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Sam Neckpunch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francesco Luongo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neckpunch works the jab nicely.
Neckpunch throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Luongo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Neckpunch fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Luongo tries to close the distance and clinch but Neckpunch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Neckpunch connects with a good right hand that stumbles Luongo. Luongo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Luongo staying out of range there.
Neckpunch tries to land a leg kick but Luongo saw it coming and moves away.
Neckpunch misses with the combination.
Neckpunch connects with a body shot that sends Luongo's belly button to the back.
Some wild striking there from Neckpunch.
Neckpunch throws a chopping leg kick but Luongo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neckpunch misses with a left hand

and Luongo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Luongo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Luongo is working for a kimura but Neckpunch is defending it quite comfortably.
Luongo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Neckpunch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Luongo is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neckpunch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Luongo is working for a kimura but Neckpunch is defending it quite comfortably.
Luongo is keen to just control but Neckpunch is a slippery customer.

Luongo wants to work for an arm triangle but Neckpunch is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Neckpunch is staying active underneath Luongo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luongo trying to mount his opponent but Neckpunch defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neckpunch wants to control but Luongo is keeping busy.
Neckpunch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Luongo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Neckpunch is squirming around, avoiding Luongo's attempts to control the action.

Luongo goes for an armbar but Neckpunch turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Neckpunch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luongo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Neckpunch is trying to escape the mount.

Luongo wants to finish this one by submission but Neckpunch is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Luongo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Luongo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Luongo has his takedown stuffed
enabling Neckpunch to counter with a crisp jab.
Neckpunch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Neckpunch scores with the left hand. Luongo knows he should have avoided that one.
Luongo shoots and misses

and Neckpunch counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Luongo is trying to maintain the position but Neckpunch is very close to passing his half guard.
Neckpunch is looking to pass Luongo's guard but actually Luongo recovers to full guard.
Luongo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Neckpunch is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neckpunch trying to control but Luongo is working from the bottom.

Luongo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Neckpunch can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Neckpunch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Neckpunch pushing down on Luongo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Luongo is trying to get back to full guard.
Luongo controlling the position for now.
Luongo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Luongo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luongo looking for a guillotine from mount but Neckpunch is having none of it.

Neckpunch defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Luongo.
Neckpunch tries to lock up and control but Luongo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Luongo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Luongo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Luongo prevents Neckpunch from getting the reversal.
Luongo with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Luongo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Neckpunch is surviving well by controlling Luongo's body position as best he can.

Luongo working for a guillotine from mount but Neckpunch is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sam Neckpunch will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Neckpunch with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Luongo has his takedown stuffed
and Neckpunch counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Luongo moves in looking to clinch but Neckpunch pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neckpunch misses the shot to the body.
Luongo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Neckpunch throws out the jab.
Luongo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Neckpunch to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neckpunch connects with a nice looking jab.
Neckpunch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Luongo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Neckpunch gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Luongo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Luongo wants to control from the top but Neckpunch keeps moving.
Neckpunch has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Luongo has passed into side control.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luongo trying to control the action but Neckpunch is working from the bottom.

Luongo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Neckpunch has escaped the position, nice work there.
Neckpunch is trying to escape the position but Luongo is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luongo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Neckpunch, who protects the arm well.
Luongo trying to control the action but Neckpunch is working from the bottom.

Luongo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Neckpunch is looking to regain half guard here but Luongo keeps moving and retains side control.
Francesco Luongo has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Neckpunch is working hard here to advance position.
Luongo trying to control the action but Neckpunch is working from the bottom.
Neckpunch is trying to control Luongo's posture but Luongo avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luongo trying to control the action but Neckpunch is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francesco Luongo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Luongo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francesco Luongo!