PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Almas Mustafin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Tucker has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tucker
vs
Mustafin

199 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
27
280 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sam Tucker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Almas Mustafin!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tucker tries to sprawl but Mustafin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mustafin wants to pass the guard but Tucker is defending well.
Tucker preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Mustafin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tucker knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Mustafin has eaten all the pies!
Tucker trying to control here.
Mustafin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tucker wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mustafin's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Mustafin duly obliges.

It looks like Sam Tucker has been cut.
No luck for Tucker with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker has his takedown stuffed

and Mustafin moves into the clinch.

Mustafin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mustafin misses with a low kick.
Tucker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mustafin's waist but Mustafin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tucker off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mustafin enables Tucker to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mustafin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Mustafin pushes Tucker off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Mustafin moves into the clinch successfully.

Mustafin lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mustafin gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The fighters circling - Mustafin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mustafin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tucker dives in and grabs Mustafin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mustafin pushes down on Tucker's head and hops out.

Mustafin dives in and scores a takedown into Tucker's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mustafin wants to stand and escape but instead Tucker has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Tucker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mustafin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tucker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mustafin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tucker wants to control from the top but Mustafin keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker throwing strikes from guard but Mustafin blocks nicely.

Mustafin scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Tucker throws a right and a left that Mustafin avoids nicely.

Mustafin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mustafin working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mustafin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Mustafin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tucker knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mustafin tries to advance to mount but Tucker denies him.
Tucker sneaks back into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tucker is trying to get back to full guard.

Tucker looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Mustafin pushes past his half guard into mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Almas Mustafin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Tucker's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mustafin clinches.
Tucker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mustafin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tucker is trying to break the clinch but Mustafin is controlling him.
Tucker is working for takedown but Mustafin is calmly controlling the position for now.

Mustafin has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tucker regains guard immediately.
Tucker controls Mustafin momentarily but Mustafin frees himself.

Mustafin stands up and waves to Tucker to follow him.

Mustafin looking to score a takedown here. Tucker is defending well but Mustafin drives through and ends up in Tucker's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mustafin wants to control from the top but Tucker keeps moving.
Mustafin looking to pass the guard.
Tucker looking to control.
Mustafin wants to pass the guard but Tucker is keeping the position.
Mustafin sitting in guard here, content to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Almas Mustafin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Tucker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mustafin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mustafin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Almas Mustafin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mustafin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tucker is not content to let Mustafin control the position.
Mustafin prevents Tucker from improving his position.
Tucker wants to get back to his feet.
Mustafin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mustafin trying to control the action but Tucker is working from the bottom.

Almas Mustafin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mustafin as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mustafin darts in and clinches Tucker up against the cage.
Tucker tries to score a body lock takedown but Mustafin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Tucker's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Mustafin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tucker is trying to maintain the position but Mustafin is very close to passing his half guard.
Tucker is looking for a sweep. Mustafin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mustafin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mustafin wants to take a breather but Tucker is having none of it.
Mustafin looks to land a strike but Tucker avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Mustafin trying to control the position from guard on top but Tucker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tucker trying to keep a closed guard but Mustafin is proving a slippery customer.
Mustafin throws a big elbow that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tucker throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mustafin uses it to pass to side control.
Tucker prevents Mustafin from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Almas Mustafin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sam Tucker's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mustafin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tucker manages to get back to half guard.
Tucker is trying to maintain the position but Mustafin is very close to passing his half guard.

Mustafin stands up out of the half guard.
Tucker closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mustafin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mustafin stays in close to Tucker's body and controls the position.
Mustafin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mustafin prevents Tucker from getting back to his feet.
Tucker throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Tucker looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mustafin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tucker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tucker keeping moving, preventing Mustafin from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Mustafin has closed the distance and engaged Tucker in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mustafin breaks from the clinch.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Tucker gets caught flat footed, as Mustafin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mustafin trying to control but Tucker is working from the bottom.
Tucker is trying to control the position but Mustafin postures up.
Tucker can't keep his opponent in guard - Mustafin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mustafin is trying to control. Tucker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mustafin trying to control the pace.
Tucker is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mustafin is looking to take a break and control but Tucker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tucker won't allow Mustafin to pass to mount.
Mustafin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tucker keeps working.

Almas Mustafin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Tucker fails with a takedown attempt.

Tucker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker dominating with strikes here.
Mustafin is desperately trying to improve his position but Tucker has a good base and remains in mount.
Tucker looking to control but Mustafin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tucker looking to finish Mustafin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mustafin!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mustafin is squirming around, avoiding Tucker's attempts to control the action.
Sam Tucker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Almas Mustafin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mustafin holds on for dear life, controlling Tucker's posture momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Almas Mustafin.
Well Mustafin 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Almas Mustafin!