PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Gusmero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maunu Tua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gusmero
vs
Tua

191 cm
28
210 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

192 cm
28
218 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jose Gusmero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Maunu Tua!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gusmero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tua tries for a takedown but Gusmero sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tua jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gusmero is fending him off so far but Tua persists. Nope, Gusmero circles away and we're back to standing.
Gusmero misses with a wild body shot.
Tua looks to throw the jab but Gusmero is out of range.
Tua loads up on a big right hand but Gusmero slips the punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Tua misses the target.
Maunu Tua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tua fails with a takedown attempt.
Jose Gusmero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maunu Tua.
Tua missing with a left hand there. Gusmero was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tua jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gusmero thuds his right hand into Tua's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nice body punch from Tua.
Gusmero looks to land a right hand but Tua moved out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Gusmero misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Tua.
Tua throws a nice looking combination but Gusmero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tua lands with a hook. Gusmero tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tua misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tua. Gusmero does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gusmero sprawls well. Gusmero wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tua gets slowly back to his feet.
Gusmero fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tua misses with a lunging right hand
and Gusmero counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tua swings for the body but Gusmero moves out of range.
Gusmero lands an overhand right.
Gusmero throws out a loose jab but Tua uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gusmero.
Tua misses with a looping right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gusmero misses with the combination.
Tua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tua scores with a body shot.
A jab from Gusmero finds it's way through Tua's defenses.
Gusmero scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gusmero tries to move into range but Tua moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gusmero throws a jab when Tua was well out of range.
Tua misses with a looping left.
Gusmero slips a straight right by Tua.
Tua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gusmero.
Gusmero misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gusmero feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gusmero makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tua wants to sweep but no luck.
Tua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gusmero trying to control the position from guard on top but Tua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gusmero landing with the ground and pound.
Gusmero throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusmero controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gusmero wants to control from the top but Tua keeps moving.
Gusmero throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tua holds on and takes a little breather.
Gusmero with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Gusmero dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gusmero tries to land a front kick but Tua steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gusmero throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tua sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gusmero misses with a hook.
A big right from Tua misses.
Tua just misses with a punch to the body.
Tua misses with a right hand

and Gusmero counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gusmero.
Gusmero is pushing down on Tua's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tua is fighting to maintain full guard but Gusmero has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gusmero is looking to take a break and control but Tua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gusmero trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tua avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gusmero.
Tua is looking to improve his position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gusmero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tua keeps working.
Gusmero controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jose Gusmero just wasn't active enough.
Tua throws a shot from downtown. Gusmero moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tua bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Tua throws a series of punches but Gusmero moves out of range.
Tua throws a nice looking combination but Gusmero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gusmero.
Gusmero misses with a right hand
and Tua counters with a right hand to the body.
Tua steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gusmero.
Gusmero swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tua looks to score with a jab to the body but Gusmero is just out of range.

Gusmero manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tua on his heels. He'll look to pass Tua's guard now, I'm sure.
Gusmero is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gusmero throwing strikes from guard but Tua blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusmero engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gusmero advances to half guard.

Gusmero is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tua is just riding it out for now. Gusmero eventually gives up the hold.
Gusmero misses with a head shot. Tua uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusmero wants to control from the top but Tua keeps moving.
Gusmero has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Gusmero dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tua misses with a lunging right hand
and Gusmero counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Tua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gusmero moves away.
Tua shoots in but no luck this time.
Gusmero misses with a body shot.
A big right from Tua misses.
Tua throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gusmero sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jose Gusmero is winning the standup battle so far.
A cross from Tua lands.
Tua moves out of range of the strikes.
Tua misses with a looping left.
Gusmero connects with a single shot there.
Tua misses with a body shot.
Tua throws a nice looking combination but Gusmero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gusmero swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Gusmero.
Tua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gusmero.
Gusmero thows a body shot but no joy.
Tua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gusmero takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gusmero ducks under a wild hook from Tua.
Tua looks to score with a jab to the body but Gusmero is just out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gusmero lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tua has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tua and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tua moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gusmero lands with a nice combination. Tua backs away looking to recover.
Tua jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tua throws a lazy uppercut
and Gusmero counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tua thinking.
Gusmero misses with a looping left.
Tua throws a big shot that misses.
Tua doesn't manage to clinch there - Gusmero circles away.
Tua fails to land with a series of punches.
Tua pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gusmero slips a jab and a cross from Tua.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gusmero blocks a jab.
Gusmero ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gusmero moves away.
Tua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gusmero.
Gusmero uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tua.
Tua shoots in looking for a takedown. Gusmero tries to sprawl out of it but Tua keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gusmero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tua misses the jab.
Tua connects with a nice looking jab.
Gusmero misses with a looping right.
A slow jab from Gusmero misses its intended target.
Gusmero stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gusmero wants it to stay on the feet.
Jose Gusmero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maunu Tua.
Tua tries to clinch but Gusmero moves away
and Gusmero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gusmero dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tua takes one on the button.
Tua misses with a double jab

and Gusmero counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gusmero loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jose Gusmero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusmero slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gusmero is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gusmero is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Maunu Tua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jose Gusmero just wasn't active enough.
Gusmero ducks under a wild hook from Tua.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Gusmero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gusmero has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Gusmero!
Jose Gusmero decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.