PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Aires (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Faimalaga Luka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruno Aires has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aires
vs
Luka

188 cm
19
194 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)
Hellbent

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bruno Aires!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Faimalaga Luka!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luka looks to score with a jab to the body but Aires is just out of range.
Aires attempts a counter takedown but Luka avoids it well and moves away.
Luka throws a body shot but no joy.
Luka lands with a nice body punch.
Aires throws an overhand right that lands on Luka's shoulder, as Luka tries to avoid the shot.
Aires throws an overhand right that lands on Luka's shoulder, as Luka tries to avoid the shot.
We've been hearing reports that Aires has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Luka fakes the leg kick and cracks Aires in the body.
Aires looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Luka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Luka blocks the body kick.
Luka is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Aires ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luka moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid body kick from Luka.
Aires missing with a left hand there. Luka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Luka wants to counter with a clinch but Aires pushes him away.
Aires fails with a takedown attempt.
Luka tries to counter with a clinch but Aires shakes him off and moves away.
Luka punishes Aires's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luka stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Aires.

Aires gets the takedown into side control.
Aires throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Luka stops Aires from passing to mount.
Luka is looking for a sweep.
Aires postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Luka tries to buck Aires off but Aires is having none of it.
Aires trying to control the action but Luka is working from the bottom.
Aires looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Luka is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aires scores with a couple of short elbows.
Aires misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aires fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Luka felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Aires misses with the ground and pound.
Aires sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Luka is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Aires will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Luka managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Aires.
Luka prevents Aires from improving position.
Luka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aires wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aires lands an elbow.
Aires creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Luka sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Aires sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Luka is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Aires scores with a couple of short elbows.
Luka defending against the ground and pound.
Luka takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Luka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aires. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Aires postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Luka parries the strikes from Aires easily there. Aires is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Luka to escape.
Aires misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aires working the body and head with strikes.
Aires passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Luka!
Aires is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Luka can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Luka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luka is looking to get to half guard.
Aires trying to control but Luka is having none of it.
Aires raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Aires dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Luka.
Aires looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Aires uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Luka.
Luka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aires moves away.
Aires tries to counter with a takedown but Luka is quick to defend against it.
Aires displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Luka throws out the jab.
Nice sprawl there from Luka as Aires shoots in.
Aires throws a low kick, looking for Luka's leg but Luka calmly moves out of range.
Luka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aires.
Aires throws a leg kick but Luka sees it coming and moves out of range.
Aires uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Luka.
Aires half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Aires is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Luka can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aires tried to score with a low kick but Luka checks it.
Luka misses with an uppercut.
Luka slips a straight right by Aires.
Faimalaga Luka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Luka swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aires misses with a straight left.
Luka takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Aires has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Luka.
Luka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aires was well out of range. Poor timing from Luka.
Luka tries to work over Aires's front leg with a kick but Aires checks it.
Luka throws a body shot but no joy.
Luka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Aires shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Luka manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Aires stays in close to Luka's body and controls the position.
Aires loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aires is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Luka keeping moving, preventing Aires from controlling successfully.
Aires throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aires tries to counter with a takedown but Luka is quick to defend against it.
Aires looks to land a left hand but Luka moved out of range nicely.
Bruno Aires seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aires throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Luka on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Luka is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Luka digs a good body shot into Aires's ribs.

Aires manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Luka on his heels. He'll look to pass Luka's guard now, I'm sure.
Aires is working Luka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Aires seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Aires wants to control from the top but Luka keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aires not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Aires working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aires throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Luka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Aires missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luka tries to clinch but Aires is having none of it.
Aires darts in looking for a takedown but Luka gets double underhooks and turns Aires into the cage.
Luka tries to counter with a clinch but Aires shakes him off and moves away.
Luka's jab looks to have found its range, popping Aires under the eye.
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 Bruno Aires will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Aires just misses with a punch to the body.
Aires blocks the body kick.
Aires throws the left hand but Luka avoids the punch easily.
Luka lands a head shot.
Luka tries to clinch up.
Luka throws the kick towards the body but Aires avoids it.
Aires scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Aires ducks right into an uppercut from Luka.
A telegraphed right hand from Aires misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aires throws the kick towards the body but Luka avoids it.
Aires walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Aires uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Luka.
Aires looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Luka takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aires turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Luka.
Aires attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Aires connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Luka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Faimalaga Luka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Luka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Luka blocks a head kick by Aires.
Luka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Aires goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Aires takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Aires gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Luka is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Aires rather than just go for the knockout.
Aires misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luka tries to counter by closing the distance.
Faimalaga Luka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luka getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Aires throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Luka stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luka thumps Aires with a low kick.

Luka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Luka misses with some punches.
Aires working aggressively here.
Aires has a couple of punches blocked by Luka.

Aires's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aires throws a body punch but Luka moves out of range.
Luka shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Aires tries to counter with a takedown but Luka is quick to defend against it.
Luka lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Aires throws the kick towards the body but Luka avoids it.
A big right from Luka misses.
Aires swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luka lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Aires at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Aires or perhaps it was just good defense by Luka, which made it look bad.
Aires fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Luka checks it well.
Crunch! Aires slams his shin into Luka's torso.
Aires throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Luka tries to counter with a clinch but Aires shakes him off and moves away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Aires, right into the meat.
Aires jabs Luka to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Aires throws a wild body kick that Luka sees coming a mile off.
Aires throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Luka steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Aires.
Luka connects with the punch.
Aires just misses with a punch to the body.
Luka lands with a big left! Aires is wobbled badly! Luka comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Aires to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Faimalaga Luka!
Faimalaga Luka made sure to mention his sponsor, KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$) in his post fight interview.