PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrea Lucchesi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xander Cage has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Andrea Lucchesi's chin.

Lucchesi
vs
Cage

180 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
211 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Andrea Lucchesi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xander Cage!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage lands with a hook. Lucchesi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

It looks like Andrea Lucchesi has been cut.

Oooh a lovely combination from Cage sends Lucchesi down but not out. Cage dives into side control looking to finish.

Lucchesi is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cage looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Oh Lucchesi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Cage working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Cage tries for a kimura but Lucchesi is defending well.

Cage is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lucchesi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lucchesi seems to have got his legs back now.
Lucchesi is looking for a sweep.
Cage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lucchesi keeps working.
Cage working away.

Cage goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lucchesi has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cage but great work by Lucchesi.
Cage is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucchesi tries to advance to mount but Cage denies him.
Cage wants to control but Lucchesi postures up.
Cage is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lucchesi off and has taken his back!

Cage looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Lucchesi is controlling Cage 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Lucchesi controlling from the top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lucchesi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cage not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lucchesi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cage not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lucchesi controlling from the top position.
Lucchesi looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lucchesi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cage working a defensive guard here.
Cage has his hands on Lucchesi's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lucchesi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cage works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lucchesi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lucchesi moves out of range as Cage strikes.
Lucchesi throws a big counter combination but Cage scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lucchesi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cage.
Cage lands a right hook to the body.
Xander Cage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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

Cage working for a triangle but Lucchesi defends it easily.
Lucchesi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucchesi passes Cage's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lucchesi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Cage actively working from the bottom here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lucchesi connects with a nice short shot to Cage's temple.
Cage is looking for a sweep. Lucchesi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lucchesi is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Cage dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andrea Lucchesi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cage throws a nice looking combination but Lucchesi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice jab there from Cage.

Andrea Lucchesi's cut is getting worse.

Cage cracks Lucchesi with a big right hand and Lucchesi goes down!
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Lucchesi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lucchesi controlling Cage's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lucchesi is on top in guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cage can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lucchesi controls the pace.

Cage is working an open guard so Lucchesi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lucchesi's head.
Xander Cage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cage.
Cage feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lucchesis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cage is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Cage shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lucchesi dodges the punch combination from Cage.
Lucchesi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Andrea Lucchesi's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Lucchesi has a takedown stuffed.
Cage swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lucchesi scores with a nice body kick.
Cage swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Some bone on bone action there as Lucchesi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cage lands a really nice looking cross but Lucchesi seems unphased.
Andrea Lucchesi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lucchesi has closed the distance and engaged Cage in a clinch.
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!
Cage is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lucchesi pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lucchesi has hold of one of Cage's legs. Cage is fighting the takedown attempt but Lucchesi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Cage working for a triangle but Lucchesi defends it easily.
Cage is breathing heavily.
Lucchesi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lucchesi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cage on the ground.
Lucchesi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Cage is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucchesi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Lucchesi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lucchesi passes into half guard.
Lucchesi working the head and body with strikes.
Still in half guard, Lucchesi seems content to control.
Andrea Lucchesi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cage trying to control but Lucchesi postures up.

Lucchesi decides to stand and escape the position.
Lucchesi tries to move into range but Cage moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lucchesi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A big left from Cage misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Cage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Andrea Lucchesi's cut.
That's time! Lucchesi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lucchesi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cage.
Lucchesi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cage manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Lucchesi looking to score a takedown here. Cage is defending well but Lucchesi drives through and ends up in Cage's guard.
Lucchesi is in close to Cage's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lucchesi 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.
Lucchesi throwing strikes from guard but Cage blocks nicely.
Cage is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lucchesi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cage tries to land a leg kick but Lucchesi saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucchesi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cage has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cage scores with a jab to the jaw.
Lucchesi walks into a jab.
Lucchesi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lucchesi tries to clinch but Cage moves away
and Cage counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Jeez, Andrea Lucchesi's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Lucchesi shoots in for a takedown but Cage shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cage steps into range and unloads a brutal right left combo! Lucchesi is out on his feet! Cage sets himself and nearly takes Lucchesi's head off with a straight right, sending him crashing to the mat! Wow, that was nasty... but awesome! Wooo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Xander Cage!
A victorious Xander Cage thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.