PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Afa Sila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JJ Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sila
vs
Tucker

173 cm
30
163 lbs
21 - 5 - 0

160 cm
34
164 lbs
21 - 11 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Invictus
Machine Fight Gear

Bos Energy MMA159.4

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Afa Sila!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, JJ Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tucker throws a hook but Sila blocks it.
Sila blocks a low kick nicely.
Tucker lunges at Sila with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sila's hand.
Tucker lands a jab to Sila's midsection.

Tucker darts in and clinches Sila up against the cage.
Tucker lands an elbow that stopped Sila in his tracks for a moment.
Tucker throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silas head.

Sila breaks from the clinch.
Tucker takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tucker misses the body punch
and Sila counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like JJ Tucker has been cut.
Tucker thumps Sila with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sila walks into a straight right hand from Tucker.
Tucker throws a quick inside leg kick.

Tucker closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sila lands a left hand.
We've been hearing reports that Sila has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Tucker lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Tucker.
Tucker lands a nice knee to the body.
A short left from Tucker.
Nice body punch from Tucker - that landed with a thud.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tucker.
Tucker lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sila backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tucker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tucker lands a body shot.
Tucker lands with a right to the head.
Tucker lands a damaging elbow.
Sila is trying to stall.
Tucker trying to land knees to the body.
Tucker scores with a nice hook to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tucker.
Tucker lands a good knee to the midsection. Sila won't want to take too many of those.
Sila blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker scores with a shoulder strike.
Tucker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sila.
Tucker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tucker misses with a punch on the inside.
Sila misses with the head strike.
Tucker misses with a punch on the inside.
Sila changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tucker fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Sila misses the target.
Tucker getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A shot to the liver by Tucker. Beautiful body shot.
Tucker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Tucker missing with a left hand there. Sila was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tucker tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sila cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sila takes a swing at Tucker's ribcage but misses.
JJ Tucker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tucker lands a jab to Sila's midsection.

Tucker has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sila is trying to break free.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tucker.
Tucker lands a nice elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sila.
Sila misses with the head strike.
Sila takes an elbow to the temple.
Tucker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sila lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tucker backwards.
Tucker looking to throw knees to the head but Sila is blocking nicely.
Tucker tries to throw a body punch but Sila avoids it by throwing Tucker back against the cage.
Sila prevents a body shot from Tucker.
Sila working aggressively here.
Sila doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tucker misses with the head strike.
Tucker pushes Sila back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sila lands with a light punch inside.
Tucker lands an elbow that stopped Sila in his tracks for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tucker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tucker is pushing Sila up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tucker.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tucker.
Sila managing to block the knees to the body from Tucker.

Sila manages to break the clinch.
Tucker finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Tucker drives through and clinches with Sila against the cage.
Sila lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tucker throws an elbow but it misses.
Tucker lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice left hand lands by Tucker.
Tucker lands with a light punch inside.
Tucker lands a left hand.
Tucker scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Tucker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on JJ Tucker's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A leg kick checked by Sila.
Tucker stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tucker with a nice cross.
Tucker tries to clinch up.
Tucker swings for the body but Sila moves out of range.
Tucker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sila finds it's way round the side to connect with Tucker's head.
Sila misses with a body shot.
Tucker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tucker fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sila has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sila throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tucker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sila throws a body shot but no joy.
Tucker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sila.
Tucker throws a leg kick

and Sila counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice strikes from Sila there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila misses with a head shot. Tucker uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sila is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tucker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sila sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sila trying to control the position from guard on top but Tucker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tucker is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sila wants to get back to full guard.
Sila works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sila pulls Tucker in close to prevent any damage.
Tucker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sila is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker wants to stand but Sila has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tucker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tucker trying to control but Sila is working from the bottom.
Sila being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tucker tries to clinch up.
Sila misses with an uppercut
letting Tucker counter with a right hand.

Tucker has closed the distance and engaged Sila in a clinch.
Sila has a couple of punches blocked by Tucker.
Tucker misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker misses with a punch on the inside.
Sila throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tuckers head.
Sila avoiding damage.
Sila throws a head punch that misses.
Tucker blocks an uppercut.
Tucker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tucker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tucker stalling against the cage.
Tucker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tucker tries to land a knee to the head but Sila blocks with his arms.
Sila is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tucker tries a body shot but Sila blocks it.
Sila blocks an uppercut.
Tucker displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sila up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sila blocking some punches.
Sila tries a body shot but Tucker blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Tucker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on JJ Tucker's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tucker connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Tucker staying out of range there.
JJ Tucker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sila tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sila 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.
Tucker throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tucker misses with a hook to the body
and Sila counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tucker has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Tucker tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Sila counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker scores with a jab to the head.
Tucker tries to clinch but Sila moves away
enabling Sila to counter with a crisp jab.
Tucker on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tucker tries to close the distance and clinch but Sila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
JJ Tucker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tucker misses with a looping left.
Sila throwing a counter right hand but Tucker manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker thumps Sila with a low kick.
Sila is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tucker tries to clinch up.
Sila keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tucker turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sila on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sila chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tucker can pounce on him.
Sila shoots in for a takedown but Tucker shows good takedown defense.
Tucker looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sila shoots in and drives through. Tucker sprawls well.

Tucker gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tucker trying to keep a closed guard but Sila is proving a slippery customer.
Sila trying to control but Tucker is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker wants to stand but Sila is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sila accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sila loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sila won't allow Tucker to sweep him here.
Sila wants to pass the guard but Tucker is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sila lands a nice looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sila under the eye.
Tucker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sila cracks Tucker with a good jab.
Tucker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sila throws a shot to the body.
Tucker lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sila moves out of range of the leg kick from Tucker.
Sila misses with a straight right.
Tucker walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sila checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sila avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tucker feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sila's calf.
Sila keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sila swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Sila misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker misses with an uppercut. Sila saw that one coming.
It looked like Sila wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tucker is looking to score with low kicks.
Tucker cracks the inside of Sila's front leg.
Tucker listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sila misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tucker.
Tucker dodges the punch combination from Sila.
Sila keeps the fight on the outside.
Tucker tries to clinch up.
Tucker lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Tucker feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sila's calf.
Sila fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Tucker really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on JJ Tucker's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tucker swings for the body but Sila moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Sila misses the target.
Tucker just misses with a punch to the body.
Tucker stuns Sila with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tucker throws a right hand that misses
and Sila connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A swing and a miss from Sila.
Tucker keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sila connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tucker momentarily.
Tucker scores with a jab to the head.
Tucker slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tucker throws a right hand that misses
and Sila counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sila avoids the body shot from Tucker.
Sila's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Tucker connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sila scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tucker.
Tucker throws a chopping leg kick but Sila manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sila moves out of range of the leg kick from Tucker.
Tucker throws a poor cross that misses
and Sila counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice defenses there by Sila.
Sila was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Tucker lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sila takes one to the chin there.
Tucker wants to clinch but Sila slips to the side
and Sila counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sila throws a lazy uppercut
and Tucker makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Tucker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sila. That did some damage!
Sila swats away the attempt to clinch by Tucker.
Tucker looks to score with a jab to the body but Sila is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker wants to clinch.
Sila looks for a takedown but Tucker sprawls well.
Sila tests Tucker's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tucker tries to clinch up.
Sila swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sila throws a hook but Tucker blocks it.
A clash of legs there as Sila blocks the low kick.
Sila misses with an uppercut
and Tucker counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tucker throws a body punch but Sila moves out of range.
Sila avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sila looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tucker throws a solid leg kick but Sila takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tucker.
Tucker throws an overhand right that lands on Sila's shoulder, as Sila tries to avoid the shot.
It looked like Sila wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sila tries for a takedown but Tucker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tucker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tucker wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tucker connects with a crisp jab.
Sila just misses with a punch to the body.
Tucker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sila with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tucker to score with a decent uppercut.
Tucker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker digs a good hook to Sila's body.
Tucker takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Jab, jab by Sila - just one landing.
Tucker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sila keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Tucker gets a clinch.
Tucker misses with the head strike.
Tucker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tucker prevents Sila from breaking the clinch.
Tucker lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tucker lands an uppercut.
Tucker unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tucker lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Tucker.

Sila is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Tucker dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on JJ Tucker's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tucker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sila.
Tucker let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Oh Sila is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tucker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sila was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sila seems to have got his legs back now.
Sila with a hook.
Tucker turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tucker throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tucker scores with the left hand. Sila knows he should have avoided that one.
Tucker looks to clinch
letting Sila counter with a right hand.
Sila misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker throws a solid leg kick but Sila takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tucker.
Tucker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sila throwing a counter right hand but Tucker manages to avoid it.
Tucker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tucker moves out of range as Sila strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila misses the jab.
Tucker swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tucker lands a leg kick that knocks Sila off balance momentarily.
Tucker thumps Sila with a low kick.
Sila takes one to the side of the head.
Tucker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sila avoids the body shot from Tucker.
Sila misses with a body shot.
Tucker connects with an inside leg kick.
Tucker tries to clinch but Sila is having none of it.
Tucker misses with a straight right.
Tucker throws a low kick but Sila moves out of range easily.
Nice shot lands for Tucker.
Afa Sila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sila counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tucker throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sila ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tucker moves away.
Tucker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tucker is looking to slow Sila down with leg kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sila avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sila slips under a jab from Tucker.
A good leg kick by Tucker.
Tucker tries to clinch but Sila is having none of it.
Sila looks to land a combination but Tucker avoids it well.
Tucker looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Tucker was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tucker connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sila's hands.
JJ Tucker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tucker buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tucker's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sila under the eye.
Tucker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sila paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Sila on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tucker uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sila has time to react.

Tucker pushes Sila up against the cage in a clinch.
Sila tries a body shot but Tucker blocks it.
Sila fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sila slows down the pace here.
Sila lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sila goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sila tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tucker's elbow.
Sila has a couple of punches blocked by Tucker.
Tucker lands a nice uppercut.
Sila's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sila misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tucker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sila avoids it.
A head punch on the inside from Sila fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tucker.
JJ Tucker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sila misses with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sila swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tucker controlling the action here for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
JJ Tucker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tucker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 45:50
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 45:50
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Tucker!
JJ Tucker is the new lightweight champion!
A less than humble JJ Tucker misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.