PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Luciano (ranked 129 p4p, 734 weight class) and Anwar Rinda (ranked 16 p4p, 82 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Luciano
vs
Rinda

178 cm
27
146
16 - 4 - 0

173 cm
27
155
10 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

The Dirty Needle Project
Beachside Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Luciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Anwar Rinda!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rinda shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Luciano defends it nicely.
Luciano cracks Rinda with a right hand to the side of the head.
Luciano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rinda doesn't seem bothered though.
Luciano displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rinda.
We've been told by Luciano's head coaches at Shao Kahns Training Facility that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Ricky Luciano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luciano tests Rinda's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rinda takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Rinda closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
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!

Rinda is looking for a kimura here.

Rinda is trying to work for a kimura but Luciano is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rinda is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Luciano defends it well.

Rinda is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Rinda is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Luciano sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rinda perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rinda uses his free foot to push down on Luciano's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Luciano.

Rinda is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Luciano is surviving well by controlling Rinda's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano is in all sorts of trouble here.

Rinda goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Luciano is on top in guard.
Luciano wants to control from the top but Rinda keeps moving.
Rinda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Luciano is one step ahead there.

Rinda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Luciano doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Luciano manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rinda working for a triangle but Luciano defends it easily.
Rinda has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at London MMA Club. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Rinda looking for a guillotine here but Luciano defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rinda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Luciano is aware though and is defending well.

Luciano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rinda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Luciano has managed to get both his arms back between Rinda's legs - danger averted.

Rinda is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rinda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Luciano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rinda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rinda working for a triangle but Luciano defends it easily.

Rinda has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Luciano is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rinda.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luciano tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anwar Rinda will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rinda shoots in for a double leg but Luciano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Luciano stuffs the takedown attempt from Rinda. Rinda gets slowly back to his feet.
Rinda uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Luciano.
A telegraphed right hand from Luciano misses the target.
Luciano throws the left hand but Rinda avoids the punch easily.
Rinda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And Rinda tries to counter it with a takedown but Luciano pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rinda slips a straight right by Luciano.
Nice sprawl there from Luciano as Rinda shoots in.
Ricky Luciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anwar Rinda.
Rinda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Luciano.
Luciano throws a shot from downtown. Rinda moves away and avoids it.
Luciano throws a jab when Rinda was well out of range.
And Rinda tries to counter it with a takedown but Luciano pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Luciano lands an overhand right.
Luciano is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Luciano misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinda looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Luciano cracks Rinda with a right hand to the side of the head.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rinda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Rinda.
Rinda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rinda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rinda is breathing heavily.
Luciano throws the left hand but Rinda avoids the punch easily.
Luciano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rinda blocks a head kick by Luciano.
Luciano connects with the punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rinda. Luciano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ricky Luciano is winning the standup battle so far.
Rinda takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Rinda gets the takedown into side control.

Rinda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Luciano, who protects the arm well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rinda thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Luciano pushes Rinda away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rinda gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano tries to improve position but can't.

Rinda swings around for an armbar but Luciano sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rinda's guard.
Rinda trying to keep a closed guard but Luciano is proving a slippery customer.

Rinda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Luciano is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Rinda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Rinda looking for subs off his back but Luciano has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rinda actively working from the bottom here.
Luciano wants to stand but Rinda has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Rinda looking for submissions off his back.
Luciano takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Rinda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Luciano pulls his head out easily.

Luciano moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Rinda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Luciano controls the position.
Rinda tries to improve position but can't.
Luciano wants to stand but Rinda has his arm trapped.
Anwar Rinda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rinda is trying to improve his position.
Rinda is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Luciano is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Rinda sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rinda is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Luciano dominated that second round.
That's time! Luciano's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Luciano misses with an uppercut

so Rinda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rinda trying to control but Luciano is working from the bottom.
Luciano has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Luciano knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rinda on the ground.

Rinda drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Luciano manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rinda has Luciano in his guard.

Rinda controls Luciano momentarily but Luciano frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rinda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Luciano defends it easily.
Rinda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rinda throws his legs up looking for a submission but Luciano uses it to pass to side control.
Rinda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rinda struggling a bit here.

Luciano decides to stand back up.
Ricky Luciano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slow jab from Luciano misses its intended target.
Luciano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rinda's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Luciano connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rinda scrambles back to his feet.
Rinda moves out of range as Luciano strikes.
Luciano misses with a looping right.
Luciano misses with a looping left.
Luciano throws a jab but it's blocked by Rinda.
No luck for Rinda with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rinda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Luciano.
Luciano defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rinda.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rinda.
Ricky Luciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anwar Rinda.

Rinda changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Luciano looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rinda looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Luciano is looking to regain half guard here but Rinda keeps moving and retains side control.
Luciano is trying to buck Rinda off.
Luciano is looking to regain half guard here but Rinda keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rinda swings around for an armbar but Luciano sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rinda's guard.

Rinda throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Luciano escapes and throws Rinda's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Luciano wants to stand but Rinda is controlling his arm.
Luciano gets to mount! Rinda was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Rinda wants to hold on but Luciano pushes him away.
Rinda working to try and regain half guard.
Rinda is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Luciano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rinda can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinda is trying to reverse the position but instead Luciano has taken his back - oops!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Luciano controlling the positon.
Rinda just trying to survive but Luciano is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Luciano is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Rinda tries to escape the position.
Luciano is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Luciano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Luciano 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Luciano!
Ricky Luciano tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.