PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark DeLuca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Knock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DeLuca kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Welcome To The Jungle. Knock is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Monster. Mark DeLuca has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

DeLuca
vs
Knock

180 cm
19
172 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

169 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark DeLuca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Knock!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Roberts and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DeLuca misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Knock gets a clinch.

DeLuca breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
DeLuca tries to clinch up but Knock circles away and keeps his distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Knock!

It looks like Mark DeLuca has been cut.
DeLuca tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Knock swivels and escapes.
Knock stuffs the takedown.

Knock gets the takedown into side control.
DeLuca is looking to regain half guard here but Knock keeps moving and retains side control.
DeLuca is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
DeLuca is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on DeLuca's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Knock decides to stand back up. Knock steps back and let's DeLuca get back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by DeLuca or perhaps it was just good defense by Knock which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark DeLuca. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knock misses with a jab, cross combination.

DeLuca closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
DeLuca is breathing heavily.
Knock gets back to full guard.
Knock throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Knock throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Knock 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knock throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Knock is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
DeLuca controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeLuca trying to control the position from guard on top but Knock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knock wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Knock lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for DeLuca!
Knock misses with a head shot.
DeLuca is trying to escape the mount.
Knock scoring with strikes but DeLuca is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knock breaks from DeLuca's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Knock in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Knock with good strikes from the mount here!
Knock with shots to the head and body - DeLuca looks very uncomfortable down there.
Knock should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Knock looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Knock lands with some strikes.
Knock dominating with strikes here.
Knock looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Knock scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish DeLuca?
Knock has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of DeLuca's face.
Knock working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Knock looking to finish DeLuca with some ground and pound. This is bad for DeLuca!
DeLuca tries to hold on but Knock postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knock landing strikes from the mount and DeLuca is in trouble!
DeLuca is wriggling around trying to escape.
DeLuca taking shots to the head.
DeLuca tries to hold on but Knock postures up.
DeLuca keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
DeLuca slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
DeLuca is trying to get back to full guard.
Knock wants to free his trapped foot but DeLuca is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Knock has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knock throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Knock blocks the strikes from DeLuca.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Knock dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark DeLuca's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

DeLuca fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
DeLuca avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knock lands with a kick to the temple. DeLuca shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

DeLuca gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Knock manages to break the clinch.
DeLuca with a poor takedown

and Knock counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Knock lands strikes from half guard.
Knock missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
DeLuca wants to control but Knock is keeping busy.
DeLuca wants to get back to full guard.
Knock is thwarting DeLuca's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are battling for position here. DeLuca manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeLuca throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

DeLuca had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Knock is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. DeLuca Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Knock's back instead.
Even with his hooks in, DeLuca manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Knock turns into DeLuca and is now in his guard.
Knock looking to pass the guard.
Knock missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Knock postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Knock in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

DeLuca scores with a takedown into Knock's guard.
Knock tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Knock trying to strike off his back.
DeLuca tries to stand but Knock is controlling from the bottom.
Knock is looking to stand back up but DeLuca counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Knock.
Knock is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Knock sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. DeLuca lands a nice short elbow.

DeLuca stands up out of the half guard.
Knock will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

DeLuca closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - DeLuca lands in his opponent's guard.
DeLuca trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

DeLuca stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Knock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Knock rushes DeLuca and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knock fails to pull guard.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, DeLuca just misses with a elbow thrown towards Knock's brow.

DeLuca breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knock with a poor takedown

and DeLuca counters with a single leg into guard. Knock didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
DeLuca is in close to Knock's body, working some short punches and elbows.
DeLuca will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Knock lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
DeLuca wants to control from the top but Knock keeps moving.
DeLuca missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
DeLuca throwing strikes from guard but Knock blocks nicely.
Knock lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for DeLuca!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
DeLuca is desperately trying to improve his position but Knock has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Knock cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
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 Mark DeLuca will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mark DeLuca's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Knock rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but DeLuca moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

DeLuca closes the distance and clinches.
DeLuca goes for a takedown in the clinch but Knock prevents it.
Knock lands a body punch.
DeLuca stops a takedown attempt from Knock.
Knock drops down looking for an ankle pick but DeLuca pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Knock as DeLuca shoots in.
A left and a right from Knock both land. Nice combination.
DeLuca is looking to clinch.
Knock blocks the body kick.
A head kick by Knock misses

and DeLuca counters by moving into the clinch.
Knock is trying to work for a single leg takedown but DeLuca pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mark DeLuca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Knock.
DeLuca drops down looking for an ankle pick but Knock pulls his leg out and moves away.
Knock tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Knock takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knock steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from DeLuca. That one must have hurt.

DeLuca gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnny Knock has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knock is staying active underneath DeLuca, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Knock moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
DeLuca wants to get up but he can't break Knock's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Knock doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
DeLuca tries to free his leg and advance position but Knock is retaining full guard.
Knock trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Knock throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
DeLuca advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knock moves into full guard.

Knock is working an open guard so DeLuca takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Knock moves in looking to clinch but DeLuca pushes him off.
DeLuca is looking to clinch.

DeLuca decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Knock is looking to improve his position.
Knock punching from the bottom.
Knock wants to get back to full guard.
Knock is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of DeLuca's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take DeLuca's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeLuca wants to escape the position.
Knock is striking well from the back but DeLuca escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
DeLuca manages to get to full guard.
Knock stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. DeLuca swivels though and keeps the full guard.
DeLuca utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

DeLuca is looking for a triangle but Knock pushes his legs off easily.
DeLuca is trying to keep Knock in close.
DeLuca has his hands on Knock's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

DeLuca has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Knock 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 DeLuca.
DeLuca wants to get back to his feet but Knock drags him back down.

Knock is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but DeLuca is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
DeLuca is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Knock off and has taken his back!
DeLuca is trying to stick to Knock's back but Knock is turning into DeLuca. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in DeLuca's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Knock.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark DeLuca showed his dominance in that final round.
I think DeLuca has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark DeLuca!