PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lenikonu Palowunu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lonje Moco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lonje Moco has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Palowunu
vs
Moco

189 cm
18
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
40
191 lbs
17 - 14 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lenikonu Palowunu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lonje Moco!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice jab there from Palowunu.
Moco takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Lonje Moco has been cut.

Moco is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Palowunu's half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Palowunu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Moco pulls his head out easily.
Palowunu wants to improve his position but Moco is controlling well.
Moco is taking a breather. Palowunu says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palowunu is trying to get back to full guard.
Moco looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Moco uses his free foot to push down on Palowunu's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Palowunu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palowunu is looking to get to half guard.
Moco avoids the attempt from Palowunu to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moco wants to control the pace but Palowunu is squirming around nicely.
Palowunu tries to reverse the position but Moco maintains control.
Moco looking to control but Palowunu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Palowunu keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moco looking to control and managing it successfully.
Moco can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Palowunu is looking to escape.
Palowunu is trying desperately to improve position.
Palowunu regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moco seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Lonje Moco wasn't active enough on the ground.

Palowunu pushes Moco up against the cage in a clinch.
Moco prevents a body shot from Palowunu.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Moco is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Moco misses with a short punch on the inside.
Palowunu throws a head punch that misses.
Palowunu missing with knees to the body.
Palowunu goes for a takedown attempt but Moco pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Palowunu cracks Moco with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moco clinches up against the cage.
Palowunu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Palowunu goes for a takedown attempt but Moco pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Palowunu throws a hook to the side of Moco's head but Moco sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Palowunu missing with a left hand there. Moco was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Palowunu gets a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palowunu will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Moco up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palowunu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenikonu Palowunu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lonje Moco's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Palowunu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Moco.

Moco tries to keep at a distance but Palowunu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Palowunu misses with a hook from the clinch.

Palowunu gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Palowunu is working for a kimura but Moco is defending it quite comfortably.
Palowunu is keen to just control but Moco is a slippery customer.
Palowunu wants to pass the guard but Moco is defending well.
Palowunu trying to control from half guard but Moco is working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Moco can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moco wants to control but Palowunu is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Palowunu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Moco doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Palowunu.
Moco is trying to maintain the position but Palowunu is very close to passing his half guard.

Palowunu is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Moco has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palowunu stalling.
Palowunu works his way into full mount!
Moco can't escape the position.
Palowunu looking to control but Moco is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palowunu goes for an armbar but Moco turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Moco.

Palowunu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Palowunu has his foot on Moco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Moco works his way back into a safe position though.
Palowunu trying to keep a closed guard but Moco is proving a slippery customer.
Moco wants to control from the top but Palowunu keeps moving.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palowunu keeping full guard, as Moco tries to pass.
Moco postures up.
Moco must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Moco wants to control from the top but Palowunu keeps moving.
Palowunu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenikonu Palowunu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lonje Moco's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Moco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Palowunu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Palowunu getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Palowunu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Moco stalling in the clinch but Palowunu improves position.
Moco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Palowunu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Palowunu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Moco is defending well for now.
Moco prevents a body shot from Palowunu.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Palowunu.
Palowunu missing with knees to the body.
Moco lands with a right to the head.
Moco effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moco prevents a body shot from Palowunu.
Palowunu utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Moco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Palowunu taking a breather.

Moco drags the fight down to the ground.
Moco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Palowunu trying to control but Moco is working from the bottom.
Palowunu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Lenikonu Palowunu wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Palowunu has Moco up against the cage in a clinch.
Palowunu misses with a punch to the body.
Moco is pressed up against the cage. Palowunu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Moco down to the mat. Moco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palowunu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Moco doesn't seem bothered though.

Palowunu clinches.

Moco turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Palowunu parries the strikes from Moco easily there. Moco is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Palowunu to escape.
Palowunu wants to control but Moco postures up.
Palowunu manages to work his way to half guard, despite Moco's best efforts.
Moco trying to pass the guard but Palowunu defending well.
Palowunu is trying to control but can't.

Palowunu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Moco is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Palowunu doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Moco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palowunu is looking to improve his position.
Lenikonu Palowunu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moco trying to control from half guard but Palowunu is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lenikonu Palowunu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Palowunu 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lenikonu Palowunu!