PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Syracuse (ranked 4999 p4p, 549 weight class) and John Tucker (ranked 5622 p4p, 589 weight class). Joshua Syracuse had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 207.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Syracuse
vs
Tucker

213 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Pit Bull Development

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joshua Syracuse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Ben Watson and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tucker throws a push kick but Syracuse slaps the foot to one side.
It looked like Syracuse wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Syracuse throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Syracuse throws the left hand but Tucker avoids the punch easily.
Tucker misses with a kick to the body.
Syracuse went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Syracuse manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tucker on his heels. He'll look to pass Tucker's guard now, I'm sure.
Tucker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Syracuse. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Syracuse landing with the ground and pound.
Syracuse wants to control from the top but Tucker keeps moving.
Tucker throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Syracuse trying to control the position from guard on top but Tucker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syracuse will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tucker is trying to control the position but Syracuse postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Syracuse cracks Tucker with a solid left hand.
Tucker looking to control but Syracuse passes into half guard.
Syracuse throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Syracuse slips a nice elbow through Tucker's hands, connecting with Tucker's forehead.
Tucker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Syracuse.
Tucker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Syracuse.
Syracuse missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tucker is trying to get back to full guard.
Tucker trying to hold on to Syracuse's head to control him but Syracuse postures up.
Syracuse not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tucker wants to control the action here but instead Syracuse manages to pass to full mount!
Tucker throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Syracuse wants to control the pace but Tucker is squirming around nicely.
Syracuse lands with some strikes.
Syracuse really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syracuse punishing his opponent with strikes.
BOOM! Syracuse connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Syracuse lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Tucker keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Syracuse raining down hammerfists from mount.
Syracuse is landing with some decent strikes but Tucker is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tucker wants to control but Syracuse is having none of it.
Syracuse landing strikes from the mount.
The referee warns Tucker that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Tucker is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syracuse has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tucker's face.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Syracuse scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Tucker is rocked!
Tucker is in a horrible position here. Syracuse smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tucker is still in real trouble! Can Syracuse finish him?
Syracuse lands with some strikes.
Syracuse postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Tucker badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Syracuse around the waist but Syracuse pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Syracuse is the winner by TKO! Syracuse jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joshua Syracuse!
Joshua Syracuse was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.