PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between YB Sol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vesa Vempula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sol's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, SFIV - Theme of Ryu 2. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sol
vs
Vempula

185 cm
29
210 lbs
16 - 7 - 1

195 cm
25
216 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Londons Best Nutrition
Vicious Apparel

Lightning Fight Gear

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 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, YB Sol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vesa Vempula!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sol with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sol misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sol wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Vempula is looking to clinch but Sol is avoiding it.
Sol swats away the attempt to clinch by Vempula.
A jab lands there for Sol.
Sol lands a with a good body shot.
Vempula pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vempula is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sol takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vempula fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sol blocks a head kick by Vempula.

Vempula clinches.
Vempula connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sol's face.
Vempula throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sol blocks it with crossed arms.
Vempula stops a takedown attempt from Sol.
Sol looking for a takedown.
Sol can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for YB Sol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vempula gets underhooks to prevent Sol's takedown attempt.
Vempula creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Vempula misses with a knee to the head.
Vempula landing knees to the head.
Vempula looks gassed!
Vempula gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sol changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vempula fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Vempula throws a sloppy head kick and Sol moves out of range easily.
Sol lands a body shot.
Vesa Vempula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sol feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

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

Vempula working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sol doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sol manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sol is pushing down on Vempula's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vempula is fighting to maintain full guard but Sol has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sol passes to side control.
Sol cracks Vempula with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vempula is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sol off and has taken his back!
Vempula tries to get the hooks in deep but Sol pushed the leg off.
Sol has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
You can see the frustration on Sol's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Vempula tries to get the hooks in deep but Sol pushed the leg off.
You can see the frustration on Sol's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Sol prevents Vempula from getting a body triangle.
Sol is in bad spot here.
Vempula struggling to keep hold of the position.
Vempula doesn't have the hooks in and Sol manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vempula can't keep his opponent in guard - Sol advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sol is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vempula looking for submissions off his back.

Vempula looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sol perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Vempula looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Vempula actively working from the bottom here.

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.

Sol decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Sol blocks a head kick by Vempula.
Vempula tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sol paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vesa Vempula is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vempula takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sol throws a right hand that Vempula ducks under and follows up with a left that Vempula also avoids with ease.

Sol shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sol sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sol seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Vempula for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

YB Sol dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Sol.
Vempula fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vempula lands with a kick to the temple. Sol shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like YB Sol has been cut.

Vempula rushes Sol and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Vempula lands a damaging elbow.
Vempula with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sol wants a takedown.
Vempula lands an elbow inside.
Vempula throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sol is trying to drag Vempula to the mat but Vempula just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Vempula gets underhooks to prevent Sol's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for YB Sol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sol looking for a takedown.
Sol tries for a takedown but Vempula manages to get underhooks.
Vempula tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sol avoids it.
Vempula tries a knee to the head but Sol blocks it.
Sol takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vempula tries a knee to the head but Sol blocks it.
Vempula looking to throw knees to the head but Sol is blocking nicely.
Sol takes an elbow to the temple.
Vempula lands an elbow inside.
Vempula throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Vempula lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Vempula using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sol has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vempula using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sol has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sol blocks an elbow strike.

Sol ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sol no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Vempula gets to his feet - Sol follows without any prompting.
Sol scores with a body shot.
Vempula throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vempula drops his hands momentarily and Sol takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Sol fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vempula, pushing him back against the cage.
Vempula pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sol drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vempula pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sol ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sol gets a clinch.
Vempula looking to throw knees to the head but Sol is blocking nicely.
Sol looking for a takedown.
Vempula looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sol has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vempula is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sol goes for a takedown attempt but Vempula pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Vempula is looking to clinch.
Vempula fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vempula lands with a kick to the ribs.
Vempula throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vempula wants to clinch.
Sol is looking to wear down Vempula with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Vempula lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Vempula moves in looking to clinch but Sol pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sol rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vempula moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Sol drives through and clinches with Vempula against the cage.
Vempula with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vempula misses with an elbow strike.
Vempula tries to land knees in the clinch but Sol avoids the damage to the body.
Vempula throws an elbow but it misses.
Sol drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Vempula throws an elbow but misses.
Sol goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vempula prevents it.
Sol avoiding damage as Vempula throws knees to the body.
Sol has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vempula is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Vempula lands an elbow inside.
Vempula creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sol's defenses.
Vempula with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vempula tries to land a knee to the head but Sol blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sol drags the fight down to the ground.
Vempula is looking to stand up but Sol won't let him.
Vempula wants to stand and escape but instead Sol has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Vempula had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sol defends it easily.
Sol wants to control from the top but Vempula keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vempula keeping full guard, as Sol tries to pass.

Vempula looking for a guillotine here but Sol defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vesa Vempula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on YB Sol's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Sol darts in and clinches Vempula up against the cage.
Vempula tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sol blocks an elbow strike.
Vempula misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sol.
Vempula connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sol's face.
Nice elbow from Vempula.
Sol tries to circle away but Vempula has him pinned against the cage.

Sol has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vempula uses from the top position.

Vempula stands up from Sol's guard - Vempula perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sol scores with a decent looking hook.
Vempula gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sol tests Vempula's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Vempula uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vempula tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sol counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sol.
Vempula tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Vempula prevents the takedown attempt.
Sol tries for a takedown but Vempula manages to get underhooks.
Vempula lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Vempula misses with a knee strike.
Vempula gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sol.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for YB Sol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vempula pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sol takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vempula throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sol drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vempula gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Vempula stops a takedown attempt from Sol.
Vempula tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sol has Vempula pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vempula manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Vempula tries a knee to the head but Sol blocks it.
Vempula using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sol has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sol dodges an elbow strike from Vempula.
Vempula gets underhooks to prevent Sol's takedown attempt.
Vempula lands an elbow inside that Sol shrugs off.
Vempula tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vempula throws an elbow that misses.
Sol is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vempula gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sol blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sol avoids the elbow strike from Vempula, against the cage.
Vempula lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sol tries for a takedown. No joy.

Sol has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vempula uses from the top position.
Vempula must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sol has a closed guard, preventing Vempula from standing up.

Vempula gets to his feet - Sol follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vempula darts in trying to clinch

and Sol counters with a takedown into side control.
Sol in side control lands a decent elbow.
Vempula is not content to let Sol control the position.
Vempula tries to escape but Sol is in control.
Vempula looks to move to half guard but instead Sol has passed into mount! Damn!
Sol controlling from mount.
Vempula bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vempula would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sol has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sol lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vempula!
Vempula keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to YB Sol.
I think Sol 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... YB Sol!