PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cody Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Vasher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Vasher told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ross
vs
Vasher

183 cm
19
167 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
23
158 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cody Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Vasher!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Anthony Taglia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vasher steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ross.
Vasher throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Vasher doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Vasher misses with a head kick.
Ross connects with a crisp jab.
Ross throws a lazy right hand but Vasher sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vasher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vasher fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ross waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vasher.
Vasher misses the shot to the body.
Ross throws the left hand but Vasher avoids the punch easily.

Vasher takes the fight into the clinch.
Vasher with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vasher with a knee to the head.
Vasher with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vasher utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Vasher taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ross takes an elbow to the forehead.
Vasher scores with a knee to the head.
Vasher lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ross effectively controlling the action here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vasher obliges.
Vasher lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Vasher misses with a knee to the head.
Vasher landing knees to the head.
Vasher lands a body punch.
Vasher lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vasher missing with knees to the body.
Vasher throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vasher lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasher tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ross is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vasher gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vasher landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ross is trying to break the clinch but Vasher has him pressed against the cage.
Ross takes an elbow to the temple.
Ross takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ross fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vasher tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vasher looks gassed!
Vasher lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Vasher throws a head punch that misses.
Ross avoids a wild elbow strike from Vasher.
Vasher tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short right from Vasher on the inside.
Vasher looking to throw knees to the head but Ross is blocking nicely.
Vasher tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vasher scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross trying to control the position but instead, Vasher has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ross into the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ross as Vasher tries to tie him up.
Vasher using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ross has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vasher with a knee to the head.
Ross is trying to maintain a safe position but Vasher gets an underhook and turns Ross into the cage.
Vasher throws an elbow that misses.
Vasher landing knees to the head.
Ross wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Vasher with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Vasher scores with a shot to the side of Ross's head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Vasher.
Vasher with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vasher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vasher tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Vasher looking to slow down the pace here.
Ross just leaning against Vasher, taking a breather.
Vasher lands a nice elbow.
Ross will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Vasher up against the cage.
Vasher using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ross has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Vasher dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ross throws a lazy right hand but Vasher sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vasher uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ross.
Vasher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vasher ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Vasher moves into the clinch.
Ross avoiding damage as Vasher throws knees to the body.
Vasher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ross blocks it with crossed arms.
Vasher is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Vasher tries a knee to the head but Ross blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ross looking to slow down the pace here.
Ross dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A short left from Vasher.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasher crunches a lovely knee into Ross's ribcage.
Vasher lands a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Vasher.
Vasher lands a nice elbow.
Vasher tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vasher misses with a knee to the head.
Vasher is breathing heavily.
Vasher with a knee to the head.
Vasher tries a knee to the head but Ross blocks it.
Vasher wants to stall.
Vasher creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ross's defenses.
Vasher with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short uppercut from Vasher.
Vasher with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasher tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vasher throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vasher tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ross stalls.
Vasher lands a knee to the head.
Vasher wants to stall.
Ross is trying to maintain a safe position but Vasher gets an underhook and turns Ross into the cage.
Vasher working Ross over with knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Ross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cody Ross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ross ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vasher moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ross throws a jab when Vasher was well out of range.

Ross bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vasher is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Vasher is not content to let Ross control the position.

Ross is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vasher knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Vasher pushes Ross away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ross gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Ross tries for a kimura but Vasher is defending well.
Vasher tries to escape but Ross is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Vasher sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Vasher is trying to buck Ross off.
Ross looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Vasher is avoiding damage well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ross connects with the punch.
Ross closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vasher circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big left from Ross misses.
A big left from Ross misses.
Vasher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ross keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marcus Vasher will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vasher ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Vasher clinches with his opponent.
Vasher misses with a knee strike.
Vasher slowing the pace effectively.
Vasher lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ross is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Vasher is pushing Ross up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A knee to the head by Vasher.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasher lands a knee to the body.
Vasher connects with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vasher landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Vasher throws an elbow that misses.
Ross avoids a wild elbow strike from Vasher.
A knee to the head by Vasher.
Ross stalling.
Vasher missing with knees to the body.
Ross stalling in the clinch but Vasher improves position.
Ross blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ross is trying to maintain a safe position but Vasher gets an underhook and turns Ross into the cage.
Vasher tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ross.
Vasher goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vasher scores with a shot to the side of Ross's head.
A head punch on the inside from Ross fails to land.
Vasher tries to land knees in the clinch but Ross avoids the damage to the body.

That's two 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.
Vasher misses with a knee strike.
Vasher wants to stall.
Vasher lands a right hand.
Vasher throws a knee to the head but misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ross.
Vasher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vasher swings wildly with an uppercut but Ross uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vasher throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Vasher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ross blocks it with crossed arms.
Ross blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vasher lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ross just leaning against Vasher, taking a breather.
Vasher scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vasher using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ross has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ross working hard to break the clinch.

Ross breaks from the clinch.
Vasher moves in looking to clinch but Ross pushes him off.
Vasher throws an overhand right that lands on Ross's shoulder, as Ross tries to avoid the shot.
Ross throws a hook but Vasher blocks it.
Vasher misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ross shoots in and drives through. Vasher sprawls well.
Ross throws a hook but Vasher avoids it easily.
Ross is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ross throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vasher wants to clinch.
Vasher is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vasher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ross swats away the attempt to clinch by Vasher.
Cody Ross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ross misses with a straight right.
Ross has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Vasher finds it's way round the side to connect with Ross's head.
Vasher wants to clinch.
Vasher keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ross.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A jab from Ross misses.

Ross shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vasher is trying to defend but Ross finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ross 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.
Vasher avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Vasher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vasher winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Vasher!