PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinicius Vanini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vanini is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Miss Murder. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Fanning
vs
Vanini

178 cm
19
153 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

WIN Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Fanning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vinicius Vanini!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vanini darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Fanning actively working from the bottom here.
Vanini is pressing down on Fanning's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fanning is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fanning is not content to let Vanini control the position.
Fanning wants to get back to full guard.
Vanini moves into full mount! Fanning won't be happy about that!
Vanini trying to control but Fanning is having none of it.

Vanini swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Fanning is now in Vanini's guard. A big mistake from Vanini there, giving up the dominant position!
Fanning knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vanini on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanning postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Fanning avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fanning working some strikes from top position.
Fanning tries to free his leg and advance position but Vanini is retaining full guard.
Fanning stopping the sweep attempt from Vanini.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vanini looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fanning lands a couple of digs.
Vanini looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fanning's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fanning trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fanning postures up and lands a big shot to Vanini's brow.
Fanning throwing strikes from guard but Vanini blocks nicely.
Vanini controls Fanning momentarily but Fanning frees himself.
Fanning won't allow Vanini to sweep him here.

Vanini looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vanini looks gassed!
Fanning trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fanning connects with a couple of short punches.

Vanini looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fanning throws a strike but Vanini rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Fanning is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanini trying to control the position from guard on top but Fanning is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fanning keeping full guard, as Vanini tries to pass.
Fanning wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Fanning keeping full guard, as Vanini tries to pass.

Vanini drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Fanning manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Vanini has Fanning in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fanning scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Vanini working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fanning doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fanning manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fanning landing some decent shots from guard.
Fanning missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fanning lands a couple of elbows.
Fanning loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fanning postures up in Vanini's guard and throws a big left but Vanini blocks it.
Fanning chips away with some ground and pound.
Vanini controls Fanning momentarily but Fanning frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Fanning dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fanning misses with a hook.
Vanini ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fanning thows a body shot but no joy.
Vanini looks for a takedown but Fanning sprawls well.
Fanning uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Fanning shoots in and bounces Vanini off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fanning won't allow Vanini to sweep him here.
Fanning content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vanini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fanning manages to get himself to full guard.
Vanini trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vanini drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Fanning manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Vanini has Fanning in his guard.
Vanini is breathing heavily.
Vanini wants to sweep here but Fanning controlling him for the moment.
Fanning landing with the ground and pound.
Fanning postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fanning loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Fanning has gone for a leg lock! Vanini slips out almost immediately though and dives into Fanning's guard.
Fanning can't keep his opponent in guard - Vanini advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanning tries to get to full guard but Vanini has control of the leg.
Vanini wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fanning keeps working.

Vanini is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Vanini is trying to control the action in half guard but Fanning is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Vanini wants to pass the guard but Fanning is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanini wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fanning keeps working.
Fanning manages to get to full guard.
Fanning is trying to keep Vanini in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fanning throws a lazy right hand but Vanini sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vanini fails with the takedown

and Fanning counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanning preventing the sweep.
Fanning working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vanini working for a triangle but Fanning defends it easily.
Fanning trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fanning is working Vanini over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vanini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vanini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Vanini is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vanini keeping full guard, as Fanning tries to pass.
Fanning works over Vanini with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Fanning dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Fanning ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Vanini slips a jab from Fanning.
Fanning throws a front kick aimed at Vanini's knee but Vanini avoids it well.
Vanini slips a jab from Fanning.
Vanini shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Fanning counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Vanini has hold of Fanning's hands but Fanning slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Vanini manages to get to full guard.
Fanning content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fanning postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vanini looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fanning is one step ahead there.
Fanning landing some decent shots from guard.
Vanini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanning scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Vanini looking for a guillotine here but Fanning defends easily.
Fanning with a nice head shot there.
Fanning lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fanning scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fanning working some strikes from top position.
Fanning preventing the sweep.
Fanning working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fanning is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Vanini throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Vanini is looking for a triangle but Fanning pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vanini is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fanning is aware though and is defending well.
Fanning is in close to Vanini's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Vanini looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fanning is one step ahead there.
Fanning is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fanning scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fanning pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vanini is keeping the position for now.
Fanning is in close to Vanini's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fanning postures up and lands a big shot to Vanini's brow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fanning preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fanning tries to free his leg and advance position but Vanini is retaining full guard.

Vanini had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fanning defends it easily.
Mike Fanning overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fanning preventing the sweep.
Fanning lands a couple of digs.

Vanini looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fanning cracks Vanini with a solid left hand.
Fanning scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vanini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vanini tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fanning postures up and lands a big shot to Vanini's brow.

Vanini looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanini 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.
Fanning lands a couple of digs.
Fanning landing some decent shots from guard.
Vanini wants to sweep here but Fanning controlling him for the moment.
Fanning working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vinicius Vanini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fanning is working Vanini over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vanini has momentary wrist control but Fanning slips an elbow through the middle.
Fanning has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fanning content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fanning works over Vanini with some ground and pound from guard.
Fanning loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Fanning showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fanning 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Fanning!