PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between frederico vernaco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pero Vukovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

vernaco
vs
Vukovic

180 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, frederico vernaco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pero Vukovic!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vukovic looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Vukovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
vernaco tries to clinch but Vukovic is having none of it.

Vukovic clinches up against the cage.
Vukovic is struggling to control the position.
vernaco tries to pull guard but Vukovic won't allow it.
Vukovic lands a left hand that snaps the head of vernaco backwards.
vernaco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vukovic's efforts to push away.
Vukovic pressing his opponent against the cage.
vernaco tries for a takedown. No joy.
vernaco looking to slow down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vukovic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vukovic stops a takedown attempt from vernaco.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for frederico vernaco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
vernaco tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

vernaco breaks the clinch.
Vukovic stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
vernaco closes the distance and clinches up with Vukovic, looking for a takedown. vernaco pushes Vukovic against the cage but Vukovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
vernaco throws a head kick that misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vukovic.

vernaco sneaks out the side door and pushes Vukovic away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Vukovic moves into the clinch successfully.
vernaco is working for takedown but Vukovic is calmly controlling the position for now.
Vukovic wants a takedown but no success here.
vernaco is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vukovic is defending well for now.

Vukovic successfully pulls guard.
Vukovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Vukovic, not yet.
Vukovic keeping full guard, as vernaco tries to pass.
vernaco is breathing heavily.
Vukovic trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic 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.
Vukovic is looking to stand up but vernaco isn't so interested in that idea.
Vukovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
vernaco has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vukovic is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

vernaco gets to his feet - Vukovic follows without any prompting.
Vukovic dives in and grabs vernaco's left leg, looking for a takedown. vernaco pushes down on Vukovic's head and hops out.
vernaco misses with a head kick.
Vukovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vukovic scores with a head kick.
vernaco throws a sloppy head kick
and Vukovic counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Vukovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with vernaco, pushing him back against the cage.
Vukovic just leaning against vernaco, taking a breather.
vernaco wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vukovic has him pressed against the cage.

Vukovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vukovic closes the distance and clinches.

Vukovic drags the fight down to the ground.

Vukovic kicks vernaco off and gets to his feet.
A head kick misses from Vukovic.

vernaco takes the fight into the clinch.
vernaco tries to pull guard but Vukovic won't allow it.

Vukovic pulls guard effortlessly.
vernaco wanted to stand there but Vukovic had control of the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vukovic can do anything to dispel that myth.
vernaco chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

vernaco gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Vukovic moves into the clinch.
vernaco fails to pull guard.

Vukovic lands a takedown into guard.
Vukovic is looking to stand up but vernaco won't let him.

Vukovic stands and steps away. vernaco gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
vernaco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for frederico vernaco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vukovic clinches up with vernaco and pushes him back against the cage.
vernaco is trying to stall.

Vukovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Vukovic. No joy for vernaco on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vukovic stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vukovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vukovic swinging wildly here.
A head kick from Vukovic lands but vernaco takes it in his stride.
vernaco looks to clinch

and Vukovic counters with a nice double leg into side control. vernaco won't be happy with that.
vernaco is trying to get back to half guard.
vernaco is trying to escape the position but Vukovic is controlling the position.
vernaco wants to control but Vukovic postures up.
Vukovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with vernaco. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vukovic tries to advance to mount but vernaco denies him.
vernaco wants to control but Vukovic postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
vernaco throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
vernaco struggling a bit here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vukovic with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Vukovic rushes vernaco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
vernaco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vukovic prevents it.
Vukovic stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vukovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
vernaco throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Vukovic has vernaco up against the cage in a clinch.
Vukovic trying to land knees to the body.
Vukovic effectively controlling the action here.
vernaco tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vukovic smiles and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vukovic.
vernaco doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Vukovic counters by clinching up.

Vukovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Vukovic instigates a clinch.
vernaco drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vukovic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
vernaco trying to land knees to the body.

Vukovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Vukovic throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. vernaco was covering up waiting for the punch and Vukovic finishes the takedown easily into guard.
vernaco has a closed guard, preventing Vukovic from standing up.
Vukovic postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pero Vukovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

vernaco keeps the fight on the outside.
vernaco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vukovic sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vukovic moves out of range of the body kick.
Vukovic wants to clinch
and vernaco counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Vukovic is lucky that one didn't land flush.
vernaco misses with a takedown attempt

and Vukovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vukovic.

Vukovic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Vukovic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Vukovic 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.
vernaco tries to stand but Vukovic is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vukovic holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vukovic has his feet on vernaco's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
vernaco keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vukovic tries to clinch but vernaco moves out of range.
vernaco shoots and misses
and Vukovic counters with a left and a right that stings vernaco.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for frederico vernaco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vukovic darts in and clinches vernaco up against the cage.

Vukovic manages to break the clinch.
vernaco tries to clinch but Vukovic moves away
and Vukovic counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
vernaco steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Vukovic. That one must have hurt.
vernaco misses with a combination
and Vukovic counters with a flying knee. Nice.
vernaco swats away the attempt to clinch by Vukovic.
vernaco lands with a good body shot.
vernaco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Vukovic shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. vernaco manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now vernaco is on top in guard.

Vukovic pushes vernaco off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
vernaco showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vukovic.
vernaco keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A right-left combo lands from vernaco.
Vukovic throws a head kick that half lands.
Vukovic throws a hook but vernaco blocks it.
vernaco stuffs the takedown.
frederico vernaco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vukovic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. vernaco defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
vernaco fails with a takedown attempt.
vernaco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vukovic tries to avoid it but vernaco manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vukovic to the ground. Vukovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
vernaco throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Vukovic moves into the clinch.
Pero Vukovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
vernaco tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vukovic stalling.
vernaco looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
vernaco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vukovic prevents it.
frederico vernaco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
vernaco throws a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pero Vukovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vukovic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pero Vukovic!