PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vadim Varlaam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Conde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Varlaam comes to the cage accompanied by Russian Vear!. Conde is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Tic Tic Tac. Thiago Conde will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Varlaam
vs
Conde

165 cm
19
148 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
145 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vadim Varlaam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Conde!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Conde misses the target.
Conde is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Varlaam.
Conde thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed right hand from Conde misses the target.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Varlaam lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Conde has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Conde and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Conde misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Conde misses with an uppercut. Varlaam saw that one coming.
Good work by Conde as he checks the leg kick.
Varlaam moves in looking to clinch but Conde pushes him off.
Conde throws a jab when Varlaam was well out of range.

Varlaam moves into range and clinches up with Conde.
Varlaam pushes off an throws an elbow but Conde leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Conde is trying to force a seperation but Varlaam has the dominant position.
Conde is trying to break the clinch but Varlaam is controlling him.
Conde is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varlaam throws an elbow but it misses.
Varlaam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Conde.
Varlaam with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Varlaam throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Conde blocks it with crossed arms.
Conde blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varlaam lands an elbow inside that Conde shrugs off.
Varlaam pushes off an throws an elbow but Conde leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Varlaam pushes off an throws an elbow but Conde leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Varlaam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Conde.
Conde blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Varlaam throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A head punch on the inside from Conde fails to land.
Varlaam throws an elbow that misses.
Conde blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Varlaam tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Conde avoids it.
Varlaam has Conde pressed against the cage, preventing Conde from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Varlaam throws an elbow but it misses.
Conde blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Conde is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Varlaam working Conde over with knees to the body.
Varlaam tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Conde tries to circle away but Varlaam has him pinned against the cage.
Varlaam missing with knees to the body.
Varlaam pushes off an throws an elbow but Conde leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Varlaam trying to land knees to the body.
Varlaam tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Conde is looking to break free of the clinch but Varlaam has double underhooks.
Varlaam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Conde.
Varlaam with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Varlaam is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Conde is defending well for now.
Varlaam has Conde pressed against the cage, preventing Conde from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Conde has a couple of punches blocked by Varlaam.
Conde is trying to break free.
Conde wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Conde looking to stall.
Varlaam tries to land a knee to the head but Conde blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conde is trying to break the clinch but Varlaam has him pressed against the cage.
Varlaam tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Conde avoids it.
Varlaam looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Varlaam throws an elbow that misses.
Varlaam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Conde.
Varlaam missing with knees to the body.
Conde is trying to break the clinch but Varlaam has him pressed against the cage.
Varlaam pushes off an throws an elbow but Conde leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Conde tries to break free but Varlaam pushes him back against the cage.
Conde scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Conde looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Conde taking a breather.
Varlaam tries a knee to the head but Conde blocks it.
Conde tries to break the clinch but Varlaam is controlling the position.
Conde looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Varlaam lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Conde wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Varlaam lands an elbow that stopped Conde in his tracks for a moment.
Conde avoiding damage as Varlaam throws knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Varlaam.
Varlaam trying to land knees to the body.
Conde is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Varlaam is keeping busy.
Conde dodges an elbow strike from Varlaam.
Conde has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Varlaam looking to throw knees to the head but Conde is blocking nicely.
Varlaam scores a nice knee to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conde wants to break the clinch but can't.
Varlaam lands a damaging elbow.
Varlaam gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Varlaam dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Conde misses with the combination.
Conde tries to bum rush Varlaam with a series of wild strikes but Varlaam uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Conde scores with a punch to the head.
The fighters circling - Conde throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thiago Conde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Varlaam dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Conde. That did some damage!
Conde looks to land a right hand but Varlaam moved out of range.
The fighters circling - Conde throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Varlaam throws a solid leg kick but Conde takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Varlaam.
Conde swings for the body but Varlaam moves out of range.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Conde in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Conde tries to bum rush Varlaam with a series of wild strikes but Varlaam uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Varlaam tries to clinch but Conde moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Varlaam looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Conde looks to score with a jab to the body but Varlaam is just out of range.
Varlaam is looking to clinch but Conde is avoiding it.
Varlaam dodges the punch combination from Conde.
Varlaam avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varlaam tries to clinch but Conde moves out of range.

Varlaam has taken the fight to the clinch.
Varlaam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Conde.
Conde avoiding damage as Varlaam throws knees to the body.
Varlaam pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Varlaam is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Conde is defending well for now.
Conde throws a punch but it's blocked by Varlaam.
Varlaam scores with a knee to the head.
Varlaam landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Conde avoiding damage as Varlaam throws knees to the body.
Conde tries to break the clinch but Varlaam is controlling the position.
Varlaam missing with knees to the body.
Conde dodges an elbow strike from Varlaam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Varlaam looking to stall.
Varlaam tries a knee to the head but Conde blocks it.
Conde looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Conde has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Varlaam tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Conde avoids it.
Conde blocks the elbow strike.
Varlaam is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Conde is defending well for now.
Conde manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Conde managing to block the knees to the body from Varlaam.
Varlaam tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Conde avoids it.
Varlaam missing with knees to the body.
Conde avoiding damage as Varlaam throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conde blocks an elbow strike.
Conde wants to break the clinch but can't.
Conde has had enough of the clinch but Varlaam keeps him there for the moment.
Varlaam with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Varlaam lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Conde has had enough of the clinch but Varlaam keeps him there for the moment.
Conde avoiding damage as Varlaam throws knees to the body.
Varlaam throws an elbow that misses.
Conde avoiding damage as Varlaam throws knees to the body.
Varlaam trying to land knees to the body.
Varlaam looking to throw knees to the head but Conde is blocking nicely.
Varlaam lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Varlaam pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Conde is looking to break free of the clinch but Varlaam has double underhooks.
Varlaam pushes off an throws an elbow but Conde leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

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.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Varlaam throws a knee to the head but misses.
Varlaam trying to land knees to the body.
Conde has a couple of punches blocked by Varlaam.
Varlaam is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Conde is defending well for now.
Conde avoids a wild elbow strike from Varlaam.
Varlaam misses with an elbow over the top.
Varlaam prevents Conde from breaking the clinch.
Varlaam throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Conde is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Varlaam tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conde avoids a wild elbow strike from Varlaam.
Varlaam tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Varlaam tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vadim Varlaam will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Varlaam throws a push kick but Conde slaps the foot to one side.
Conde fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Varlaam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Conde.
Varlaam slips a straight right by Conde.
Conde throws a series of punches but Varlaam moves out of range.
Varlaam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Conde lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Varlaam circles away quickly and effectively.
Conde ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Varlaam moves away.
Conde misses the jab.
Varlaam tries to clinch but Conde is having none of it.
Conde throws a hook to the side of Varlaam's head but Varlaam sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Varlaam misses with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conde with a nice cross.
Conde keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Varlaam throws a push kick but Conde slaps the foot to one side.
Conde throws a right and a left that both miss.
Varlaam throws a low kick but Conde avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conde misses with a few strikes there.
Varlaam misses with a body kick.
Varlaam throws a leg kick that misses.
Varlaam looks for the body kick but Conde saw that one coming.
Varlaam is looking to clinch but Conde is avoiding it.
A big left from Conde misses.
Varlaam uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Conde.
Conde swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Conde wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Varlaam uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Conde.
Varlaam throws a low kick but Conde moves out of range easily.
Conde darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Varlaam fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Conde is out of range.
Conde is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Varlaam throws the kick towards the body but Conde avoids it.
Varlaam tries to land a front kick but Conde steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Conde misses with an uppercut. Varlaam saw that one coming.
Conde missing with a left hand there. Varlaam was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Varlaam.
A thudding body kick lands there by Varlaam!
The fighters circling - Conde throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Varlaam uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Conde.
Conde throws a combination. Varlaam tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Conde keeps the fight on the outside.
Conde throws a shot from downtown. Varlaam moves away and avoids it.
Conde throws an overhand right that lands on Varlaam's shoulder, as Varlaam tries to avoid the shot.
Varlaam tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Conde paws at him with a jab and circles away.
An inside leg kick from Varlaam misses.
Varlaam finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Varlaam uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Conde.
Conde misses with a double jab.
Conde misses with a straight left.
Varlaam moves in looking to clinch but Conde pushes him off.
Varlaam moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conde cracks a nice hook into Varlaam's ribs.
Varlaam with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Varlaam moves in looking to clinch but Conde pushes him off.
Conde might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Varlaam fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Conde is out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Conde as he connects with a hook.
Varlaam slips a jab from Conde.
Varlaam takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Conde tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Varlaam was well out of range. Poor timing from Conde.
Conde will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Conde takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Varlaam takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Varlaam throws the kick towards the body but Conde avoids it.
Varlaam throws the kick towards the body but Conde avoids it.
Nice defenses there by Varlaam.
Conde checks the leg kick nicely there.
Conde throws a hook but Varlaam blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conde misses with an uppercut.
Varlaam slips under a jab from Conde.
Conde moves out of range as Varlaam throws a body kick.
Conde throws a hook but Varlaam avoids it easily.
Conde moves out of range of the body kick from Varlaam.
Varlaam staying out of range there.
Conde circles away from the clinch attempt.
Varlaam bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A slow jab from Conde misses its intended target.
Varlaam tries to close the distance and clinch up but Conde swats him away and circles back towards the center.
An inside leg kick from Varlaam misses.
Conde blocks a leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A jab from Conde misses.
Conde misses with a straight right.
Conde throws a nice looking combination but Varlaam bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thiago Conde has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Varlaam feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Conde's calf.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Conde comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Varlaam 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!