PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bader Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manu Vatuvei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Bader Jones has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Jones
vs
Vatuvei

165 cm
25
150 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
27
165 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bader Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Manu Vatuvei!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt

and Vatuvei counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Vatuvei wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Vatuvei thows a big elbow that misses.
Vatuvei wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Jones can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vatuvei controls the pace.

Manu Vatuvei has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Vatuvei is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jones's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vatuvei is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Jones is looking for a sweep. Vatuvei is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jones is refusing to be controlled, as Vatuvei sits in half guard.

Vatuvei is trying to work for a kimura but Jones is defending well.

Vatuvei is working for a submission of some sort.

Vatuvei is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control here.
Vatuvei tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jones knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Jones is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Vatuvei scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jones trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vatuvei's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vatuvei's back!

Vatuvei is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Jones gets his way!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vatuvei is in bad spot here.
Vatuvei rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Vatuvei moves into full guard.

Vatuvei working for a triangle but Jones defends it easily.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Vatuvei is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but Vatuvei is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vatuvei is on top in guard.
Vatuvei is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vatuvei stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Vatuvei dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jones gets caught napping as Vatuvei dives in and scores a takedown. Jones manages to retain guard.
Vatuvei trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Vatuvei not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vatuvei forces his way into half guard.
Jones manages to get to full guard.
Jones might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Vatuvei postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatuvei won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Vatuvei is working Jones over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vatuvei working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jones's head.
Jones managing to control the position.
Vatuvei trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vatuvei trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vatuvei trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vatuvei is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jones is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jones has escaped and now he's on top!
Vatuvei managing to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vatuvei 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.
Jones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vatuvei swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Vatuvei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Vatuvei closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jones tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vatuvei wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vatuvei grinds an elbow into Jones's temple.
Vatuvei wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones keeps working.
Jones struggling a bit here.
Vatuvei wants to control for a moment but Jones uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei trying to pass the guard but Jones defending well.
Vatuvei throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vatuvei works his way into full mount!
Jones wants to hold on but Vatuvei pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vatuvei wants to control but instead Jones manages to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Vatuvei showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jones gets a double leg takedown into Vatuvei's guard.
Jones being controlled here momentarily.
Jones controlling from the top position.
Vatuvei controlling the position.
Manu Vatuvei has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Bader Jones wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Vatuvei shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jones's guard.
Vatuvei slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Vatuvei trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vatuvei lands a couple of elbows.
Vatuvei controls from within his opponent's guard.
Vatuvei advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jones's head.
Jones is looking to control Vatuvei's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jones avoid being mounted?
Jones is staying active underneath Vatuvei, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vatuvei is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Jones!
Vatuvei looking to finish Jones with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jones!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vatuvei controlling from the full mount.
Jones in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei looking to control but Jones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jones is trying desperately to improve position.
Vatuvei dominating with strikes here.
Vatuvei lands a heavy elbow.
Vatuvei takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Vatuvei can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jones is looking to escape.
Bader Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manu Vatuvei is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is in all sorts of trouble here.
Vatuvei is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Jones can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Vatuvei trying to control but Jones is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vatuvei blocks Jones's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vatuvei putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Manu Vatuvei comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vatuvei 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manu Vatuvei!