PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benito Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasquez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by StrangleHold. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wright
vs
Vasquez

170 cm
22
142 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

173 cm
26
147 lbs
11 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] The Smashwear Corporation

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anthony Wright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Benito Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez tries a head kick but it misses.
Wright uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vasquez.
Vasquez catches Wright with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Wright.
Wright is looking to take a break and control but Vasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wright working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Wright working the ground and pound but Vasquez is defending the strikes.
Wright is putting a hurting on Vasquez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Wright controlling the position from side mount.

Wright wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vasquez, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Wright are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Wright trying to control the action but Vasquez is working from the bottom.
An elbow from Wright crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright trying to control the action but Vasquez is working from the bottom.
Wright misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Wright trying to control the action but Vasquez is working from the bottom.
Vasquez takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Vasquez is looking for a sweep.
Wright controls the position.
Wright's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is trying to buck Wright off.

Wright goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Vasquez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Wright's guard! Nice work there by Vasquez!
Wright is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vasquez stays in close to Wright's body and controls the position.
Wright wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright pulls Vasquez in close to prevent any damage.
Vasquez is working Wright over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Wright is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wright is on top in guard.
Wright throws a strike but Vasquez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Wright looking to control.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wright pulls Vasquez in close to his closed guard and prevents Vasquez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wright works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vasquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Wright looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vasquez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wright manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vasquez manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wright accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wright tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasquez is retaining full guard.
Vasquez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Wright!
Vasquez throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Vasquez avoids the attempt from Wright to control.
Wright is looking to improve his position but Vasquez isn't that keen on the idea.
Vasquez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Vasquez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Wright manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Vasquez is taking a breather. Wright says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Wright keeping hold of Vasquez's head, controlling as best he can.
Wright tries to roll over but Vasquez keeps him under control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is trying to control. Wright wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vasquez wants to free his trapped foot but Wright is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Wright is in trouble now - Vasquez has advanced to mount!
Vasquez controlling from the full mount.
Vasquez looking to control but Wright is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vasquez controlling his opponent.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Wright is looking to improve his position but Vasquez isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vasquez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Wright dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vasquez clobbers Wright with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wright shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vasquez pinned against the cage. Vasquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vasquez scores with a jab to the jaw.
Vasquez throws a combination. Wright tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nice cross by Vasquez.
Wright fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vasquez avoids it really well and circles away.
Vasquez misses with a wild body shot.
Wright shoots for a double leg takedown but Vasquez sprawls well. He's pushed Wright's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Wright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wright takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vasquez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Wright shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vasquez as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wright shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vasquez as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vasquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wright takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wright on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Vasquez throws a body punch but Wright moves out of range.
Vasquez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Vasquez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Wright on the side of the head.
Wright shoots in but Vasquez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vasquez throws a right and a left that Wright avoids nicely.
Vasquez lands with an overhand left.
Vasquez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Vasquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vasquez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Anthony Wright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasquez throws a hook but Wright blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Vasquez leaves Wright with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vasquez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vasquez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Vasquez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wright circles away quickly and effectively.
A jab lands there for Vasquez.
Nice takedown defense from Vasquez. No joy for Wright on that attempt.

Wright closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vasquez quickly recovers to half guard.
Wright is trying to control. Vasquez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vasquez controlling the position for now.
Wright is pressing down on Vasquez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vasquez is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez tries to get to full guard but Wright has control of the leg.
Vasquez pushes Wright off looking to stand but Wright dives back in and keeps control.
Wright missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vasquez is trying to stand.
Vasquez is refusing to be controlled, as Wright sits in half guard.

Wright is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vasquez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wright looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Vasquez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Vasquez is staying active underneath Wright, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wright throwing shots but Vasquez is blocking nicely.
Wright thows a huge punch but Vasquez dodges it nicely.
Wright thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wright looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Vasquez is defending against the submission attempts here by Wright.
Vasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vasquez is trying to control but can't.
Wright frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wright working the ground and pound effectively.
Wright thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Vasquez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Anthony Wright overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wright lands a heavy elbow.
Wright trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Wright is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Vasquez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Vasquez is rocked!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wright throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Wright working the ground and pound effectively.
Vasquez is still in real trouble! Can Wright finish him?
Wright looking to control but Vasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wright content just to control the position here.
Wright looking to control but Vasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vasquez seems to have recovered his senses.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wright looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Wright trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vasquez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wright is in the full mount, landing strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wright landing strikes from the mount and Vasquez is in trouble!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wright drops a big elbow. That's hurt Vasquez! More shots from Wright and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anthony Wright!
Anthony Wright took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, [CBK] The Smashwear Corporation for their support in the buildup to the fight.