PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frederico Vergara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billie Dennis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vergara's entrance music is Bully. A fine choice. Billie Dennis struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Vergara
vs
Dennis

185 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
24
200 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frederico Vergara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Billie Dennis!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vergara shoots in for a takedown but Dennis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dennis is looking to clinch but Vergara is avoiding it.
Billie Dennis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Vergara instigates a clinch.
Vergara lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Vergara breaks the clinch.
Vergara fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Dennis.
Vergara slips a jab and a cross from Dennis.
Dennis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dennis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vergara thows a body shot but no joy.
Dennis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice sprawl there from Vergara as Dennis shoots in.
Some wild striking there from Dennis.
Dennis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Vergara manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dennis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vergara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vergara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vergara misses with a series of wild punches.
Vergara displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dennis.
Vergara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dennis is fending him off so far but Vergara persists. Nope, Dennis circles away and we're back to standing.
Dennis throws a series of punches but Vergara avoids them all with ease.
Vergara moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dennis throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Vergara clinches up against the cage.
Dennis wants to break the clinch but can't.

Vergara manages to break the clinch.
Dennis swats away the attempt to clinch by Vergara.
Dennis works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Vergara shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dennis throwing hammer fists to the chest of Vergara. What's that going to do exactly?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vergara trying to control but Dennis is having none of it.

Vergara has hold of Dennis's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Dennis manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dennis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vergara tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Dennis is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vergara tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Vergara'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.
Dennis is squirming around, avoiding Vergara's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dennis is looking to improve his position but Vergara isn't that keen on the idea.

Vergara has hold of Dennis's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Dennis manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The referee warns Dennis that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Dennis is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dennis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vergara controlling his opponent.
Vergara unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vergara with good strikes from the mount here!
Dennis throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Vergara lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Dennis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Vergara with a couple of short strikes.
Vergara landing punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dennis is looking to improve his position but Vergara isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vergara controlling from the full mount.
Vergara has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Vergara wants to control the pace but Dennis is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dennis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vergara is looking to clinch but Dennis is avoiding it.

Dennis instigates a clinch.
Vergara is stalling here.

Dennis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dennis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vergara tries to clinch up.
Dennis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dennis throws a right hand that Vergara ducks under and follows up with a left that Vergara also avoids with ease.
Dennis throws a right hand that Vergara ducks under and follows up with a left that Vergara also avoids with ease.
Decent striking displayed by Dennis there.

It looks like Frederico Vergara has been cut.
Dennis throws a series of punches but Vergara avoids them all with ease.
Dennis is breathing heavily.

Vergara closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vergara has Dennis pushed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vergara seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Dennis wants to break free but Vergara has control.
Dennis looking to slow down the pace here.
Dennis is trying to break the clinch but Vergara is controlling him.
Vergara works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Dennis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vergara keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dennis's efforts to push away.
Dennis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Vergara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vergara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dennis as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vergara displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dennis.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dennis.
Dennis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dennis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vergara is fending him off so far but Dennis persists. Nope, Vergara circles away and we're back to standing.
Frederico Vergara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billie Dennis.

Vergara gets a double leg takedown into Dennis's guard.
Vergara not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vergara seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Dennis for as long as he can get away with.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vergara with a nice head shot there.
Dennis thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vergara trying to control the position from guard on top but Dennis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dennis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Vergara landing with the ground and pound.
Vergara trying to control but Dennis is working from the bottom.
Vergara seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

We're going to have a standup here because Frederico Vergara wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Dennis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Vergara has Dennis up against the cage in a clinch.

Vergara breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dennis keeps the fight on the outside.

Dennis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dennis tries to break free but Vergara pushes him back against the cage.
Dennis is trying to break the clinch but Vergara has him pressed against the cage.
Dennis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dennis tries to break free but Vergara pushes him back against the cage.
Dennis throws a punch but it's blocked by Vergara.
Knees to the body from Vergara.
Dennis is trying to force a seperation but Vergara has the dominant position.
Dennis is trying to force a seperation but Vergara has the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vergara has Dennis pressed against the cage, preventing Dennis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Vergara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vergara tries to clinch there but Dennis circles away.
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 Frederico Vergara will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Frederico Vergara's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dennis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vergara circles away quickly and effectively.
Dennis feints a jab promting Vergara to slip. Dennis then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Vergara slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Dennis misses with the combination.
Vergara tests Dennis's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Frederico Vergara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dennis misses with a hook.
Dennis shoots for a takedown but Vergara saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dennis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vergara but Vergara pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vergara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Vergara scores a takedown into full mount!
Dennis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dennis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vergara content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vergara can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dennis is looking to escape.
Vergara controlling the position easily from mount.

We're going to have a standup here because Frederico Vergara wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Vergara moves in looking to clinch but Dennis pushes him off.
Some wild striking there from Dennis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vergara darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Vergara seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dennis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Frederico Vergara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Frederico Vergara just wasn't active enough.

Vergara rushes Dennis and presses him up against the cage.

Dennis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dennis misses with the combination.

Vergara closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dennis is trying to work for a sweep but Vergara has mounted him!
Vergara looking to control but Dennis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vergara dominating with strikes here.
Vergara controlling the pace for now.
Vergara lands a nice shot to the head.

Vergara swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Dennis is now in Vergara's guard. A big mistake from Vergara there, giving up the dominant position!
Vergara not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dennis has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vergara is proving hard to escape from.
Vergara controls Dennis momentarily but Dennis frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vergara wants to sweep but no luck.
Dennis wants to stand and escape but instead Vergara has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Vergara wants to control from the top but Dennis keeps moving.
Vergara slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vergara has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Frederico Vergara is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Frederico Vergara.
Dennis has a takedown stuffed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frederico Vergara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vergara, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frederico Vergara!
Frederico Vergara seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.