PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Creaturos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Remedios Verzosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Creaturos might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Riverside - O2 Panic Room. 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.

Creaturos
vs
Verzosa

185 cm
33
194 lbs
20 - 14 - 0

185 cm
27
190 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 20 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anthony Creaturos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Remedios Verzosa!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Creaturos takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Verzosa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Creaturos sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Creaturos has a takedown stuffed.
Creaturos avoids the body shot from Verzosa.
Verzosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Creaturos moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Verzosa. Creaturos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Verzosa misses with a straight left.
Creaturos staying out of range there.
Verzosa digs a good hook to Creaturos's body.
Creaturos on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A jab lands there for Creaturos.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown but Creaturos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Creaturos misses with a hook. Verzosa ducked under it nicely.
Creaturos throws a push kick but Verzosa slaps the foot to one side.
Verzosa is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Creaturos rather than just go for the knockout.
Verzosa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Creaturos manages to avoid it.
Verzosa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Verzosa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Creaturos throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Creaturos swings for the body but Verzosa moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Verzosa.
Creaturos takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A jab lands there for Verzosa.
Creaturos has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Verzosa finds it's way round the side to connect with Creaturos's head.
Verzosa lands a right hook to the body.
Verzosa throws a body punch but Creaturos moves out of range.
Creaturos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Verzosa swivels and escapes.
Creaturos swings for the body but Verzosa moves out of range.

Verzosa moves into range and clinches up with Creaturos.

Verzosa pulls guard successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Creaturos postures up.
Creaturos with a flurry of punches that miss.

Verzosa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Creaturos defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Verzosa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Creaturos is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Creaturos with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Verzosa is pulling down on Creaturos's head. It's preventing any offense from Creaturos, at least for the moment.
Creaturos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verzosa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Creaturos working some strikes from top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Verzosa is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creaturos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Creaturos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Verzosa wants to pass the guard but Creaturos is keeping the position.
Verzosa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Verzosa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Verzosa stopping the sweep attempt from Creaturos.
Verzosa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Creaturos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Creaturos trying to control the position.
Verzosa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Creaturos keeping full guard, as Verzosa tries to pass.
Creaturos controls Verzosa momentarily but Verzosa frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Creaturos wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remedios Verzosa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Verzosa lands with a straight right. Creaturos didn't see that one coming.
Verzosa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Verzosa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Creaturos. Creaturos circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Creaturos takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Verzosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Creaturos moves away.
Creaturos tries to bum rush Verzosa with a series of wild strikes but Verzosa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Creaturos takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Creaturos takes one to the chin there.
Verzosa digs a good hook to Creaturos's body.
Verzosa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Verzosa moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Verzosa content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Verzosa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Creaturos prevents a body shot from Verzosa.
Verzosa is working Creaturos over against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa lands with a right to the head.
Creaturos is trying to break the clinch but Verzosa has him pressed against the cage.
Verzosa lands a body shot.

Verzosa manages to pull guard.
Verzosa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Verzosa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Verzosa throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Creaturos escapes and throws Verzosa's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Verzosa tries to bench press Creaturos off him but Creaturos keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Creaturos wants to control but Verzosa is keeping him busy.
Nice strikes from Creaturos there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Verzosa keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Creaturos is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Creaturos throwing shots but Verzosa is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Creaturos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verzosa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Verzosa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Creaturos is one step ahead there.
Creaturos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verzosa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Verzosa keeping moving, preventing Creaturos from controlling successfully.
Creaturos is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Verzosa controls Creaturos momentarily but Creaturos frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Verzosa tries to clinch but Creaturos moves out of range.
Remedios Verzosa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Verzosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Creaturos was well out of range. Poor timing from Verzosa.
Verzosa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Creaturos misses with a takedown attempt - Verzosa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Verzosa slaps away a takedown attempt from Creaturos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Creaturos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Verzosa has a takedown stuffed.
Verzosa scores with a sloppy right hand. Creaturos should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remedios Verzosa 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!

Verzosa stuns Creaturos with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Creaturos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Verzosa avoids it really well and circles away.
Verzosa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Creaturos. Creaturos circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Creaturos gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

It looks like Anthony Creaturos has been cut.

Verzosa clinches up against the cage.
Verzosa misses with the head strike.
Verzosa tries to throw a body punch but Creaturos avoids it by throwing Verzosa back against the cage.
Verzosa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Verzosa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Verzosa lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Creaturos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Verzosa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Verzosa tries a body shot but Creaturos blocks it.
Verzosa is working Creaturos over against the cage.
Creaturos prevents a body shot from Verzosa.
Verzosa throws a head punch that misses.
Verzosa cracks Creaturos with a nice body shot.
Creaturos tries to circle away but Verzosa has him pinned against the cage.
Creaturos wants to break free but Verzosa has control.
Creaturos is looking to break free of the clinch but Verzosa has double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Verzosa fails to land.

Verzosa drags the fight down to the ground.
Remedios Verzosa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Creaturos trying to control but Verzosa is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Verzosa pulls Creaturos in close to prevent any damage.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Remedios Verzosa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Creaturos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nice shot by Verzosa.
Verzosa slips under a jab.
Creaturos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Creaturos shoots and misses
letting Verzosa counter with a right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Verzosa as he connects with a hook.
No luck for Creaturos with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Creaturos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Creaturos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Creaturos throws a body punch but Verzosa moves out of range.
Creaturos fails to land the takedown.
Creaturos misses with a leg kick
and Verzosa counters with a nice uppercut.
Creaturos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Verzosa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Verzosa scores with a jab. Creaturos acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Verzosa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Verzosa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Creaturos manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Verzosa misses with a body shot.
Anthony Creaturos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Verzosa missing with a left hand there. Creaturos was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Verzosa lands with a nice body punch.

Verzosa gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Verzosa controlling the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Remedios Verzosa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Verzosa 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Remedios Verzosa!
A very excited looking Remedios Verzosa made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.