PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Vanguard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Foster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vanguard comes to the cage accompanied by Survival-Eminem. Foster comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Man kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Vanguard
vs
Foster

178 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ethan Vanguard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, TJ Foster!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foster looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Foster shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vanguard sprawls well. Vanguard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Foster gets slowly back to his feet.
Vanguard closes the distance and clinches up with Foster, looking for a takedown. Vanguard pushes Foster against the cage but Foster circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Foster fails with an attempt to clinch.

Foster forces Vanguard back against the cage and clinches.
Foster lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Foster manages to break the clinch.
Vanguard fails with the takedown.
Foster throws an overhand right that lands on Vanguard's shoulder, as Vanguard tries to avoid the shot.
Vanguard throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Vanguard tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Foster holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Foster has Vanguard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vanguard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ethan Vanguard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Foster.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Vanguard is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Foster has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vanguard after a bit of a struggle.

Vanguard jumps guard.
Vanguard 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.

Vanguard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Foster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foster preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanguard keeping moving, preventing Foster from controlling successfully.
Vanguard doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Foster wants to control from the top but Vanguard keeps moving.
Vanguard wants to sweep but no luck.
Vanguard keeping moving, preventing Foster from controlling successfully.

TJ Foster has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Vanguard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vanguard lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Foster is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanguard tries to stand but Foster is controlling from the bottom.
Vanguard trying to control but Foster is working from the bottom.
Vanguard tries to stand but Foster is controlling from the bottom.
Vanguard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Foster is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Foster working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vanguard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vanguard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanguard trying to control but Foster is working from the bottom.
Vanguard is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Foster is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Foster is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Vanguard misses with a takedown attempt - Foster sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Foster closes the distance and clinches up with Vanguard, looking for a takedown. Foster pushes Vanguard against the cage but Vanguard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ethan Vanguard will probably get the nod.
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.

Foster leaves Vanguard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Vanguard darts in and clinches Foster up against the cage.
Vanguard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Foster pulls his leg out and moves away.
Foster fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Vanguard is out of range.
Foster takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Vanguard wants to clinch.
Foster feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vanguard's calf.
Foster uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vanguard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vanguard drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Vanguard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Vanguard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Foster tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vanguard wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Vanguard decides to stand back up.
Vanguard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Foster is breathing heavily.
Vanguard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Foster defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Vanguard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vanguard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Foster is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Vanguard's half guard.
Foster slows the pace down in half guard.
Vanguard is trying to get back to full guard.
Vanguard flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanguard is holding on to half guard well.

Foster is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Foster uses his free foot to push down on Vanguard's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Vanguard.

Vanguard bucks up and throws Foster to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Ethan Vanguard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vanguard scores with a nice body kick.
Vanguard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Foster swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanguard dives in and grabs Foster's left leg, looking for a takedown. Foster pushes down on Vanguard's head and hops out.
Vanguard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Foster as he avoids it easily.
Vanguard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Foster's waist but Foster gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vanguard off to one side.
Foster tries to clinch but Vanguard is having none of it.
Vanguard tries to clinch up but Foster circles away and keeps his distance.
Foster keeps the fight on the outside.

Vanguard clinches up against the cage.
Vanguard jumps guard but Foster turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Foster has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vanguard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A short body shot lands from Foster as the two fighters clinch.
Foster is trying to pull guard but Vanguard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Foster gets underhooks to prevent Vanguard's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Vanguard dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Vanguard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Foster explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Foster closes the distance and clinches.
Foster is pushing Vanguard up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Foster is pressed up against the cage. Vanguard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Foster down to the mat. Foster avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Foster misses with a body shot.
Vanguard fails with a takedown attempt.
Foster throws a sloppy body shot

and Vanguard counters with a takedown into side control.
Foster prevents Vanguard from improving position.
Foster struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanguard looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Foster is avoiding damage well.
Vanguard takes a little break here. Foster wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Vanguard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Foster is trying to control Vanguard's posture but Vanguard avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanguard in the domination position with Foster hanging on.
Foster manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vanguard is refusing to be controlled, as Foster sits in half guard.
Foster thows a huge punch but Vanguard dodges it nicely.
Foster prevents Vanguard from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vanguard makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Foster takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vanguard goes for a double leg but Foster avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Foster continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Vanguard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foster is trying to pull guard but Vanguard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Foster ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Foster no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Vanguard throws a big elbow that misses.
Foster is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vanguard cracks Foster with a solid left hand.

Foster is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vanguard defends well.
Vanguard wants to control from the top but Foster keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanguard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Vanguard is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Vanguard wants to control from the top but Foster keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Foster is trying to keep Vanguard in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ethan Vanguard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vanguard, 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ethan Vanguard!
TJ Foster spoke after the fight, saying 'Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. I'll be back.'.