PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Viavao Kaho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Varquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nathan Varquez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kaho
vs
Varquez

170 cm
20
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Viavao Kaho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nathan Varquez!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Varquez clinches with his opponent.
Varquez pressing his opponent against the cage.
Varquez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Varquez looking to stall.
Knees in the clinch landing for Varquez.
Varquez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kaho is defending well for now.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kaho looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varquez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Varquez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kaho avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kaho letting Varquez take a breather here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Varquez.
Knees in the clinch landing for Varquez.

Varquez jumps guard and drags Kaho to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Kaho drops back looking for a leg! Varquez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Varquez manages to kick Kaho off! Kaho jumps back into Varquez's guard.
Kaho trying to control but Varquez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaho 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.
Varquez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kaho is controlling him.
Kaho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Varquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaho is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaho passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kaho trying to control the action but Varquez is working from the bottom.

Kaho tries for a kimura but Varquez is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varquez tries to bench press Kaho off him but Kaho keeps the position.
Kaho wants to control but Varquez is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Kaho is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Varquez has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nathan Varquez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Varquez takes the fight into the clinch.
Varquez landing knees to the body.

Varquez tightens his grip and picks Kaho up, before dumping him to the ground. Kaho manages to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaho managing to control the position.

Kaho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kaho is pulling down on Varquez's head. It's preventing any offense from Varquez, at least for the moment.
Varquez throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaho has his foot on Varquez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Varquez works his way back into a safe position though.
Varquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kaho is keeping the position for now.

Varquez drops back looking for a leg! Kaho is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kaho manages to kick Varquez off! Varquez jumps back into Kaho's guard.
Varquez wants to control from the top but Kaho keeps moving.
Varquez throwing strikes from guard but Kaho blocks nicely.
Varquez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kaho. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kaho is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Varquez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kaho has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Varquez has managed to get both his arms back between Kaho's legs - danger averted.
Varquez is fighting to break Kaho's control of his arms but Kaho is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Varquez throws a big elbow that misses.
Varquez is looking to work some ground and pound but Kaho has wrist control.
Kaho has Varquez pulled in close to control his posture.
Varquez wants to control from the top but Kaho keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Varquez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kaho circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varquez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kaho tries to avoid it but Varquez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kaho to the ground. Kaho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Varquez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kaho counters with a shoot takedown. Varquez fights it but they end up in guard.
Viavao Kaho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Varquez.
Varquez is breathing heavily.
Varquez is trying to keep Kaho in close.
Kaho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Varquez is keeping the position for now.
Kaho passes into half guard.
Varquez tries to roll over but Kaho keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaho tries to pass the half guard into mount. Varquez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kaho seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Varquez is positioning himself well to prevent Kaho advancing to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Varquez is looking to control Kaho's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Varquez avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viavao Kaho dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Varquez tries to clinch up.

Varquez moves into the clinch.
Varquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kaho pulls his leg out and moves away.
Varquez doesn't manage to clinch there - Kaho circles away.
Varquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Kaho circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kaho counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kaho.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaho advances to half guard.
Varquez is not content to let Kaho control the position.
Varquez is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Kaho jumps into side control!
Kaho looking to control but instead Varquez has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Kaho trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaho is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Varquez sees it coming and defends easily.
Kaho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Varquez keeps working.
Kaho not doing much here.
Kaho seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Varquez for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Viavao Kaho.
A good leg kick by Varquez.
Varquez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kaho's calf.

Varquez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Varquez trying to stall but Kaho improves his position.

Varquez breaks from the clinch.
Varquez wants to clinch.
Varquez's coach down at Steel Penn/Heavy Hands Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Varquez's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Varquez tries for a takedown but Kaho circles away easily

and Kaho counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Viavao Kaho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Varquez.
Varquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kaho trying to control the position from guard on top but Varquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaho trying to move into half guard but instead Varquez has managed to sweep!
Varquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kaho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Varquez is one step ahead there.
Kaho keeping moving, preventing Varquez from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kaho looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viavao Kaho showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kaho has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viavao Kaho!
A very excited looking Viavao Kaho 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.