PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Fernando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ulrich Vertigen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ulrich Vertigen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Fernando
vs
Vertigen

225 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

182 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Fernando!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ulrich Vertigen!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vertigen looks to land a combination but Fernando avoids it well.
Vertigen fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Fernando as Vertigen shoots in.
Vertigen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fernando.
Fernando defending well as Vertigen loads up on a big left hand.
Ulrich Vertigen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vertigen doesn't manage to clinch there - Fernando circles away.

Fernando looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Vertigen!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Fernando is breathing heavily.
Vertigen is trying to control Fernando's posture but Fernando avoids it.
Vertigen is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernando trying to control the action but Vertigen is working from the bottom.

Fernando decides to stand back up.
Vertigen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vertigen.
Paulo Fernando has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulrich Vertigen.
Vertigen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fernando defends well and Vertigen ends up having to push Fernando into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Fernando jumps into guard, dragging Vertigen to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernando wants to sweep but no luck.
Fernando is working hard here to advance position.

Fernando is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vertigen wants to stand but Fernando is controlling his posture from full guard.
Vertigen wants to pass the guard but Fernando is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vertigen wants to control from the top but Fernando keeps moving.
Vertigen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vertigen looking to sit in guard and control but Fernando gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernando wants to control from the top but Vertigen keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vertigen is trying to hold Fernando in close to prevent damage but Fernando has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernando content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fernando'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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Fernando dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fernando throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vertigen counters with a three punch combo that has Fernando backing up. Fernando nods at Vertigen to acknowledge the strikes.
Vertigen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fernando's waist but Fernando gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vertigen off to one side.

Fernando shoots in and bounces Vertigen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Vertigen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fernando doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fernando manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vertigen being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fernando stands and steps away. Vertigen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fernando looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Fernando misses.
Vertigen moves in looking to clinch but Fernando pushes him off.
Fernando looks to land a right hand but Vertigen moved out of range.
Fernando throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vertigen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fernando sprawls well. Fernando wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vertigen gets slowly back to his feet.
Vertigen misses with a takedown

and Fernando counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Paulo Fernando has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulrich Vertigen.

Vertigen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fernando is aware though and is defending well.
Fernando sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Fernando really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vertigen keeping moving, preventing Fernando from controlling successfully.
Vertigen keeping full guard, as Fernando tries to pass.
Fernando stops Vertigen from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Paulo Fernando wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Fernando bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vertigen is trying to improve his position.
Paulo Fernando overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fernando has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Vertigen!
Fernando controlling the position easily from mount.

Fernando is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vertigen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Fernando gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fernando misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fernando wants to stall.
Fernando wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fernando misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vertigen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vertigen is looking to break free of the clinch but Fernando has double underhooks.
Fernando wants to get back to striking at distance but Vertigen won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Fernando 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!

Vertigen gets caught flat footed, as Fernando shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Fernando gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Fernando rushes Vertigen and presses him up against the cage.
Fernando goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vertigen prevents Fernando from breaking the clinch.
Vertigen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fernando fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Vertigen scores with a jab to the head.
Vertigen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fernando pinned against the cage. Fernando gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Vertigen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Fernando manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vertigen trying to control but Fernando is working from the bottom.
Vertigen looking to pass the guard.
Vertigen wants to control from the top but Fernando keeps moving.
Fernando is trying to control the position but Vertigen postures up.
Vertigen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Fernando scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernando stuffs the takedown attempt from Vertigen. Vertigen gets slowly back to his feet.
Paulo Fernando has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulrich Vertigen.
Fernando throws a right and a left that Vertigen avoids nicely.
Vertigen lands with a nice body punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vertigen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fernando stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fernando wants it to stay on the feet.
Some wild striking there from Fernando.
Vertigen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vertigen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fernando manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fernando moves into the clinch.
Fernando tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Vertigen as Fernando tries to tie him up.
Fernando is trying to push Vertigen away but Vertigen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Vertigen can't get the takedown.
Fernando working aggressively here.

Fernando turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Fernando manages to end up in side control.
You can see the frustration on Vertigen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fernando decides to stand back up. Fernando steps back and let's Vertigen get back to his feet.
Vertigen doesn't manage to clinch there - Fernando circles away.
Vertigen fails with a takedown attempt.
Vertigen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Fernando on the side of the head.

Fernando drives through with a takedown into Vertigen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
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.

Fernando stands up and waves to Vertigen to follow him.
Vertigen is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Fernando showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fernando, 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Fernando!