PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between King Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Taslim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vasquez
vs
Taslim

156 cm
19
161 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, King Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Taslim!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taslim shoots in but no luck this time.

Vasquez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vasquez is trying to break free.

Taslim pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Taslim keeping moving, preventing Vasquez from controlling successfully.
Taslim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vasquez is looking to stand up but Taslim won't let him.
Vasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Taslim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vasquez really is a fat lump.

Vasquez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Vasquez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Vasquez throwing strikes from guard but Taslim blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vasquez looking to sit in guard and control but Taslim gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Vasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taslim 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.
Vasquez wants to sweep here but Taslim controlling him for the moment.
Vasquez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taslim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taslim slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Vasquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taslim stays in close to Vasquez's body and controls the position.

King Vasquez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Vasquez moves in looking to clinch but Taslim pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taslim shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taslim showed some decent athleticism there.
Vasquez wants to improve his position but Taslim is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Vasquez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Vasquez really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Vasquez trying to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taslim preventing the sweep.
Taslim's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Taslim really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vasquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vasquez is trying to keep Taslim in close.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Taslim won't allow Vasquez to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taslim drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taslim jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Taslim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taslim sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Vasquez's guard.
Vasquez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Taslim showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Taslim wants to control from the top but Vasquez keeps moving.
Taslim must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taslim won't allow Vasquez to sweep him here.
Taslim wants to stand but Vasquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Taslim is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Taslim hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Taslim shoots and misses
and Vasquez counters with a left to the body.
Taslim looks winded!

Taslim shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Taslim was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasquez is trying to work for a sweep but Taslim has mounted him!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vasquez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Taslim trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vasquez wants to control but Taslim is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vasquez tries to reverse the position but Taslim maintains control.
Taslim controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taslim closes the distance and pushes Vasquez back into the cage.
Taslim on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vasquez wants to get back to striking at distance but Taslim won't allow it.
Vasquez is trying to push Taslim away but Taslim has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Taslim tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vasquez smiles and moves away.
Vasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taslim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taslim throws a lazy head kick
and Vasquez counters with a big head kick but Taslim shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taslim with a hook.

Taslim closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vasquez quickly recovers to half guard.
Vasquez is looking to control Taslim's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vasquez avoid being mounted?
Vasquez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Taslim's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Taslim's back!
Taslim has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Vasquez.
A lull in the action here.

Taslim fending off the submission attempt from Vasquez.
Taslim prevents Vasquez from getting a body triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taslim is trying to break free.
Vasquez trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Taslim can't escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taslim is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Vasquez.
Vasquez'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.
Taslim is keeping busy.
Taslim tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taslim trying to control the position but Vasquez manages to sink in the hooks.
Vasquez struggling to keep hold of the position.
Taslim holding both Vasquez 's hands and preventing any damage.
Taslim is breathing heavily.
Vasquez misses with a punch to the head.
Vasquez throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Taslim showing good submission defense here.
Vasquez trying to control momentarily.

Taslim is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez has a takedown stuffed.

Taslim dives in and scores a takedown into Vasquez's guard.
Taslim is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vasquez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taslim manages to get himself to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taslim looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Taslim will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Taslim gets a takedown into half guard.
Vasquez gets back to full guard.
Vasquez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vasquez looking to control but Taslim is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Taslim manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Vasquez content to control rather than advance.

Vasquez is looking for a kimura but Taslim is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vasquez to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taslim keeps working.
Vasquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taslim is defending against the submission attempts here by Vasquez.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taslim preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Vasquez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Taslim wants to control but Vasquez is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez wants to control but Taslim is keeping him busy.

Taslim looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Taslim keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Vasquez is keen to just control but Taslim is a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Vasquez prevents Taslim from improving his position.
Vasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taslim defending well though.
Taslim keeping hold of Vasquez's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Taslim shoots for a double leg takedown but Vasquez sprawls well. He's pushed Taslim's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vasquez checks a leg kick nicely.
Taslim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taslim tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vasquez swivels and escapes.
Taslim closes the distance and clinches up with Vasquez, looking for a takedown. Taslim pushes Vasquez against the cage but Vasquez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
King Vasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Taslim.
Vasquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Taslim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vasquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vasquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taslim as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vasquez tries to clinch but Taslim moves out of range.
Taslim throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Vasquez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Taslim is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Vasquez keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vasquez tries to clinch but Taslim moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Taslim or perhaps it was just good defense by Vasquez which made him look bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to King Vasquez.
I think Taslim has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... John Taslim!