PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sami Vasara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Irvin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Irvin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vasara
vs
Irvin

174 cm
48
163 lbs
30 - 36 - 0

184 cm
23
165 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 30 - 36 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sami Vasara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Irvin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Skip Squint and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasara throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Irvin fails with a takedown attempt.
Irvin is looking to clinch.

Vasara moves into range and clinches up with Irvin.
Irvin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vasara gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Vasara breaks from the clinch.
Irvin tries for a takedown but Vasara sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sami Vasara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Irvin.
Vasara throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vasara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Irvin.
Vasara tries to land a body kick

and Irvin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vasara won't be happy with that.

Irvin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vasara has escaped the position, nice work there.

Irvin is trying to get an arm triangle but Vasara is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irvin wants to control but Vasara is keeping him busy.
Irvin looking to control but instead Vasara has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Irvin is thwarting Vasara's attempts to control the position.
Irvin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vasara trying to control from the bottom.
Irvin is nestled in close to Vasara, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Irvin wants to pass the guard but Vasara is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Irvin seems to be looking for submissions.
Vasara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vasara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Irvin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vasara is just riding it out for now. Irvin eventually gives up the hold.
Irvin wants to pass the guard but Vasara is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irvin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Irvin moves into full mount! Vasara won't be happy about that!
Irvin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Vasara because Irvin loaded up on that one.
Irvin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Irvin unloads with some shots from mount but Vasara bucks and avoids them well.
Vasara is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irvin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Irvin landing punches.

Irvin goes for an armbar but Vasara turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Vasara.
Irvin is trying to keep Vasara in close.
Vasara trying to stand up but can't free himself from Irvin's guard.
Irvin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Irvin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vasara gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Irvin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Vasara lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Irvin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Irvin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Vasara drives through and clinches with Irvin against the cage.
Irvin is working for takedown but Vasara is calmly controlling the position for now.

Vasara breaks the clinch.
Irvin moves out of range of the leg kick from Vasara.
Vasara throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sami Vasara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Irvin darts in looking for a takedown but Vasara gets double underhooks and turns Irvin into the cage.
Nice body punch from Irvin.
Vasara throws a solid leg kick but Irvin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Vasara.
Irvin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Vasara defends it well.

Vasara moves into the clinch.
Irvin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vasara fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sami Vasara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Irvin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasara throws a right and a left that Irvin avoids nicely.
Irvin with the counter takedown but Vasara avoids it easily.
Irvin shoots in for a takedown but Vasara shows good takedown defense.
Vasara misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vasara throws a head kick but Irvin moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Vasara as Irvin shoots in.
Vasara tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasara misses with a shot to the body
and Irvin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Irvin dives in and grabs Vasara's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vasara pushes down on Irvin's head and hops out.
Vasara throws a nice looking combination but Irvin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Irvin darts in and clinches Vasara up against the cage.
Irvin has had enough of the clinch but Vasara keeps him there for the moment.
Irvin is working for takedown but Vasara is calmly controlling the position for now.
Irvin fails to pull guard.

Vasara manages to break the clinch.
Irvin fails to land the takedown.
Vasara lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vasara gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vasara gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Irvin.
Irvin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vasara smiles and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Irvin.
Irvin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Vasara as Irvin shoots in.
Sami Vasara is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Irvin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasara throws a jab when Irvin was well out of range.
Vasara lands a jab to the head.
Vasara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Irvin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vasara throws a body punch but Irvin moves out of range.
Vasara throws a head kick but Irvin moves out of range.
Irvin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vasara tries to avoid it but Irvin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vasara to the ground. Vasara escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vasara misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Irvin.
Vasara is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Vasara has managed to clinch.
Irvin trying to stall but Vasara improves his position.
Irvin fails to pull guard.
We've been informed that Irvin has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vasara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Vasara closes the distance and clinches.
Irvin is looking to take this one to the mat.
Irvin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vasara smiles and moves away.

Vasara gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Irvin tries for a takedown but Vasara manages to get underhooks.

Vasara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Vasara instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Irvin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vasara after a bit of a struggle.
Irvin jumps guard but Vasara turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Vasara dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Vasara misses with a jab, cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Irvin.

Vasara has managed to clinch.
Irvin is trying to pull guard but Vasara has him pressed against the cage.
Sami Vasara has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Vasara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vasara throws a head kick that misses.
Irvin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Vasara instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irvin wants a takedown but no success here.
Sami Vasara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Irvin.
Irvin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Vasara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Irvin tries for a takedown but Vasara sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vasara lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Irvin circles away quickly and effectively.
Irvin unleashes a big counter combination but Vasara bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Irvin looking to score a takedown here. Vasara is defending well but Irvin drives through and ends up in Vasara's guard.

Vasara has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Irvin has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Vasara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Irvin.
Irvin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Vasara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sami Vasara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vasara. Irvin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vasara is looking to wear down Irvin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Irvin fails with the takedown.
Vasara misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sami Vasara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasara finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vasara moves into the clinch.
Vasara is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Vasara breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vasara slaps away a takedown attempt from Irvin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Irvin.

Vasara gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Irvin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vasara pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Vasara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Irvin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Vasara moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Irvin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Irvin throws a fast counter high kick but Vasara manages to duck under it in time.
Vasara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vasara wants it to stay on the feet.
Irvin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Irvin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vasara was covering up waiting for the punch and Irvin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Vasara wants to get back to his feet but Irvin passes into half guard.
Vasara is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Irvin can do to turn this around?

Irvin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vasara sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Irvin has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Vasara defend it? Irvin steps over the head and cranks it - Vasara is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Irvin!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Paul Irvin!
Paul Irvin decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.