PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Vieira (ranked 2723 p4p, 391 weight class) and Parker Phoenix (ranked 4307 p4p, 552 weight class). Vieira's entrance music is Machine Gun Kelly–Till I Die. A fine choice. Rafael Vieira could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Parker Phoenix's chin.

Vieira
vs
Phoenix

185 cm
30
186 lbs
13 - 9 - 1

191 cm
32
186 lbs
20 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Vieira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Parker Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix misses with a double jab.
Horrible takedown attempt by Vieira or perhaps it was just good defense by Phoenix, which made it look bad.
Phoenix ducks under a wild hook from Vieira.
Phoenix tries to clinch but Vieira is having none of it.
Vieira looks to land a left hand but Phoenix moved out of range nicely.

Vieira feints and as Phoenix raises his hands in defense, Vieira changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vieira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phoenix is keeping the position for now.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing Vieira from controlling successfully.
Vieira being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vieira wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix managing to control the position.
Vieira is stalling in the full guard.
Vieira throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vieira accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vieira trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing Vieira from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vieira misses with an uppercut. Phoenix saw that one coming.

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.

Vieira scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Phoenix is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vieira tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Vieira has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Vieira thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Vieira is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Phoenix has escaped the position, nice work there.
Phoenix tries to buck Vieira off but Vieira is having none of it.
Vieira trying to control the action but Phoenix is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vieira tries for a kimura but Phoenix is defending well.
Phoenix struggling a bit here.
Phoenix might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Vieira haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Phoenix is not content to let Vieira control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vieira staying calm.

Vieira wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phoenix, who protects the arm well.
Vieira tries to move to mount but Phoenix blocks the move with his legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Vieira wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phoenix, who protects the arm well.
Vieira just content to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Vieira 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.

Vieira tries to score a power double leg takedown but Phoenix sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vieira somewhat.
A jab from Phoenix finds it's way through Vieira's defenses.
Vieira is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phoenix can do to turn this around?
Phoenix drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Vieira wants to slow Phoenix down by chopping away at his legs.
Phoenix tests Vieira's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Phoenix displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vieira.
Phoenix dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vieira misses with an uppercut
and Phoenix counters with a stiff right hand.
Phoenix scores with a shot to the body.
Donk. Vieira catches Phoenix right on the button with a cross.
Vieira throws a sloppy head kick and Phoenix moves out of range easily.
Vieira throws a big shot that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phoenix takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Phoenix digs a good body shot into Vieira's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vieira lands a head kick. Phoenix smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Vieira throws a jab when Phoenix was well out of range.
Vieira thuds his right hand into Phoenix's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Vieira misses with a straight left.
Phoenix displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vieira throws out the jab.
Phoenix on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vieira thumps Phoenix with a low kick.
Phoenix misses with a looping right.
Phoenix connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Phoenix throws the left hand but Vieira avoids the punch easily.
Vieira attempts a counter takedown but Phoenix avoids it well and moves away.
Rafael Vieira is winning the standup battle so far.
Phoenix swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Vieira.
Vieira connects with the punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A combination from Phoenix does no damage.
Vieira throws a sloppy head kick and Phoenix moves out of range easily.
Phoenix tries to clinch up.
A jab from Phoenix finds it's way through Vieira's defenses.
Rafael Vieira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phoenix tries to clinch there but Vieira circles away.

Vieira closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Phoenix did well to prevent Vieira getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix is positioning himself well to prevent Vieira advancing to mount.
Phoenix trying to control but Vieira postures up.
Vieira working the head and body with strikes.
Phoenix is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Vieira looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Phoenix preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Phoenix trying to control here.
Vieira throwing shots but Phoenix is blocking nicely.
Vieira wants to free his trapped foot but Phoenix is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Vieira works his foot free and advances to mount.
Vieira trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vieira throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Vieira avoids the attempt from Phoenix to control.
Vieira trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Phoenix regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Vieira dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Phoenix loads up on a big right hand but Vieira slips the punch.
Vieira throws a hook to the side of Phoenix's head but Phoenix sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Phoenix tries to counter with a clinch but Vieira shakes him off and moves away.
Vieira avoids the body shot from Phoenix.
Vieira misses with a hook to the body

and Phoenix counters by moving into the clinch.
Vieira lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Phoenix lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Phoenix prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vieira avoids the elbow strike from Phoenix, against the cage.
Vieira drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Phoenix gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Phoenix gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix can't find room to land a body shot as Vieira controls the action.
Vieira blocks the elbow strike.
Phoenix misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vieira avoids a wild elbow strike from Phoenix.
Vieira has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Phoenix avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Vieira. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Phoenix managing to block the knees to the body from Vieira.

Vieira has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Phoenix regains guard immediately.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing Vieira from controlling successfully.
Vieira scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vieira with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vieira content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Phoenix is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Phoenix is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phoenix is keeping the position for now.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing Vieira from controlling successfully.
Phoenix pulls Vieira in close to prevent any damage.
Phoenix avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieira wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vieira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Phoenix as he connects with a hook.
Vieira shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Phoenix defends it nicely.
Phoenix scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A low kick from Vieira is predictable there
and Phoenix counters with a straight right hand.
Phoenix throws a shot to the body.
Phoenix scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vieira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vieira loads up on a big right hand but Phoenix slips the punch.
Parker Phoenix is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vieira takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieira takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice uppercut lands for Phoenix. That snapped Vieira's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phoenix stuffs the takedown attempt from Vieira. Vieira gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vieira darts in looking for a takedown but Phoenix gets double underhooks and turns Vieira into the cage.
A punch lands to the side of Vieira 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vieira waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Phoenix.
Vieira throws a sloppy head kick and Phoenix moves out of range easily.
Vieira takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Vieira looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Phoenix scores with a nice strike.
Phoenix lands a nice hook to Vieira's body. Vieira takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vieira gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Phoenix throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Vieira on the side of the head.
Parker Phoenix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vieira is looking to score with low kicks.
Phoenix thuds his right hand into Vieira's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Good leg kick by Vieira there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Vieira takes a body punch but keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Parker Phoenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vieira 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Vieira!
Rafael Vieira very nearly forgot to thank Amped Performance amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.