PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joel Vance (ranked 8866 p4p, 0 weight class) and RK Mate (ranked 4494 p4p, 0 weight class). RK Mate has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vance
vs
Mate

181 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

168 cm
25
146 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Joel Vance!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, RK Mate!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vance shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mate sprawls well. Mate wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vance gets slowly back to his feet.
Mate looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Mate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mate tries to land a front kick but Vance steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Vance closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mate circles away.
Mate throws a push kick but Vance slaps the foot to one side.
An attempted straight right counter from Vance misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vance tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mate swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Vance. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vance shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mate tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Vance manages to move to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vance throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Vance looking to finish with strikes here!
Vance lands a big elbow.
Vance thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Vance putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Vance throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mate wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Vance.
Vance working Mate over with strikes here.
Vance unloading with bombs!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vance looking to finish Mate with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mate!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vance throwing strikes here but Mate is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Vance dominating with strikes here.
Vance cracks Mate with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Vance thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Vance throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Vance throws some wild stikes that Mate manages to avoid easily.
Vance putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Mate blocking the ground and pound.
Vance thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Mate in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mate is desperately trying to improve his position but Vance has a good base and remains in mount.
Vance knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mate on the ground.
Mate is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vance throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Vance is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mate can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Vance thowing shots but they're missing.
Vance looking to ground and pound but Mate is blocking nicely.
Vance misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Vance looking to ground and pound but Mate is blocking nicely.
Mate is desperately trying to improve his position but Vance has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vance is landing with some decent strikes but Mate is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Vance prevents Mate from getting the reversal.
Mate is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vance landing strikes from the mount and Mate is in trouble!
Vance looking to ground and pound but Mate is blocking nicely.
Vance throws a sloppy strike and Mate uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Mate has ended up in Vance's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Vance looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mate wants to control from the top but Vance keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Vance dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vance has a takedown stuffed.
Vance fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vance gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mate counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Vance. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vance is defended easily by Mate.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vance throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mate's waist but Mate gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vance off to one side.

Mate gets a double leg takedown into Vance's guard.
Vance looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mate is one step ahead there.
Mate passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vance keeps Mate under control for a moment.

Mate is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vance knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Vance tries to bench press Mate off him but Mate keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vance is holding Mate down, trying to stall.
Mate tries to advance to mount but can't.
Vance is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mate's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Vance wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vance is trying to control but Mate passes into side control!
Mate controls the position.
Mate working the ground and pound but Vance is defending the strikes.
Vance struggling a bit here.
Mate misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Vance prevents Mate from moving into mount.
Vance manages to get back to half guard.

Mate is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vance doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mate.

Vance looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mate is working for a kimura but Vance is defending it quite comfortably.
Vance trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vance moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

RK Mate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vance looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vance tries to close the distance and clinch but Mate swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vance fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mate avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vance looking for a sweep. Not yet Vance, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mate looking to sit in guard and control but Vance gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Vance loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vance postures up in Mate's guard and throws a big left but Mate blocks it.
Mate tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vance postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vance being controlled here momentarily.
Vance throws a big elbow that misses.
Vance postures up in Mate's guard and throws a big left but Mate blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vance won't allow Mate to get back to his feet.
Mate has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mate utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vance is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vance postures up in Mate's guard and throws a big left but Mate blocks it.
Vance working some strikes from top position.
Mate utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mate is trying to control the position but Vance postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vance doesn't manage to clinch there - Mate circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vance closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mate circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Vance. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mate darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Vance gets back to full guard.

Vance throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mate uses it to pass to side control.
Mate scores with a couple of short elbows.
Mate trying to control the position but Vance is working away.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mate misses with the ground and pound.
Vance is trying to get back to half guard.

Mate stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Vance dives in and grabs Mate's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mate pushes down on Vance's head and hops out.
Mate swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Danga de danga de dang - Mate scores with a four punch combination!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mate clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
RK Mate comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mate 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... RK Mate!