PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Brooks (ranked 8612 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Varela (ranked 3550 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Brooks
vs
Varela

179 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Carlos Brooks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dexter Varela !
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brooks slaps away a takedown attempt from Varela , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Varela fails with a takedown attempt.
Brooks with a lazy takedown attempt

and Varela counters by clinching up.
Brooks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Brooks tries to break the clinch but Varela is controlling the position.
Brooks changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Varela fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Brooks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Varela shoots in for a takedown but Brooks shows good takedown defense.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Varela .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Varela .
Brooks shoots in looking for a takedown. Varela tries to sprawl out of it but Brooks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Varela manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varela pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Brooks shoots in for a takedown but Varela shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Brooks throws a right hand that Varela ducks under and follows up with a left that Varela also avoids with ease.

Varela moves into the clinch.

Varela drags the fight down to the ground.
Brooks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Varela is proving hard to escape from.
Varela not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Varela seems keen to control Brooks's posture.
Brooks wants to stand but Varela is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varela trying to control the position here.
Brooks is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brooks tries to stand but Varela is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Varela lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Brooks backs up against the cage.

Varela clinches with his opponent.
Varela holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Varela lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Brooks taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Varela is trying to break free.
Varela wants to break free but Brooks has control.
Varela lands an uppercut.

Brooks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varela looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Brooks throws a right and a left that both miss.

Varela moves into the clinch.
Varela blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Varela pulls guard successfully.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Varela has Brooks pulled in close to control his posture.
Brooks controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Brooks trying to control the position from guard on top but Varela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Varela 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.

Brooks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Varela paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Varela shoots in for a takedown but Brooks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Brooks half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Brooks has a takedown stuffed.
Varela is looking for the big counter here.
Brooks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Varela avoids it really well and circles away.
Varela dives in for a single leg takedown but Brooks sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Varela throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Brooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brooks shoots in looking for a takedown but Varela manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Brooks's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Brooks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Varela swats away the attempt to clinch by Brooks.
Varela wants to counter the offense by Brooks and move into the clinch position.

Varela moves into the clinch.
Varela has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varela is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Brooks has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Varela after a bit of a struggle.
Varela tries for a takedown. No joy.
Brooks is pressed up against the cage. Varela has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brooks down to the mat. Brooks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Brooks tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Varela swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown attempt by Brooks or perhaps it was just good defense by Varela , which made it look bad.

Varela gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Brooks misses with a body punch.

Brooks breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varela fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Varela tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Brooks moves in looking to clinch but Varela pushes him off.
Varela slaps away a takedown attempt from Brooks, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Varela moves into the clinch.
Varela has had enough of the clinch but Brooks keeps him there for the moment.
Varela slowing the pace effectively.
Brooks tries to circle away but Varela has him pinned against the cage.
Brooks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks is trying to pull guard but Varela turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Brooks misses with a punch on the inside.
Brooks has Varela pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Varela manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Brooks fails to pull guard.

Varela wants the takedown. Brooks is fighting it off but Varela persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Brooks's guard against the cage.
Brooks trying to control the position.
Brooks throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks wants to sweep but no luck.
Varela postures up in Brooks's guard and throws a big left but Brooks blocks it.
Brooks trying to keep a closed guard but Varela is proving a slippery customer.
Varela is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Varela tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brooks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Varela somewhat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brooks fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Varela has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Varela showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Brooks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brooks wants it to stay on the feet.
Brooks shoots for a double leg takedown but Varela sprawls well. He's pushed Brooks's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Varela avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No joy there for Brooks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Brooks lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Varela tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Brooks defends well and Varela ends up having to push Brooks into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Varela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Brooks moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Brooks as Varela shoots in.
Carlos Brooks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dexter Varela .
Varela tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Brooks swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varela tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brooks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Varela somewhat.
Varela takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Varela is trying hard to land a takedown here. Brooks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks dives in for a single leg takedown but Varela sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Varela tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Brooks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Varela avoids it really well and circles away.
Brooks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Varela avoids it really well and circles away.
Varela fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Brooks is looking to counter with head kicks.

Varela moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Varela jumps guard but Brooks turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Varela blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Brooks tries to score a body lock takedown but Varela shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Varela pulls guard effortlessly.
Varela managing to control the position.
Brooks trying to control but Varela is working from the bottom.
Brooks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Brooks sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Varela 's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks controlling the action here.

Varela is defending against the submission attempts here by Brooks.
Varela moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Brooks looking to improve position, pressing down on Varela 's thigh with his hand. Varela seems to be working to lock up a guilotine though... is Brooks paying attention? Apparently not! He's locked it up tight! Brooks's face has turned purple! Will he tap? Will he! YES! He's tapped! Varela picked his opening and made it count! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Dexter Varela !