PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Vinicius (ranked 5829 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Embree (ranked 5826 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Vinicius
vs
Embree

167 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marcus Vinicius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matthew Embree!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Peter Branson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Embree with that takedown attempt.
Vinicius misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vinicius swings for the body but Embree moves out of range.

Embree fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vinicius sprawls well initially but Embree persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Embree is trying to control. Vinicius wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Embree really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vinicius. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vinicius actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Embree not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Embree seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Vinicius is trying to stand up here but Embree is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Embree lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Embree tries for a takedown but Vinicius sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
It looked like Vinicius wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Embree darts in trying to clinch
enabling Vinicius to counter with a crisp jab.

Vinicius closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Vinicius is working for a kimura but Embree is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vinicius in particular looking to stall.
Embree wants to control but Vinicius is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vinicius wants to get back to his feet.
Embree is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Vinicius jumps into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vinicius tries for a kimura but Embree is defending well.
Embree is looking to regain half guard here but Vinicius keeps moving and retains side control.

Vinicius is trying to get an arm triangle but Embree is defending well.
Vinicius wants to control but Embree is keeping him busy.

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.
Embree is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Vinicius asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Embree is trying to get back to half guard.

Vinicius is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Embree knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Vinicius is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Embree will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Vinicius dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Embree tries to clinch but Vinicius is having none of it.
Vinicius stuffs the takedown attempt from Embree. Embree gets slowly back to his feet.
Vinicius throws a big counter combination but Embree scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Embree dives in and grabs Vinicius's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vinicius pushes down on Embree's head and hops out.
Marcus Vinicius is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Vinicius shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Embree's guard.
Embree is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vinicius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Embree is keeping the position for now.
Vinicius has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Embree is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinicius is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Embree looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Embree preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vinicius pushing down on Embree's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Embree tries to roll over but Vinicius keeps him under control.
Embree is not content to let Vinicius control the position.
Vinicius passes to side control.
Embree tries to buck Vinicius off but Vinicius is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Embree is not content to let Vinicius control the position.

Vinicius is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Embree is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Embree tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Embree is trying to control Vinicius's posture but Vinicius avoids it.
Vinicius wants to stand but Embree is controlling his arm.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Embree throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vinicius's waist but Vinicius gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Embree off to one side.
Vinicius is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Embree.
Marcus Vinicius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Embree.

Embree gets tackled into the cage by Vinicius. Vinicius maintains the clinch.

Vinicius manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Vinicius escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Embree gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinicius wants to sweep here but Embree controlling him for the moment.
Embree trying to control the position from guard on top but Vinicius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vinicius has Embree pulled in close to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Vinicius looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Embree must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Embree pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vinicius is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Vinicius dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Vinicius clinches.
Vinicius just leaning against Embree, taking a breather.
Embree gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vinicius.

Embree pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vinicius shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Embree defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinicius avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Vinicius gets tackled into the cage by Embree. Embree maintains the clinch.
Embree slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinicius has Embree pressed against the cage.

Embree successfully pulls guard.
Embree is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vinicius might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Embree had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vinicius defends it easily.
Embree looking to control.
Vinicius postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Embree throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two 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.
Vinicius engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Vinicius won't allow Embree to get back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Vinicius throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Embree shoots in but no luck this time.
Embree is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vinicius sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Embree takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Embree fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marcus Vinicius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Embree.
Vinicius avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vinicius is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Embree can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vinicius looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Vinicius keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Embree tries to roll over but Vinicius keeps him under control.
It looks like Vinicius is going to stand back up.
Embree has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vinicius is working away from the top position though.
Vinicius is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinicius sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Embree defending well though.
Vinicius wants to pass to mount but Embree is defending the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Embree is refusing to be controlled, as Vinicius sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Embree looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matthew Embree has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcus Vinicius is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vinicius defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Embree.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Vinicius showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vinicius has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Vinicius!