PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Murtaz Vatsadze (ranked 2159 p4p, 2510 weight class) and Philip Driver (ranked 320 p4p, 352 weight class). Philip Driver will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Vatsadze
vs
Driver

186 cm
26
205
4 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
211
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Reedok

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Murtaz Vatsadze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Philip Driver!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Driver.
Vatsadze is looking to counter punch.
Driver pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Driver misses.
Driver throws a hook to the side of Vatsadze's head but Vatsadze sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Driver gets a clinch.
Vatsadze lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vatsadze swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vatsadze has Driver pressed against the cage, preventing Driver from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vatsadze swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Driver tries to throw a body punch but Vatsadze avoids it by throwing Driver back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vatsadze.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vatsadze lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vatsadze lands a shoulder strike.
Vatsadze definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Vatsadze lands a left hand that snaps the head of Driver backwards.
Vatsadze gets through Driver's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vatsadze fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Driver misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vatsadze swings wildly with an uppercut but Driver uses good head movement to avoid it.
Driver throws a punch but it's blocked by Vatsadze.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vatsadze.
Vatsadze prevents Driver from breaking the clinch.
Vatsadze lands a body shot.
Driver blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Driver misses with a punch to the body.
Driver struggles to land a body shot inside as Vatsadze controls his hands.
Vatsadze lands a shot to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Vatsadze.
Driver looks winded!
Vatsadze can't find room to land a body shot as Driver controls the action.
Driver wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vatsadze misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vatsadze lands with a light punch inside.
Vatsadze stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vatsadze lands a nice uppercut.
Vatsadze lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Driver scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vatsadze lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vatsadze lands a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vatsadze cracks Driver with a nice body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vatsadze.
Vatsadze lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vatsadze lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatsadze lands a shoulder strike.
Driver has had enough of the clinch but Vatsadze keeps him there for the moment.
Vatsadze can't find room to land a body shot as Driver controls the action.
Driver looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vatsadze lands a hook that snaps the head of Driver backwards.
Vatsadze working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Vatsadze working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vatsadze tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vatsadze lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Vatsadze.
Vatsadze lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vatsadze gets through Driver's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Driver is rocked!
Vatsadze lands with a light punch inside.
Driver is still on wobbly legs! Can Vatsadze finish him?
Vatsadze lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Driver backwards.
Vatsadze working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vatsadze.
Vatsadze dips a shoulder and cracks Driver with a mighty uppercut! Driver falls back against the cage and Vatsadze unloads with a barrage of strikes! Driver is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Vatsadze screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Murtaz Vatsadze!
After winning the bout, Murtaz Vatsadze thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.