PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jay Ross (ranked 4828 p4p, 4774 weight class) and Ronan Vella (ranked 0 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.

Ross
vs
Vella

185 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

166 cm
18
154
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 Sydney, Jay Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ronan Vella !
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Vella has one foot on Ross's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Jay Ross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ross shoots in and bounces Vella off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Vella pushes Ross off and scrambles back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ross closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vella quickly recovers to half guard.

Ross is working for a kimura but Vella is defending it quite comfortably.
Vella misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ross prevents Vella from standing back up.

Vella has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Ross is on him like a limpet, forcing Vella back against the cage.

Vella drags the fight down to the ground.

Ross drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vella dives on top into guard.

Ross isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Vella stacks Ross on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Vella !
Ross knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vella on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross tries to buck Vella off but Vella is having none of it.
Vella taking a breather here.
Ross is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ross looks to move to half guard but instead Vella has passed into mount! Damn!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross is working to get back to half guard.
Ross is trying to reverse the position but instead Vella has taken his back - oops!
Ross is breathing heavily.
Ross is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Vella controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vella struggling to land strikes to the head as Ross covers up.
Vella controlling well, preventing Ross from escaping the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Vella 's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Vella looking for the choke but no joy.

Vella patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Ross is keeping busy.
You can see the frustration on Ross's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Vella tries to keep control of the position but Ross is staying busy.
Vella throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Vella controlling well, preventing Ross from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vella thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Vella has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ross tries to roll but Vella sticks to his back.
Ross covering up well and avoiding damage.
Ross rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Vella wants to control but Ross is keeping him busy.

Ross looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ross looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ross is trying to get back to full guard.

Vella seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Vella seems content to control.

Ross looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vella seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ross does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ross really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Well, if Vella is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Vella stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ross to get to his feet.
Ross has his takedown stuffed
and Vella makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vella looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ronan Vella 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.

Vella has a takedown stuffed.
Vella shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vella takes a swing at Ross's ribcage but misses.

Ross shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vella is trying to defend but Ross finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Vella manages to escape and get back to his feet!

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

Vella pushes Ross off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ross throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vella tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ross is in Vella 's guard.
Ross stopping the sweep attempt from Vella .

Ross is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ross has gone for a leg lock! Vella slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ross's guard.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ross is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vella is aware though and is defending well.
Vella controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Ross looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vella passes into half guard.
Vella seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

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.

Ross is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vella pulls his head out easily.
Vella seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ross does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ross wants to get back to full guard but Vella has passed into side control.
Ross is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ross dodges the ground and pound from Vella .
Vella has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Ross!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vella manages to capitalize on a mistake by Ross to take his back!
Good control from Vella .
Vella has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vella has the hooks in. Ross is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Vella misses with punches from the back.
Ross rolls, trying to escape but Vella keeps control of the position.
Vella throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Vella tries to keep control of the position but Ross is staying busy.

Vella is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Ross can't escape the position.

Vella is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
I really don't envy Ross right now.
What can Ross do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Vella controlling well, preventing Ross from escaping the position.
Ross is working hard here to advance position.
A lull in the action here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ronan Vella showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ross shoots in and bounces Vella off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Vella scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ross tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vella swivels and escapes.
Nice takedown defense from Vella . No joy for Ross on that attempt.
Ross fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Ross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ross defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vella .
Ronan Vella is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ross has his takedown stuffed
and Vella counters with a three punch combo that has Ross backing up. Ross nods at Vella to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vella dives in and grabs Ross's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ross pushes down on Vella 's head and hops out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vella .
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ross manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Vella on his heels. He'll look to pass Vella 's guard now, I'm sure.
Ronan Vella has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ross drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vella dives on top into guard.

Ross working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Vella has passed into half guard!
Vella wants to take a breather but Ross is having none of it.

Ross looking for submissions off his back.

Ross looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Vella pushes past his half guard into mount!

Vella with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vella can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ross is looking to escape.
Ross is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vella punching from mount but Ross doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Ross is working to get back to half guard.
Vella tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross can't escape the position.
Vella looking to control but Ross is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vella prevents Ross from getting the reversal.
Vella thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ross is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vella looking to control but Ross is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ross can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vella controlling the pace for now.
Vella 's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Jay Ross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vella trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ross on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ross tries to get out of the position.
Ross is looking to get to half guard.
Ronan Vella is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ross's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronan Vella comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vella has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronan Vella !
Ronan Vella bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.