PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zhan Dhelan (ranked 2060 p4p, 1889 weight class) and Nando Vasquez (ranked 207 p4p, 195 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Dhelan
vs
Vasquez

150 cm
35
145
25 - 17 - 1

179 cm
36
155
25 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 25 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zhan Dhelan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nando Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vasquez tries to sprawl but Dhelan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Dhelan trying to pass the guard but Vasquez defending well.
Vasquez wants to control but Dhelan is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Dhelan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vasquez defends it well.

Dhelan is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dhelan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dhelan seems to be working for a kimura but Vasquez defends the submission attempt.

Dhelan is looking for a kimura here.
Dhelan lands strikes from half guard.
Dhelan trying to mount his opponent but Vasquez defends it.
Dhelan not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dhelan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vasquez's head.
Dhelan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dhelan wants to control but Vasquez is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dhelan misses with a head shot. Vasquez uses the momentum to regain guard.

Dhelan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vasquez managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dhelan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dhelan throwing strikes but missing.
Dhelan looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nando Vasquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dhelan throws a hook but Vasquez avoids it easily.

Dhelan dives in and scores a takedown into Vasquez's guard.
Dhelan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dhelan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dhelan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan passes Vasquez's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Vasquez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Dhelan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Vasquez has momentary wrist control but Dhelan slips an elbow through the middle.
Dhelan trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dhelan tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasquez is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Dhelan from controlling successfully.

Dhelan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dhelan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zhan Dhelan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Dhelan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vasquez.
Vasquez tries to work over Dhelan's front leg with a kick but Dhelan checks it.
A left lands for Vasquez.
Dhelan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Dhelan misses with a takedown attempt
and Vasquez counters with a stiff right hand.
Vasquez misses with a body kick.
Vasquez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Dhelan moves out of range of the leg kick from Vasquez.
Vasquez scores with a nice strike.
Dhelan fails with a takedown attempt.
Vasquez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dhelan throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan has his takedown stuffed
and Vasquez counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhan Dhelan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasquez feints and then cracks Dhelan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dhelan down.
Vasquez with a nice cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vasquez scores with a nice body kick.
Vasquez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dhelan's hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez misses with a wild combination.
Dhelan looks for a takedown but Vasquez sprawls well.
Dhelan misses with a looping right.
Vasquez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A good leg kick by Vasquez.
Nando Vasquez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vasquez wants to clinch.
Vasquez misses with a leg kick.

Dhelan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vasquez's guard.

Dhelan drops back looking for a leg! Vasquez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vasquez manages to kick Dhelan off! Dhelan jumps back into Vasquez's guard.
Vasquez keeping full guard, as Dhelan tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vasquez looking to control.
Dhelan postures up in Vasquez's guard and throws a big left but Vasquez blocks it.
We've been hearing good reports from Dhelan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Vasquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dhelan throws a big elbow that misses.
Vasquez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dhelan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan wants to control from the top but Vasquez keeps moving.
Dhelan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Dhelan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dhelan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Dhelan from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vasquez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dhelan.
Vasquez throws a body punch but Dhelan moves out of range.
Dhelan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vasquez avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan blocks a head kick by Vasquez.
Dhelan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Dhelan tries for a takedown but Vasquez circles away easily
and Vasquez counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Zhan Dhelan has been cut.
Nice defenses there by Dhelan.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Dhelan.
Dhelan moves out of range of the body kick from Vasquez.
Vasquez tries to work over Dhelan's front leg with a kick but Dhelan checks it.
Zhan Dhelan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dhelan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Vasquez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dhelan darts in looking for a takedown but Vasquez gets double underhooks and turns Dhelan into the cage.
Dhelan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vasquez smiles and moves away.
Vasquez moves forwards but Dhelan connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Dhelan tries to move into range but Vasquez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
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!
Dhelan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nando Vasquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zhan Dhelan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dhelan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Dhelan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Dhelan postures up.
Dhelan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dhelan throwing strikes but missing.
Dhelan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez controlling the position.
Dhelan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Dhelan throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhelan tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasquez is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A jab from Vasquez finds it's way through Dhelan's defenses.
Vasquez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Vasquez unleashes a big counter combination but Dhelan bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Dhelan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Vasquez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice sprawl there from Vasquez as Dhelan shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhan Dhelan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dhelan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vasquez pinned against the cage. Vasquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dhelan takes one to the chin there.
Dhelan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Vasquez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Dhelan thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Dhelan misses.
Dhelan misses with a hook to the body
and Vasquez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vasquez connects with a leg kick.
Vasquez is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A slow jab from Vasquez misses its intended target.
Vasquez connects with the punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dhelan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vasquez tries to avoid it but Dhelan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vasquez to the ground. Vasquez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dhelan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vasquez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dhelan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dhelan with a poor takedown
and Vasquez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A lazy left from Vasquez finds it's target.
Vasquez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Good standup being displayed there by Vasquez as he connects with a hook.

Dhelan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Vasquez is looking to regain half guard here but Dhelan keeps moving and retains side control.

Dhelan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan throws a strike aimed at the side of Vasquez's head but Vasquez avoids it well.
Vasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
What's Vasquez going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Zhan Dhelan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dhelan has knee on belly momentarily but Vasquez bucks him off and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Dhelan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Vasquez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dhelan is working away from the top position though.
Dhelan stalling away here and it's allowed Vasquez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Dhelan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nando Vasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vasquez 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nando Vasquez!
After winning the bout, Nando Vasquez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.