PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Irwin (ranked 1820 p4p, 1435 weight class) and Nando Vasquez (ranked 200 p4p, 164 weight class). Christopher Irwin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Irwin
vs
Vasquez

150 cm
33
148
11 - 7 - 1

179 cm
39
155
31 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christopher Irwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nando Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irwin misses with a shot to the body
and Vasquez counters with a straight right hand.
Vasquez throws a front kick that sends Irwin stumbling back into the cage.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Vasquez - that will leave a mark!
Irwin throws a body shot but no joy.
Irwin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Vasquez counters with a good low kick that Irwin was not able to check.
Irwin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Irwin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Vasquez throws a series of punches but Irwin avoids them all with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Irwin. Vasquez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vasquez let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Vasquez.
Irwin is looking to clinch but Vasquez is avoiding it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Vasquez drives through and clinches with Irwin against the cage.
Vasquez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Irwin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vasquez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Irwin swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Vasquez to counter with a crisp jab.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Irwin.
Irwin wants to take a breather but Vasquez manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Irwin.
Irwin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Irwin drops back looking for a leg! Vasquez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vasquez manages to kick Irwin off! Irwin jumps back into Vasquez's guard.
Irwin is fighting to break Vasquez's control of his arms but Vasquez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Irwin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Irwin wants to pass the guard but Vasquez is keeping the position.
Irwin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Irwin trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Irwin slips nicely into half guard.

Vasquez is defending against the submission attempts here by Irwin.
Irwin stalling away here and it's allowed Vasquez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Vasquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Irwin.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Irwin trying to control but Vasquez is working from the bottom.
Irwin tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasquez is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irwin wants to control from the top but Vasquez keeps moving.
Vasquez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Irwin drops back looking for a leg! Vasquez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vasquez manages to kick Irwin off! Irwin jumps back into Vasquez's guard.
Irwin looking to pass the guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Irwin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Irwin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Irwin takes one to the chin there.
Vasquez cracks Irwin with an open hand slap.
Irwin tries to clinch there but Vasquez circles away.
Vasquez is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Irwin closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Vasquez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

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

Irwin is looking for submissions but instead, Vasquez has regained full guard.
Irwin tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasquez is retaining full guard.
Irwin trying to control but Vasquez is working from the bottom.
Vasquez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Irwin trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nando Vasquez dominated that round.
That's time! Irwin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Irwin clinches.
Vasquez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Irwin backwards.
Vasquez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vasquez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Irwin goes for a takedown attempt but Vasquez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Vasquez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Irwin on the side of the head.
Irwin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vasquez feints and then cracks Irwin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Irwin down.
Irwin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vasquez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Irwin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Irwin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irwin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Vasquez drops Irwin with a beautiful combination! Irwin stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Vasquez is looking for the KO!

Irwin is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vasquez bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Oh Irwin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Irwin moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Vasquez on the inside.
Irwin has Vasquez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vasquez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Irwin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vasquez drops Irwin onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Irwin is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vasquez creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Irwin with a big uppercut! Irwin tries to clinch up but Vasquez pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Irwin to the mat! Irwin covers up and Vasquez unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Nando Vasquez!
Nando Vasquez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.