PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Prince Vasquel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Even Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasquel comes to the cage accompanied by Halo-Street Fighter. Steven comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Metallica-Enter Sandman kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Steven has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Even Steven has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vasquel
vs
Steven

180 cm
26
185 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

183 cm
22
180 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Prince Vasquel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Even Steven!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Steven is fending him off so far but Vasquel persists. Nope, Steven circles away and we're back to standing.
Steven wants to clinch.
Steven rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vasquel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vasquel.
Steven fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Steven throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Vasquel shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Steven napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Steven tries to buck Vasquel off but Vasquel is having none of it.
Steven looks gassed!
Vasquel is putting a hurting on Steven here, landing some big shots from side control.
Steven takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Vasquel cracks Steven with a big elbow.
Vasquel lands some shots froms side control.
Steven tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vasquel looks up at the clock and then as Steven takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Vasquel smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Steven is working to avoid the ground and pound but Vasquel connects with a decent elbow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Vasquel landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasquel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Steven knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Vasquel in side control lands a decent elbow.
Vasquel lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Vasquel scoring with punches from side control.
Vasquel scoring with punches from side control.
Steven is looking to reverse the position.
Vasquel working the ground and pound.
Check out the look on Vasquel's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Vasquel lands a nice forearm strike.
Vasquel working the head with strikes.
Steven taking a bit of punishment here - Vasquel scoring with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasquel working the ground and pound.
Steven is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Vasquel asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Vasquel grinds an elbow into Steven's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vasquel lands a few punches from side control.
Vasquel scoring with punches from side control.
Vasquel working the ground and pound from side control.
Vasquel creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Vasquel is working Steven over with some ground and pound from side control.
Vasquel scores with punches from side control.
Vasquel connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Steven some visible discomfort.
Steven striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Vasquel scoring with punches and elbows.
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!
Vasquel is putting a hurting on Steven here, landing some big shots from side control.
Steven tries to buck Vasquel off but Vasquel is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel scores with a couple of short elbows.
Vasquel connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Steven some visible discomfort.
Vasquel working the ground and pound from side control.

Vasquel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Steven is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Steven manages to get back to half guard.
Vasquel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Steven is looking to improve his position.

Vasquel looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Vasquel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel lands strikes from half guard.
Steven slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Vasquel 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.

Steven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vasquel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vasquel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vasquel tries to free his leg and advance position but Steven is retaining full guard.
Vasquel scoring with some ground and pound.
Vasquel postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Steven looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prince Vasquel dominated that round.
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.

Vasquel shoots in and bounces Steven off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Vasquel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vasquel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vasquel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Steven's head.
Vasquel lands a couple of digs.
Vasquel is working Steven over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vasquel postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vasquel 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.
Vasquel is working Steven over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vasquel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Vasquel postures up and lands a big shot to Steven's brow.
Steven looking for a sweep. Not yet Steven, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vasquel postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vasquel is in close to Steven's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Vasquel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Steven thows a body shot but no joy.

Vasquel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Vasquel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vasquel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vasquel is looking to work some ground and pound but Steven has wrist control.

Steven is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vasquel is aware though and is defending well.
Prince Vasquel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Steven working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vasquel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vasquel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vasquel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vasquel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Steven wants to stand up but Vasquel is controlling him.

Steven looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Steven can't keep his opponent in guard - Vasquel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Steven is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vasquel blocks the strikes from Steven.

Vasquel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Steven defends it well.
Steven gets full guard.
Vasquel working some strikes from top position.
Vasquel is in close to Steven's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Vasquel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Vasquel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Steven has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vasquel has managed to get both his arms back between Steven's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel connects with a couple of short punches.
Vasquel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Steven's head.
Vasquel with a nice head shot there.
Vasquel postures up and lands a big shot to Steven's brow.
Steven is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Vasquel looking for submissions off his back.
Vasquel misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Steven seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Vasquel gets full guard.
Vasquel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Steven gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Prince Vasquel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel misses with a head kick.
Steven fails to land with a series of punches.
Vasquel closes the distance and clinches up with Steven, looking for a takedown. Vasquel pushes Steven against the cage but Steven circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Steven takes the fight into the clinch.

Vasquel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Vasquel closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Steven moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Steven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vasquel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vasquel postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vasquel postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Vasquel drops back looking for a leg! Steven is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Steven manages to kick Vasquel off! Vasquel jumps back into Steven's guard.
Vasquel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Steven swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prince Vasquel dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Steven scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Steven misses with an uppercut. Vasquel saw that one coming.
Steven misses with a straight left.
Steven tries to clinch but Vasquel is having none of it.

Vasquel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Vasquel works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Vasquel scores with a couple of short elbows.
Steven is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Steven throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Steven is trying to improve his position.
Steven is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vasquel connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Steven some visible discomfort.

Vasquel tries for a kimura but Steven is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven manages to get back to half guard.

Steven looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vasquel slips a nice elbow through Steven's hands, connecting with Steven's forehead.
Steven is looking for a sweep. Vasquel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steven throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Vasquel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ground and pound from Vasquel.
Steven is trying to stand.
Steven taking some punishment here, with Vasquel in his half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vasquel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Steven defends it nicely.

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.
Steven misses with a few strikes there.
Vasquel shoots in looking for a takedown. Steven tries to sprawl out of it but Vasquel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Steven manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Steven misses with a few strikes there.
Vasquel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Prince Vasquel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steven misses with the combination.
Vasquel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Steven is fending him off so far but Vasquel persists. Nope, Steven circles away and we're back to standing.
Steven slaps away a takedown attempt from Vasquel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Steven looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vasquel shoots for a takedown but Steven saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Steven stuffs the takedown attempt from Vasquel. Vasquel gets slowly back to his feet.
Even Steven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steven misses with a wild combination.
Steven fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasquel gets the takedown into side control.
Steven tries to buck Vasquel off but Vasquel is having none of it.
Vasquel is working Steven over with some ground and pound from side control.
Steven taking punishment in the form of punches.
Vasquel throws a strike aimed at the side of Steven's head but Steven avoids it well.
Steven tries to buck Vasquel off but Vasquel is having none of it.
Vasquel avoids the strikes from the bottom by Steven.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vasquel shoots in for a takedown but Steven shows good takedown defense.
Steven throws a right hand that Vasquel ducks under and follows up with a left that Vasquel also avoids with ease.
Vasquel stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Steven throws a right and a left that Vasquel avoids nicely.

Vasquel feints and as Steven raises his hands in defense, Vasquel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Vasquel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Steven looking for a guillotine here but Vasquel defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Steven preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Steven lands a decent punch to the body there.
Vasquel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Steven is looking for a triangle here but Vasquel uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Vasquel works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Steven taking a bit of punishment here - Vasquel scoring with strikes.
Steven tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Prince Vasquel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vasquel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Prince Vasquel!