PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Manu Vatuvei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Daniels looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Vatuvei
vs
Daniels

180 cm
26
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

170 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Manu Vatuvei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Daniels!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Skip Squint and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daniels swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Daniels throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vatuvei sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Daniels lands a jab-cross combination.
Daniels slaps away a takedown attempt from Vatuvei, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vatuvei displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Daniels throws out the jab.
Daniels connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vatuvei. Vatuvei circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A swing and a miss from Daniels.
Daniels stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Daniels wants it to stay on the feet.
Vatuvei looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Daniels is fending him off so far but Vatuvei persists. Nope, Daniels circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manu Vatuvei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decent striking displayed by Daniels there.
Daniels lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Daniels digs a good hook to Vatuvei's body.
Vatuvei gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Daniels.
Vatuvei closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Daniels misses with the combination.
Daniels cracks Vatuvei with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Daniels lands with a straight right. Vatuvei didn't see that one coming.

Vatuvei looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Daniels!
Vatuvei trying to control but Daniels is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei punishing his opponent with strikes.
Vatuvei trying to control but Daniels is having none of it.
Daniels is trying to escape the mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Vatuvei is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Daniels to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Daniels shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Vatuvei cracks Daniels with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Vatuvei tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Vatuvei with a couple of short strikes.
Vatuvei trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vatuvei landing strikes from the mount and Daniels is in trouble!
Vatuvei 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels is squirming around, avoiding Vatuvei's attempts to control the action.
Vatuvei is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Daniels is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Vatuvei raining down shots from the mount!
Vatuvei scoring with strikes but Daniels is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daniels is in a horrible position here. Vatuvei smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Daniels defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Vatuvei.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Vatuvei dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vatuvei fails to land the takedown.
Vatuvei tries to score a power double leg takedown but Daniels sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vatuvei somewhat.
Jack Daniels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Daniels throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manu Vatuvei is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniels paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Daniels connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatuvei has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manu Vatuvei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vatuvei tries for a takedown but Daniels circles away easily
and Daniels counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Vatuvei needs to keep his hands up - Daniels had a free shot at his head there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Daniels.
Vatuvei misses with a takedown
and Daniels counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vatuvei tries to score a power double leg takedown but Daniels sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vatuvei somewhat.
Vatuvei takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Daniels moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Daniels throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vatuvei stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Daniels lands an overhand right.
Daniels lands a lovely overhand right.

Vatuvei shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Daniels's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vatuvei throwing strikes from guard but Daniels blocks nicely.
Daniels can't keep his opponent in guard - Vatuvei advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei trying to control the pace.

Vatuvei is looking for a kimura here.

Vatuvei is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Daniels is just riding it out for now. Vatuvei eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei slips a nice elbow through Daniels's hands, connecting with Daniels's forehead.
Vatuvei is taking a breather. Daniels says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Vatuvei is working for a kimura but Daniels is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Manu Vatuvei will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Vatuvei looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Daniels is fending him off so far but Vatuvei persists. Nope, Daniels circles away and we're back to standing.
Daniels misses with a looping left.
Daniels lands with a nice combination. Vatuvei backs away looking to recover.
Daniels moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Vatuvei takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Daniels jabs at Vatuvei's body.
Vatuvei slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vatuvei moves away.
Daniels throws a right hand that Vatuvei ducks under and follows up with a left that Vatuvei also avoids with ease.
Daniels throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Daniels throws a nice looking combination but Vatuvei bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Daniels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vatuvei fails with a takedown attempt.
Vatuvei shoots in looking for a takedown. Daniels tries to sprawl out of it but Vatuvei keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Daniels manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manu Vatuvei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vatuvei throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Daniels's waist but Daniels gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vatuvei off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice jab there from Daniels.
Vatuvei with a poor takedown
and Daniels counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vatuvei thinking.

Daniels throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vatuvei tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Daniels is in Vatuvei's guard.
Daniels tries to free his leg and advance position but Vatuvei is retaining full guard.
Vatuvei wants to stand up but Daniels is controlling him.
Daniels trying to control but Vatuvei is working from the bottom.
Vatuvei lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Daniels!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvei takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Vatuvei has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Daniels is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Manu Vatuvei!