PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Braddock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mighty Vlad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Braddock
vs
Vlad

195 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Braddock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mighty Vlad!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Braddock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vlad attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Braddock stuns Vlad with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Braddock pushes Vlad up against the cage in a clinch.
Vlad stalls.
Vlad has Braddock pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Braddock manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Braddock is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Vlad wants to stall.
Vlad displaying some good clinch control by pressing Braddock up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braddock has Vlad pushed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Vlad fails to land.
A frustrated look appears on Braddock's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Braddock is trying to break the clinch but Vlad is controlling him.
Braddock presses Vlad against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Braddock is trying to break free.
Vlad's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Braddock prevents Vlad from breaking the clinch.
Vlad misses with a knee strike.
Vlad looking to stall.
Vlad keeps control of Braddock as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Braddock is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vlad gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Braddock wants to take the fight to the mat but Vlad manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Braddock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Braddock is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Vlad to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vlad is trying to break the clinch but Braddock is controlling him.

Vlad has picked Braddock up - he's going for a ride! Vlad dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Vlad perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Vlad uses his free foot to push down on Braddock's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Braddock.
Vlad looking to control and managing it successfully.
Braddock keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vlad has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Braddock's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braddock wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Vlad landing punches.
Braddock is looking to get to half guard.

Vlad wants to finish this one by submission but Braddock is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Vlad.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vlad lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mighty Vlad 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.

Braddock fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
James Braddock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vlad is looking to land body kicks.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Vlad. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Braddock throws a head kick that misses.
Braddock throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Braddock shoots in but no luck this time.
Vlad fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Braddock misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Vlad. Those never looked like landing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vlad working hard to break the clinch.

Braddock's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Braddock tries to bum rush Vlad with a series of wild strikes but Vlad uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Braddock.
Braddock throws a low kick, looking for Vlad's leg but Vlad calmly moves out of range.
Braddock avoids the body shot from Vlad.
Vlad throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fighters circling - Vlad throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Braddock bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Vlad's head.
Vlad shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Braddock pinned against the cage. Braddock gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vlad shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Braddock defends it nicely.
James Braddock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mighty Vlad.
Vlad is breathing heavily.

Braddock gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vlad misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vlad is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Braddock pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vlad drags the fight down to the ground.
Braddock controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Vlad throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Braddock has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vlad is trying to control the position but Braddock postures up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Braddock trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vlad's guard.
Vlad controls Braddock momentarily but Braddock frees himself.
Braddock engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Vlad keeping moving, preventing Braddock from controlling successfully.

Vlad has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Braddock can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vlad wants to stand up but Braddock is controlling him.
Braddock sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Braddock wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Braddock cracks Vlad with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Braddock has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Vlad to stand back up!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Braddock will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Braddock shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vlad stuffs the takedown.
Braddock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Braddock throws a right hand that Vlad ducks under and follows up with a left that Vlad also avoids with ease.
Braddock throws a combination. Vlad tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Vlad is rocked!
Braddock connects with a superb combination that knocks Vlad out cold! The referee charges across the mat and tackles Braddock before he can land any more shots to the unconscious Vlad!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). James Braddock!
James Braddock was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.