PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anatoli Vasiliev (ranked 2011 p4p, 4220 weight class) and Nick Tessier (ranked 275 p4p, 525 weight class). Anatoli Vasiliev had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Vasiliev
vs
Tessier

188 cm
25
212
6 - 4 - 0

184 cm
32
207
11 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Anatoli Vasiliev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Tessier!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasiliev looks to land a combination but Tessier avoids it well.
Vasiliev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tessier to score with a decent uppercut.

Vasiliev moves into range and clinches up with Tessier.
Vasiliev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tessier blocks it with crossed arms.
Vasiliev gets through Tessier's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tessier comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Vasiliev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tessier blocks it with crossed arms.
Tessier using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vasiliev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tessier misses with a body punch.

Tessier breaks the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Tessier.
Tessier throws the left hand but Vasiliev avoids the punch easily.
Tessier shoots in looking for a takedown. Vasiliev tries to sprawl out of it but Tessier keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vasiliev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vasiliev misses with a jab, cross combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vasiliev tries to close the distance and clinch but Tessier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vasiliev is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vasiliev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasiliev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vasiliev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tessier clobbers Vasiliev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vasiliev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tessier feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Vasilievs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Tessier tries to keep at a distance but Vasiliev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vasiliev crunches a lovely knee into Tessier's ribcage.
Tessier misses with an elbow over the top.
Tessier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vasiliev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vasiliev misses with a knee strike.
Vasiliev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tessier lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
I was talking to Vasiliev's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Vasiliev with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vasiliev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vasiliev is looking for a takedown.
Tessier lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tessier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vasiliev misses with an elbow over the top.
Tessier scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tessier blocks a body shot from Vasiliev.
Vasiliev is looking to take this one to the mat.
A short right from Vasiliev.
Tessier tries a body shot but Vasiliev blocks it.
Vasiliev tries for a takedown but Tessier manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anatoli Vasiliev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasiliev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tessier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vasiliev missing with knees to the body.
Vasiliev looking for a takedown.
Tessier tries a body shot but Vasiliev blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Tessier fails to land.
Tessier lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vasiliev backwards.
Tessier misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tessier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tessier tries to land a knee to the head but Vasiliev blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliev blocks an uppercut.
Vasiliev misses with a knee to the head.
Vasiliev lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tessier has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Vasiliev seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Tessier can turn it around.
Tessier is trying to pull guard but Vasiliev has him pressed against the cage.
Tessier tries to work over Vasiliev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vasiliev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tessier avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tessier lands a hook that snaps the head of Vasiliev backwards.
Tessier tries to throw a body punch but Vasiliev avoids it by throwing Tessier back against the cage.
Vasiliev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Vasiliev landing knees to the head.
Vasiliev controlling the action here for a moment.
Vasiliev has Tessier pushed against the cage.
Vasiliev scores with a knee to the head.
Tessier misses with the head strike.
Tessier prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliev blocks a body shot from Tessier.
A short right from Tessier on the inside.
Vasiliev blocks a body shot from Tessier.
Vasiliev tries to land a knee to the head but Tessier blocks with his arms.
Tessier working aggressively here.
Vasiliev is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tessier pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tessier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vasiliev slowing the pace effectively.
Vasiliev looking to throw knees to the head but Tessier is blocking nicely.
Tessier scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vasiliev avoiding damage as Tessier throws knees to the body.
Vasiliev blocks an elbow strike from Tessier.
Tessier trying to land knees to the body.
Tessier gets underhooks to prevent Vasiliev's takedown attempt.
Vasiliev looking to throw knees to the head but Tessier is blocking nicely.
Tessier creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vasiliev.
A short uppercut from Tessier.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Tessier dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tessier throws a low kick, looking for Vasiliev's leg but Vasiliev calmly moves out of range.
Tessier misses with a low kick as Vasiliev jumps back.
As Tessier tries to get set, Vasiliev tries to push him back and clinch up but Tessier manages to avoid the attempt.
Vasiliev 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.
Tessier displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vasiliev.
Tessier throws out a counter right but Vasiliev avoids it with no problem.
Tessier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tessier's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vasiliev connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tessier scrambles back to his feet.

Tessier drops Vasiliev with a left and a right! Oh, Vasiliev is hurt - Tessier dives into side control looking to finish!

Vasiliev is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vasiliev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Oh Vasiliev is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Tessier working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vasiliev is trying to control Tessier's posture but Tessier avoids it.
Vasiliev seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tessier thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Vasiliev stops Tessier from passing to mount.
Vasiliev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tessier wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vasiliev struggling a bit here.
Tessier trying to control the position but Vasiliev is working away.
Tessier might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Vasiliev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Vasiliev defending against the ground and pound.

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.
Vasiliev is trying to control Tessier's posture but Tessier avoids it.
Tessier gets to mount! Vasiliev was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tessier working Vasiliev over with strikes here.
Tessier working Vasiliev over with strikes here.

Tessier goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Vasiliev is on top in guard.
Vasiliev passes Tessier's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

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

Vasiliev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tessier has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasiliev is trying to work for a kimura but Tessier is defending well.
Vasiliev is thwarting Tessier's attempts to control the position.

Vasiliev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tessier defends it well.
Tessier trying to control but Vasiliev postures up.

Vasiliev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Vasiliev moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Tessier.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Vasiliev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Tessier will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Vasiliev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tessier has escaped the position, nice work there.

Vasiliev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tessier has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tessier is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Tessier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Tessier keeps the fight on the outside.
Vasiliev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tessier appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Vasiliev dives in for a single leg takedown but Tessier sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Tessier will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tessier swats away the attempt to clinch by Vasiliev.
Tessier lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vasiliev wants to clinch up but Tessier keeps it at a distance.
Tessier with a jab.
Tessier throws a series of punches but Vasiliev avoids them all with ease.
Tessier fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tessier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vasiliev moves in looking to clinch but Tessier pushes him off.
Tessier misses with a hook.
That kick from Tessier tenderised Vasiliev's leg. Vasiliev is trying to keep his angry face on.
Vasiliev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vasiliev there as he acknowledges the shot.
No joy there for Tessier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasiliev blocks a jab.
Tessier chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Vasiliev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vasiliev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tessier lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Vasiliev wants to clinch.
Vasiliev moves in looking to clinch but Tessier pushes him off.
Vasiliev tries to close the distance and clinch but Tessier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tessier looks to land a combination but Vasiliev avoids it well.
Vasiliev seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Vasiliev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tessier's waist but Tessier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vasiliev off to one side.
Vasiliev tries to clinch up.
Vasiliev takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vasiliev is looking to clinch.
Tessier circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tessier clobbers Vasiliev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vasiliev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anatoli Vasiliev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tessier turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Tessier.

Vasiliev gets a clinch.
Nick Tessier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vasiliev.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tessier misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vasiliev.
Vasiliev lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Vasiliev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tessier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vasiliev lands a right hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vasiliev.
Vasiliev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tessier blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Vasiliev to work.
A short left from Tessier.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tessier.
Vasiliev prevents a body shot from Tessier.
A short right from Tessier on the inside.
Vasiliev with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tessier tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tessier slows down the pace here.
Tessier misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vasiliev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Tessier fails to land.
Tessier lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Vasiliev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vasiliev blocks an uppercut.
Vasiliev lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Tessier.

Tessier breaks from the clinch.
Vasiliev wants to clinch up but Tessier keeps it at a distance.
Vasiliev takes one to the side of the head.
Nick Tessier is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vasiliev with a poor takedown
enabling Tessier to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tessier scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Vasiliev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Vasiliev closes the distance and pushes Tessier back into the cage.
Vasiliev throws an elbow that misses.
Vasiliev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tessier tries to throw a body punch but Vasiliev avoids it by throwing Tessier back against the cage.
Tessier wants to break free but Vasiliev has control.
Tessier lands a left hand.
Anatoli Vasiliev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vasiliev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Tessier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tessier has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Tessier!
Nick Tessier thanked the fans post fight for their support.