PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vince Dega (ranked 4229 p4p, 4551 weight class) and Evan O Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dega
vs
O Riley

188 cm
25
185
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
175
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vince Dega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Evan O Riley!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Winston Howard and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dega shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Dega is looking for a kimura but O Riley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dega to get the leverage.
O Riley is staying active underneath Dega, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dega trying to mount his opponent but O Riley defends it.
O Riley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dega.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Riley manages to get to full guard.
Dega working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Riley controlling the position.
Dega landing some decent shots from guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as O Riley holds on and takes a little breather.
Dega trying to control but O Riley is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dega will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
O Riley throws a nice looking combination but Dega bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
O Riley will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dega wants to clinch.
Some wild striking there from O Riley.
Dega is looking to clinch but O Riley is avoiding it.
O Riley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
O Riley looks winded!
O Riley shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dega pinned against the cage. Dega gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dega moves in looking to clinch but O Riley pushes him off.
O Riley falls off balance throwing a combination
and Dega counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dega will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
O Riley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
O Riley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dega fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vince Dega. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dega fails to land the takedown.
Dega shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dega tries to land a front kick but O Riley steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
O Riley dives in for a single leg takedown but Dega sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
O Riley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
As O Riley tries to get set, Dega tries to push him back and clinch up but O Riley manages to avoid the attempt.
Dega lands with a kick to the temple. O Riley shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dega tries to clinch up but O Riley circles away and keeps his distance.
Dega shoots in but no luck this time.

O Riley has managed to clinch.
Dega is defending well against a takedown attempt.
O Riley has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dega avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dega misses with a body punch.
Dega is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

O Riley jumps guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

O Riley has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dega off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
O Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.

O Riley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evan O Riley dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

O Riley swats away the attempt to clinch by Dega.
Evan O Riley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dega dives in for a single leg takedown but O Riley sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
O Riley tries for a takedown but Dega manages to get underhooks.
O Riley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Degas head.

Dega pulls guard successfully.
O Riley won't allow Dega to sweep him here.
O Riley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dega works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as O Riley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dega 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
O Riley throwing strikes from guard but Dega blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dega is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dega tries to land a sweep but no joy.
O Riley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice takedown defense from O Riley. No joy for Dega on that attempt.
O Riley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
O Riley with a jab.
No luck for O Riley with that takedown attempt.
O Riley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vince Dega has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evan O Riley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Dega, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Dega looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dega stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. O Riley swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Dega drops back, looking for a kneebar! O Riley looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. O Riley looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from O Riley!

O Riley misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Riley working away.
Dega is trying to get back to his feet.
Dega looking for a sweep but O Riley has passed into full mount! Oh no!
O Riley prevents Dega from getting the reversal.
O Riley with shots to the head and body - Dega looks very uncomfortable down there.
O Riley thowing shots but they're missing.
Evan O Riley has got the better of the ground game so far.
O Riley misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Riley landing strikes from the mount and Dega is in trouble!
O Riley throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
O Riley throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Dega is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
O Riley lands with some strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evan O Riley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

O Riley clinches with his opponent.
O Riley drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dega pulls his leg out and moves away.
O Riley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dega swivels and escapes.
Dega defending well as O Riley loads up on a big left hand.
O Riley pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Dega back to the cage. O Riley follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

O Riley gets caught flat footed, as Dega shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
O Riley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dega loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dega is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dega missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dega trying to control but O Riley is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dega content to stall in guard here.
Dega wants to control from the top but O Riley keeps moving.
O Riley wants to control the position but Dega says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Well, if Dega is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dega missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dega sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. O Riley defending well though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
O Riley stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and O Riley wants it to stay on the feet.
O Riley slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Dega tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but O Riley swivels and escapes.
O Riley looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dega is fending him off so far but O Riley persists. Nope, Dega circles away and we're back to standing.
Vince Dega has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evan O Riley.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dega.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Riley has closed the distance and engaged Dega in a clinch.
O Riley has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dega is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dega tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. O Riley just stands there and leans against the cage.
O Riley tries to break free but Dega pushes him back against the cage.

O Riley pulls guard effortlessly.
Dega slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dega trying to control but O Riley is working from the bottom.
Dega throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Riley managing to control the position.
O Riley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dega trying to control the position from guard on top but O Riley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vince Dega has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evan O Riley is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
O Riley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evan O Riley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well O Riley 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan O Riley!