PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kanoa Vatthana (ranked 5735 p4p, 25250 weight class) and Chris Tremble (ranked 511 p4p, 613 weight class). Kanoa Vatthana could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Chris Tremble's chin.

Vatthana
vs
Tremble

175 cm
18
164
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
155
2 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kanoa Vatthana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Tremble!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vatthana looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vatthana misses with a takedown attempt
and Tremble counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Tremble has Vatthana up against the cage in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Tremble gets control of Vatthana's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tremble will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Vatthana drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tremble dives on top into guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tremble trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tremble 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.

Tremble drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tremble jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Tremble 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vatthana escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tremble gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Tremble got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vatthana has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tremble has managed to get both his arms back between Vatthana's legs - danger averted.
Vatthana is trying to control the position but Tremble postures up.
Tremble stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vatthana swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Vatthana has his foot on Tremble's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tremble works his way back into a safe position though.

Vatthana is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tremble is aware though and is defending well.

Vatthana escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tremble gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Vatthana looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tremble drops back looking for a leg! Vatthana is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vatthana manages to kick Tremble off! Tremble jumps back into Vatthana's guard.

Vatthana is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tremble is aware though and is defending well.
Vatthana is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tremble must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tremble passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vatthana is trying to control Tremble's posture but Tremble avoids it.

Tremble working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vatthana is looking to regain half guard here but Tremble keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Tremble tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tremble looks winded!
Vatthana is looking to regain half guard here but Tremble keeps moving and retains side control.

Tremble tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tremble has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Vatthana is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
You can see the frustration on Vatthana's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vatthana is looking for a sweep.

Tremble is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vatthana knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Vatthana struggling a bit here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Tremble dominated that round.
That's time! Vatthana's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Vatthana misses with a takedown attempt - Tremble sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vatthana shoots for a double leg takedown but Tremble sprawls well. He's pushed Vatthana's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vatthana dives in and grabs Tremble's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tremble pushes down on Vatthana's head and hops out.
Tremble wants to counter the offense by Vatthana and move into the clinch position.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kanoa Vatthana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vatthana closes the distance and clinches up with Tremble, looking for a takedown. Vatthana pushes Tremble against the cage but Tremble circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tremble wants to counter the offense by Vatthana and move into the clinch position.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tremble.
Vatthana can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tremble is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vatthana is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Tremble wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vatthana, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tremble working away.
Vatthana tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vatthana sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Vatthana works his way to full guard. Good work.

Tremble drops back looking for a leg! Vatthana is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vatthana manages to kick Tremble off! Tremble jumps back into Vatthana's guard.

Vatthana is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tremble passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vatthana can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tremble goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Vatthana has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tremble but great work by Vatthana.
Tremble is breathing heavily.
Vatthana wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tremble keeps working.

Vatthana tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Vatthana has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Vatthana thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tremble has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Vatthana goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Tremble has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Vatthana but great work by Tremble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tremble working away.
Vatthana is trying to improve his position.
Tremble working away.

Tremble is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vatthana wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vatthana trying to control but Tremble postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vatthana is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Vatthana actively working from the bottom here.
Vatthana is trying to maintain the position but Tremble is very close to passing his half guard.
Chris Tremble has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Tremble is looking for a kimura but Vatthana is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tremble to get the leverage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Vatthana looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Vatthana looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Tremble 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vatthana shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tremble is trying to defend but Vatthana finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Tremble actively working from the bottom here.
Vatthana wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tremble keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vatthana looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Vatthana trying to control from Tremble's half guard. Tremble has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatthana trying to control the position from guard on top but Tremble is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vatthana looking to pass the guard.
Tremble keeping moving, preventing Vatthana from controlling successfully.
Vatthana wants to pass the guard but Tremble is keeping the position.

Tremble throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tremble takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vatthana trying to control but Tremble is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vatthana trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tremble manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Tremble wants to pass the guard but Vatthana is keeping the position.

Vatthana working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tremble doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tremble manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tremble drops back looking for a leg! Vatthana is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vatthana manages to kick Tremble off! Tremble jumps back into Vatthana's guard.

Tremble drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tremble jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vatthana is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Tremble rolls with it to try and escape but Vatthana cranks on the arm and Tremble is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kanoa Vatthana!
Kanoa Vatthana decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.