PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stijn Vleghels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnathan Swain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Johnathan Swain was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Vleghels
vs
Swain

175 cm
18
215 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Stijn Vleghels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnathan Swain!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swain swats away the attempt to clinch by Vleghels.

Vleghels closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Vleghels scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Swain to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vleghels is looking to take a break and control but Swain is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vleghels throws an elbow but Swain slips to the side and avoids it well.

Vleghels stands up.
Swain keeps the fight on the outside.

Vleghels fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Swain sprawls well initially but Vleghels persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swain has hold of Vleghels's hands but Vleghels slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Vleghels is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Swain has managed to free his arm - good work.

Vleghels is looking for submissions but instead, Swain has regained full guard.
Swain wants to stand up but Vleghels is controlling him.
Vleghels working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Vleghels postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swain is striking from the bottom but Vleghels uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Vleghels missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Swain punching from the bottom.
Swain throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vleghels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Swain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vleghels shoots in for a double leg but Swain sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Swain shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vleghels's guard.
Vleghels really is a fat lump.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vleghels is wriggling around but Swain manages to pass to half guard.
Vleghels is breathing heavily.
Vleghels tries to roll over but Swain keeps him under control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vleghels gets full guard.
Swain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vleghels is on top in guard.
Swain keeping moving, preventing Vleghels from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vleghels accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Swain doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Swain thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Vleghels loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Swain throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Swain has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vleghels throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vleghels landing with the ground and pound.
Vleghels trying to control the position from guard on top but Swain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Swain tries for a takedown but Vleghels circles away easily

and Vleghels counters with a nice double leg into side control. Swain won't be happy with that.

Vleghels working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Swain prevents Vleghels from moving into mount.
Vleghels working the ground and pound.
Vleghels sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Swain is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Vleghels looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vleghels laying and praying for a moment but Swain takes advantage and regains half guard.
Swain flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Vleghels works his way into full mount!
Swain sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Swain keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Vleghels wants to work for an arm triangle but Swain is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vleghels looks to land a strike but Swain avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Vleghels slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vleghels in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stijn Vleghels overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swain throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Vleghels wants to control from the top but Swain keeps moving.
Swain trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Swain misses with a takedown

so Vleghels counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Swain throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Vleghels postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swain throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Vleghels missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vleghels 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.
Swain throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Vleghels passes into half guard.
Swain misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Vleghels works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stijn Vleghels dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Vleghels gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Swain counters with a single leg into guard. Vleghels didn't expect that.
Swain wants to control from the top but Vleghels keeps moving.
Vleghels trying to control the position.
Vleghels looking for a sweep. Not yet Vleghels, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swain trying to control the position from guard on top but Vleghels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swain postures up.
Vleghels looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Swain looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Vleghels wants to sweep but Swain has passed to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vleghels on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Vleghels is trying to work for a sweep but Swain has mounted him!
Vleghels sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Swain looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Swain stops Vleghels from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vleghels wants to control but Swain is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Swain lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Swain prevents Vleghels from improving his position.
Vleghels works his way to full guard. Good work.
Swain postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Swain in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Swain accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Swain wants to pass the guard but Vleghels is keeping the position.
Vleghels looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vleghels is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Vleghels is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Swain defends it well.
Johnathan Swain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stijn Vleghels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vleghels wants to control but Swain is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnathan Swain comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vleghels has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stijn Vleghels!