PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Adesanya (ranked 4914 p4p, 4913 weight class) and Marko Vera (ranked 520 p4p, 521 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Adesanya
vs
Vera

188 cm
25
180
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
183
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alex Adesanya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marko Vera!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Topper Green and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Adesanya throws a good cross that connects.
Vera misses with a head kick.
Vera lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Adesanya circles away quickly and effectively.
Vera swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Adesanya counters with a one-two to the body.
Adesanya lunges at Vera with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Vera's hand.
Vera throws a head kick that misses.
Vera throws a body kick, spinning off balance
enabling Adesanya to counter with a crisp jab.
Vera throws a combination that misses
and Adesanya counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vera throws a sloppy head kick
and Adesanya counters with a two punch combo.
Marko Vera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vera throws a series of punches but Adesanya avoids them all with ease.
Adesanya is looking for a counter combo.
The fighters circling - Vera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As Vera looks to move away, Adesanya throws a big counter combo but Vera just gets out of the way.
Adesanya connects with a high kick.
A head kick by Vera misses
and Adesanya counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vera throws a head kick but Adesanya moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Adesanya on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Adesanya closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Adesanya has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Vera clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Vera is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Adesanya off. It looks like it's working - Adesanya slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Vera displaying calm under pressure there.
Adesanya blocks the body kick.
Vera misses with a double jab
and Adesanya counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vera swinging wildly here.
Adesanya appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sloppy strikes from Vera. Those never looked like landing.
Adesanya throwing a counter right hand but Vera manages to avoid it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vera throws a series of punches but Adesanya avoids them all with ease.
Vera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Adesanya throws a counter high kick but Vera was just alert enough to avoid it.
Vera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Adesanya counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It looked like Adesanya wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a left and a right that both miss
and Adesanya counters with a stiff right hand.
A left and a right from Vera both land. Nice combination.
Vera misses with a wild combination.
Vera looks winded!
Adesanya drops his hands momentarily and Vera takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Vera swinging wildly here.
Vera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Adesanya looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vera throws a lazy uppercut
and Adesanya counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vera.
Adesanya is looking to counter punch.
Vera throws a head kick that misses
enabling Adesanya to counter with a crisp jab.
Adesanya is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Vera throws a lazy uppercut
and Adesanya counters with a nice uppercut.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick and Adesanya moves out of range easily.
Adesanya appears to be looking for a big counter.
Adesanya avoids the head kick by Vera.
Vera throws a leg kick
and Adesanya counters with a straight right hand.
Vera misses with a hook
and Adesanya counters with a straight right hand.
A head kick by Vera misses
and Adesanya connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vera throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Adesanya to counter with a crisp jab.
Vera throws a head kick that misses
and Adesanya cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Adesanya throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Adesanya counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a leg kick
and Adesanya counters with a straight right hand.
Vera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Adesanya counters with a straight right hand.
Vera misses with a combination
and Adesanya counters with a stiff right hand.
A head kick misses from Vera.
Adesanya is looking for a counter combo.
Adesanya lands with an uppercut that bounces Vera off the cage and back into range.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick and Adesanya moves out of range easily.
Adesanya throws a big counter combination but Vera scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Vera throws a head kick but Adesanya moves out of range.
Adesanya avoids the head kick by Vera.
Adesanya is looking to counter with head kicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vera throws a right hand that misses
and Adesanya counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Adesanya is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Vera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Adesanya lands with a nice body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick by Vera misses
and Adesanya counters with a one-two to the body.
Vera throws a body kick that misses.

Adesanya moves into the clinch.
Adesanya can't break the clinch.

Adesanya has picked Vera up - he's going for a ride! Adesanya dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Vera kicks off Adesanya and gets to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Adesanya throws a head kick that misses.
Vera has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Adesanya tries to close the distance and clinch but Vera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick and Adesanya moves out of range easily.
Adesanya blocks a jab.
Adesanya appears to be looking for a big counter.
Vera throws a series of punches but Adesanya moves out of range.
Adesanya appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Adesanya blocks a head kick by Vera.
Vera tries to bum rush Adesanya with a series of wild strikes but Adesanya uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vera is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Adesanya.
Vera throws a head kick that misses
and Adesanya counters with a left to the body.
Adesanya moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Vera throws a lazy head kick
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vera throws a body kick, spinning off balance
enabling Adesanya to counter with a crisp jab.
Vera throws a head kick that misses
and Adesanya counters with a series of strikes. Vera will be more careful next time no doubt.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick
and Adesanya counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alex Adesanya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vera tries a head kick but it misses.
Vera needs to keep his hands up - Adesanya had a free shot at his head there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Adesanya throws a good cross that connects.

Adesanya has closed the distance and engaged Vera in a clinch.
Vera jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Adesanya walks away with a smile on his face. Vera gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera falls off balance throwing a combination
and Adesanya counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vera misses with a series of wild punches.
Vera throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Adesanya to counter with a crisp jab.
Vera throws a poor cross that misses
and Adesanya counters with a stiff right hand.
Vera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vera throws a lazy head kick
and Adesanya counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vera falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Adesanya counter with a right hand.
Vera misses with a left hand
and Adesanya counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera misses with a combination
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Adesanya is looking to clinch but Vera is avoiding it.
Alex Adesanya is winning the standup battle so far.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick and Adesanya moves out of range easily.
Adesanya is looking to counter punch.
Adesanya avoids the head kick by Vera.
As Vera looks to move away, Adesanya throws a big counter combo but Vera just gets out of the way.

Adesanya moves into the clinch.
Vera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vera tries to pull guard but Adesanya forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Alex Adesanya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marko Vera.
Vera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Adesanya just stands there and leans against the cage.
Adesanya wants to break the clinch but can't.
A left hand lands to the body for Adesanya.
Adesanya is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Adesanya just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vera jumps guard but Adesanya stands there with Vera around his waist. Vera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Adesanya lands a takedown into guard.

Vera is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Adesanya just stands there and leans against the cage.
Adesanya lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Vera has Adesanya pressed against the cage, preventing Adesanya from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Adesanya misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vera fails to pull guard.
Vera is trying to pull guard but Adesanya has him pressed against the cage.

Vera pulls guard successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vera has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Adesanya is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Vera jumps guard but Adesanya stands there with Vera around his waist. Vera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Adesanya dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Vera throws a lazy head kick
and Adesanya cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Adesanya thuds his right hand into Vera's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Vera throws a combination that misses
letting Adesanya counter with a right hand.
Adesanya connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Vera misses with a two punch combination.
Adesanya is looking to counter punch.
Adesanya tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vera manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Adesanya scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A head kick by Vera misses
and Adesanya counters with a left to the body.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick and Adesanya moves out of range easily.
Vera swings widly with a right hand
and Adesanya counters with a stiff right hand.
Vera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head kick by Vera misses
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vera misses with a right hand
and Adesanya cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Adesanya swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Adesanya takes the fight into the clinch.

Vera ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Vera no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Vera has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Adesanya can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Adesanya got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Adesanya has managed to get both his arms back between Vera's legs - danger averted.
Adesanya wants to stand but Vera has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Vera pushes Adesanya off and scrambles back to his feet.
Vera throws a lazy head kick
and Adesanya counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vera throws a head kick that misses.
Adesanya seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vera throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Adesanya to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vera throws a right hand that Adesanya ducks under and follows up with a left that Adesanya also avoids with ease.
Vera throws a lazy head kick
and Adesanya counters with a nice uppercut.
Adesanya tries to clinch but Vera moves out of range.
Vera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Adesanya counters with a straight right hand.
Vera misses with a combination
and Adesanya counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A head kick by Vera misses
and Adesanya counters with a three punch combo that has Vera backing up. Vera nods at Adesanya to acknowledge the strikes.
Vera falls off balance throwing a combination
and Adesanya connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Adesanya is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Adesanya connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vera throws a head kick that misses
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vera drops his hands momentarily and Adesanya takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Vera throws a combination that misses
and Adesanya counters with a straight right hand.

Adesanya drives through and clinches with Vera against the cage.
Adesanya tries to break free but Vera pushes him back against the cage.

Vera is fighting off a takedown attempt but Adesanya is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Vera to the mat. Vera regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Vera wriggles free and stands up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Adesanya slips under a jab from Vera.
Vera throws a left and a right that both miss
and Adesanya counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Adesanya avoids the head kick by Vera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera misses with an attempted mid kick.
Adesanya appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Vera throws a head kick but Adesanya moves out of range.
Adesanya avoids the head kick by Vera.
Adesanya swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Adesanya lands a jab.
A head kick by Vera misses
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vera tries a head kick but it misses.
Vera swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Adesanya tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vera swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Adesanya fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vera, pushing him back against the cage.

Adesanya gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Vera manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Marko Vera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Adesanya lands a really nice looking cross but Vera seems unphased.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Adesanya showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Adesanya, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Adesanya!