PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyrus Wilson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Vandam (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.

Wilson
vs
Vandam

190 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyrus Wilson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyler Vandam!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Vandam, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vandam lands with a hook. Wilson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Wilson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Vandam slaps away a takedown attempt from Wilson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vandam tries to clinch but Wilson moves out of range.
Vandam tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wilson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vandam showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wilson.
Vandam bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Wilson closes the distance and clinches.

Wilson pulls guard effortlessly.
Wilson is trying to control the position but Vandam postures up.

Wilson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vandam postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandam stopping the sweep attempt from Wilson.
Vandam really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wilson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wilson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vandam must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vandam stops Wilson from standing up.

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

Vandam fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wilson, pushing him back against the ropes.
Wilson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wilson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wilson blocking some punches.
Vandam misses with the head strike.
Vandam fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vandam lands with a short shot to the head.
Vandam lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vandam misses with a punch on the inside.
Vandam softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Vandam swings wildly with an uppercut but Wilson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wilson stalling the fight.
Vandam working aggressively here.

Wilson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vandam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vandam misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilson tries to clinch up.
Vandam throws a front kick that sends Wilson stumbling back into the ropes.
Wilson is breathing heavily.

Vandam clinches.
Vandam swings wildly with an uppercut but Wilson uses good head movement to avoid it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vandam.
Wilson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wilson is working for takedown but Vandam is calmly controlling the position for now.
Vandam throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Wilsons head.
Wilson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vandam has a couple of punches blocked by Wilson.
Wilson can't break the clinch.
Vandam lands an elbow inside that Wilson shrugs off.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vandam.
Vandam scores with a nice hook to the head.
Vandam working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Vandam tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vandam lands a body shot in the clinch.
Vandam lands a nice shot to the body.
Vandam tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Wilson.
Vandam lands with a short head shot on the inside.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Vandam throws an elbow but misses.
Vandam misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vandam scores with a nice hook to the head.
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!
Wilson blocking some punches.
Vandam lands a left hand.
Vandam lands with a left to the head.
Wilson avoids the elbow strike from Vandam, against the ropes.
Vandam working aggressively here.
Vandam misses with a punch on the inside.
Vandam gets through Wilson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vandam lands an elbow that stopped Wilson in his tracks for a moment.

Wilson decides to pull guard.

Vandam gets to his feet. Wilson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vandam throws a sloppy head kick and Wilson moves out of range easily.
Wilson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vandam displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vandam pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tyler Vandam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vandam tries to clinch but Wilson moves out of range.

Vandam gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vandam.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Vandam dominated that round.
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.

Vandam misses with a double jab

and Wilson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Vandam makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wilson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wilson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Vandam prevents the takedown attempt.
Wilson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vandam's elbow.
Wilson takes a shot to the head.
Vandam has a couple of punches blocked by Wilson.

Wilson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vandam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wilson shoots in for a double leg but Vandam sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vandam misses with a head kick.
Wilson scores with a one two! Vandam had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Vandam tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wilson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vandam throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vandam doesn't manage to clinch there - Wilson circles away.
Vandam slaps away a takedown attempt from Wilson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyrus Wilson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vandam has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandam lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Wilson backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vandam.
Vandam lands a damaging elbow.
Wilson dodges an elbow strike from Vandam.
Wilson goes for a takedown attempt but Vandam pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Vandam throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wilson.
Vandam feints and then cracks Wilson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Wilson down.
Tyler Vandam is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vandam looks to land a combination. Wilson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wilson avoids the head kick by Vandam.
Vandam digs a good body shot into Wilson's ribs.
No joy there for Vandam, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vandam tries to clinch up but Wilson circles away and keeps his distance.
Vandam tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wilson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vandam tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vandam pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Wilson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vandam, pushing him back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vandam doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vandam swings wildly with an uppercut but Wilson uses good head movement to avoid it.

Wilson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wilson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vandam.
Tyler Vandam seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vandam misses with a double jab.
Vandam swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Wilson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vandam is trying to defend but Wilson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wilson wants to control but Vandam is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilson is working for a kimura but Vandam is defending it quite comfortably.
Vandam looks like he's trying to stand up.

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.

Wilson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Vandam is looking to escape.
Wilson is looking to take a break and control but Vandam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Vandam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Wilson shoots in but no luck this time.
Wilson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice shot by Vandam.
Wilson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vandam can pounce on him.
Wilson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Vandam clinches but Wilson breaks the clinch

so Wilson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vandam is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wilson is controlling him.
Wilson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson wants to control from the top but Vandam keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wilson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vandam swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Vandam wants to stand and escape but Wilson is having none of it.

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.
Wilson trying to control but Vandam is working from the bottom.
Vandam is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wilson is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wilson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vandam sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wilson somewhat.
Wilson wants to clinch up but Vandam keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wilson moves out of range as Vandam throws a body kick.
Wilson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Vandam lands with a thumping leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Vandam.
Wilson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vandam misses with a head kick.
Vandam displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wilson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyrus Wilson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wilson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Vandam moves into the clinch successfully.
Vandam works on Wilson's body with a couple of short punches.
Vandam misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wilson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vandam fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Vandam tries to clinch up but Wilson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilson avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick from Vandam lands but Wilson takes it in his stride.
Wilson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vandam avoids it really well and circles away.
Wilson swats away the attempt to clinch by Vandam.
Wilson tries to clinch but Vandam is having none of it.
Wilson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Vandam displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Wilson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vandam circles away quickly and effectively.
Vandam fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vandam fails with an attempt to clinch.

Vandam closes the distance and clinches.
Tyrus Wilson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tyler Vandam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vandam swings wildly with an uppercut but Wilson uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vandam.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Vandam comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vandam winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Vandam!