PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emmanuel Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathon Rook (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.

Vargas
vs
Rook

182 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emmanuel Vargas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jonathon Rook!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rook rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vargas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vargas is looking to clinch but Rook is avoiding it.
Rook tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vargas was well out of range. Poor timing from Rook.
Rook jabs Vargas right on the nose. Vargas blinks but takes it well.
Vargas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vargas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vargas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Vargas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rook.
Vargas walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

It looks like Emmanuel Vargas has been cut.
Vargas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rook.
Vargas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rook throws out a loose jab but Vargas uses good head movement to avoid it.

Vargas pushes Rook up against the ropes in a clinch.
Vargas comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Jonathon Rook has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vargas gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Vargas lands a damaging elbow.
Rook can't break the clinch.
Rook tries to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling the position.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Rook is looking to break free of the clinch but Vargas has double underhooks.
Vargas crunches a lovely knee into Rook's ribcage.
Rook looks gassed!
Vargas lands a nice elbow.
Vargas avoiding damage.
Vargas lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Vargas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Vargas scores with a knee to the head.

That has opened up Jonathon Rook's cut even more.
Vargas connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rook's face.
Vargas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Knees to the body from Vargas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rook takes an elbow to the temple.
Vargas lands an elbow inside that Rook shrugs off.
A frustrated look appears on Rook's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Vargas just leaning against Rook, taking a breather.
Vargas lands an elbow just above Rook 's eye.
Vargas lands a good knee to the midsection. Rook won't want to take too many of those.
Vargas holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Vargas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Vargas landing knees to the body.
Rook is trying to break free.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vargas obliges.
Vargas utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Vargas lands a damaging elbow.
Vargas scores with a knee to the head.
Vargas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rook being controlled against the ropes.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vargas.
Vargas lands an elbow that stopped Rook in his tracks for a moment.
Knees to the body from Vargas.
Rook wants to get back to striking at distance but Vargas won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vargas effectively controlling the action here.
Rook takes an elbow to the forehead.
Vargas lands an elbow inside.
Vargas lands a damaging elbow.
Vargas keeps control of Rook as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rook takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rook has had enough of the clinch but Vargas keeps him there for the moment.
Vargas lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rook is trying to force a seperation but Vargas has the dominant position.
Vargas using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knees to the body from Vargas.
Vargas landing knees to the head.
Vargas lands a nice elbow.
A bit of stalling here from Vargas.
Vargas working Rook over with knees to the body.
Rook tries to break free but Vargas pushes him back against the ropes.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rook tries to break free but Vargas pushes him back against the ropes.
Vargas lands an elbow just above Rook 's eye.
Vargas taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rook takes a knee to the side of the body.
Vargas prevents Rook from breaking the clinch.
Vargas scores a nice knee to the body.

Rook manages to break the clinch.
Vargas moves in looking to clinch but Rook pushes him off.
Rook misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vargas darts in and clinches Rook up against the ropes.
Vargas has Rook pressed against the ropes, preventing Rook from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling him.
Vargas lands a good knee to the midsection. Rook won't want to take too many of those.
Vargas lands an elbow just above Rook 's eye.
Vargas working Rook over with knees to the body.
Vargas has Rook pushed against the ropes.
Vargas lands a damaging elbow.
Vargas lands a good knee to the midsection. Rook won't want to take too many of those.
Vargas lands a nice elbow.
Vargas landing knees to the body.
Rook is trying to force a seperation but Vargas has the dominant position.
Vargas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rook tries to break free but Vargas pushes him back against the ropes.
Vargas looking to stall.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas has him pressed against the ropes.
Rook takes an elbow to the temple.
Vargas keeps control of Rook as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rook has had enough of the clinch but Vargas keeps him there for the moment.
Vargas crunches a lovely knee into Rook's ribcage.
Vargas prevents Rook from breaking the clinch.
Rook looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Rook's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vargas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vargas dodges the punch combination from Rook.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Vargas.

Vargas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rook, pushing him back against the ropes.
Vargas using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vargas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rook's defenses.
Vargas content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Vargas landing knees to the body.
Vargas lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Vargas unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A knee to the head by Vargas.
Vargas scores a nice knee to the body.
Rook working hard to break the clinch.
Rook tries to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling the position.
Vargas lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Vargas prevents Rook from breaking the clinch.
Vargas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rook is trying to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vargas slows down the pace here.
Rook is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Vargas is pushing Rook up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Vargas dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jab from Rook.
Rook fails to land with a series of punches.
Rook fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vargas manages to avoid it.
Vargas slips a jab from Rook.

Vargas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Vargas prevents Rook from breaking the clinch.
Vargas lands a knee to the body.
Rook takes an elbow to the forehead.
Vargas unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rook lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Vargas lands a knee to the body.
Vargas lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rook takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vargas will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rook up against the ropes.
Rook wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vargas obliges.
Vargas has Rook pressed against the ropes, preventing Rook from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vargas landing knees to the body.
Vargas lands an elbow inside.
Vargas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rook's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas lands an elbow inside that Rook shrugs off.
Rook tries to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling the position.
Emmanuel Vargas has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rook is trying to force a seperation but Vargas has the dominant position.
Rook has had enough of the clinch but Vargas keeps him there for the moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling him.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling him.
Rook wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vargas using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vargas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rook's defenses.
Vargas with a knee to the head.
Vargas with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Rook's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rook is trying to force a seperation but Vargas has the dominant position.
Vargas lands a knee to the head.
Rook working hard to break the clinch.
Vargas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Vargas prevents Rook from breaking the clinch.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas has him pressed against the ropes.
Vargas lands an elbow inside.
Vargas landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vargas lands an elbow inside that Rook shrugs off.
Rook is trying to force a seperation but Vargas has the dominant position.
Rook working hard to break the clinch.
Vargas is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rook is keeping busy.
Rook blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Rook manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vargas tries to close the distance and clinch but Rook swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rook throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rook swats away the attempt to clinch by Vargas.
Vargas is looking to clinch but Rook is avoiding it.
Rook scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Vargas tries to close the distance and clinch but Rook swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rook swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A punch combination from Rook misses.

Vargas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Vargas lands a damaging elbow.
Vargas lands an elbow just above Rook 's eye.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vargas.
Vargas is looking to control Rook's arms but Rook gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vargas has his back to the ropes.
Vargas keeps control of Rook as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vargas lands a nice elbow.
Vargas keeps control of Rook as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vargas lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rook wants to get back to striking at distance but Vargas won't allow it.
Rook looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vargas lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling him.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Vargas landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vargas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rook working hard to break the clinch.
Vargas controlling the action here for a moment.
Vargas putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rook in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Vargas prevents Rook from breaking the clinch.
Vargas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Vargas wants to stall.
Rook can't break the clinch.
Rook has had enough of the clinch but Vargas keeps him there for the moment.
Rook working hard to break the clinch.
Rook looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rook is looking to break free of the clinch but Vargas has double underhooks.
Vargas dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Vargas lands an elbow inside.
Rook is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Vargas lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Vargas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rook tries to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling the position.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas has him pressed against the ropes.
Vargas lands an elbow that stopped Rook in his tracks for a moment.
A frustrated look appears on Rook's face as he tries to break the clinch.

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.
Vargas stalls.
Vargas throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vargas lands a damaging elbow.
Vargas has Rook pressed against the ropes, preventing Rook from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rook looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rook wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vargas has him pressed against the ropes.
Vargas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vargas trying to control the position but instead, Rook has worked for underhooks and has pushed Vargas into the ropes.
Rook wants to break free but Vargas has control.
Rook tries to break free but Vargas pushes him back against the ropes.
Vargas has Rook pressed against the ropes, preventing Rook from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vargas is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rook is keeping busy.
Rook is trying to break free.
Rook is looking to break free of the clinch but Vargas has double underhooks.
Rook takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling him.
Rook is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Vargas scores with a knee to the head.

The cut above Jonathon Rook's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Rook wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vargas landing knees to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Rook's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Vargas dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Vargas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Rook.
Jonathon Rook is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Vargas rushes Rook and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Rook looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas has him pressed against the ropes.
Vargas lands a damaging elbow.
Rook is looking to break free of the clinch but Vargas has double underhooks.
Vargas comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rook takes an elbow to the temple.
Rook tries to circle away but Vargas has him pinned against the ropes.
Rook tries to circle away but Vargas has him pinned against the ropes.
Vargas lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Vargas lands an elbow inside.
Vargas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Vargas lands an elbow inside that Rook shrugs off.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vargas.
Vargas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rook's defenses.
Vargas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Vargas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vargas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Vargas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rook's efforts to push away.
Rook tries to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling the position.
Vargas gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rook can't break the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas scores a nice knee to the body.
Vargas stalling the fight.
Rook wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rook is trying to break free.
Rook working hard to break the clinch.
Vargas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Vargas leaning against his opponent.
Vargas keeps control of Rook as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vargas lands an elbow just above Rook 's eye.
Rook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vargas lands a knee to the head.
Rook working hard to break the clinch.
Rook wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vargas lands a damaging elbow.
Rook wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vargas trying to stall but Rook improves his position.
Rook wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rook is looking to break free of the clinch but Vargas has double underhooks.
Rook is looking to break free of the clinch but Vargas has double underhooks.
The referee calls for Vargas to work.
Vargas taking a breather.
Rook being controlled against the ropes.
Rook is trying to break free.
Jonathon Rook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Vargas is looking to control Rook's arms but Rook gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vargas has his back to the ropes.
Rook is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Rook's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vargas content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rook is trying to break free.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Vargas working Rook over with knees to the body.
Rook wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vargas lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas has him pressed against the ropes.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Vargas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rook looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rook can't break the clinch.
Rook can't break the clinch.
Nice elbow from Vargas.
Vargas lands an elbow that stopped Rook in his tracks for a moment.
Vargas lands an elbow just above Rook 's eye.
Vargas is trying to stall.

Rook breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rook throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rook looks to throw the jab but Vargas is out of range.
Vargas tries to clinch up but Rook circles away and keeps his distance.
Rook misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vargas takes the fight into the clinch.
Vargas stalling in the clinch but Rook improves position.
Rook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rook looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vargas gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rook is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Vargas lands a nice elbow.
Vargas landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vargas is trying to maintain a safe position but Rook gets an underhook and turns Vargas into the ropes.
Rook looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vargas lands an elbow inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vargas.
Vargas scores a nice knee to the body.
Rook is trying to break free.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rook wants to break free but Vargas has control.
Vargas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rook's defenses.
Vargas is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rook is keeping busy.
Rook working hard to break the clinch.
Vargas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vargas scores a nice knee to the body.
Rook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vargas blocks an uppercut.
Vargas lands an elbow inside that Rook shrugs off.
Vargas lands a damaging elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vargas lands an elbow inside.
Vargas is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rook is keeping busy.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling him.
Rook is trying to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling him.
Rook wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rook wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vargas has him pressed against the ropes.
Vargas has Rook pushed against the ropes.
Vargas lands an elbow just above Rook 's eye.
Vargas misses with a knee strike.
Vargas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rook is trying to break free.
Vargas lands an elbow inside.
Vargas has Rook pressed against the ropes, preventing Rook from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rook throws a head punch that misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vargas blocking some punches.
Vargas lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Vargas using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rook has a couple of punches blocked by Vargas.
Rook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rook wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vargas lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Emmanuel Vargas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rook misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rook misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emmanuel Vargas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vargas, 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emmanuel Vargas!