PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Vatali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Wilson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Vatali
vs
Wilson

188 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Vatali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Wilson!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vatali misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wilson.
Vatali loads up on a big right hand but Wilson slips the punch.
Vatali swings for the body but Wilson moves out of range.

Vatali gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wilson with a nice head shot there.
Vatali trying to strike off his back.
Wilson wants to pass the guard but Vatali is keeping the position.
Vatali wants to stand up but Wilson is controlling him.
Vatali looking for a sweep. Not yet Vatali, not yet.
Wilson wants to stand but Vatali has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Wilson wants to pass the guard but Vatali is keeping the position.
Vatali has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Vatali throws a nice looking combination but Wilson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wilson tries to clinch but Vatali is having none of it.
A good leg kick by Vatali.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vatali cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Wilson rushes Vatali and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Vatali is pressed up against the cage. Wilson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vatali down to the mat. Vatali avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Wilson moves in looking to clinch but Vatali pushes him off.
Wilson tries to clinch up.

Vatali shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Wilson is trying to escape the mount.
Vatali looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Vatali looking to secure an arm triangle but Wilson defends it well.
Vatali is breathing heavily.
Vatali controlling the pace for now.
Vatali with shots to the head and body - Wilson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Wilson gets back to half guard.
Vatali working the head and body with strikes.
Vatali throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilson gets full guard.

Wilson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vatali doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vatali manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vatali trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vatali postures up and lands a big shot to Wilson's brow.
Wilson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Wilson pushes Vatali off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Vatali scores with a takedown into Wilson's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Wilson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vatali connects with a couple of short punches.
Vatali preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vatali wants to get up but he can't break Wilson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Wilson keeping full guard, as Vatali tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vatali decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Wilson, up you get!
Wilson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Vatali scores a takedown into full mount!
Wilson tries to reverse the position but Vatali maintains control.
Wilson gets back to half guard.
Vatali tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wilson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Vatali is looking to take a break and control but Wilson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wilson is pressing down on Vatali's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Vatali decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Wilson drives through and clinches with Vatali against the cage.
Wilson prevents a body shot from Vatali.
Wilson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wilson has Vatali pushed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wilson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vatali scores with a jab. Wilson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Vatali looks to land a right hand but Wilson moved out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Vatali as Wilson shoots in.
Joe Vatali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Wilson.

Wilson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vatali sprawls well initially but Wilson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wilson is trying to control the action in half guard but Vatali is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wilson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Vatali manages to get to full guard.
Wilson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Wilson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wilson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Wilson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wilson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vatali keeping full guard, as Wilson tries to pass.
Wilson lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Wilson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wilson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vatali swivels and escapes.
Wilson shoots and misses
and Vatali counters with a left to the body.

Vatali forces Wilson back against the cage and clinches.
Wilson is looking to break free of the clinch but Vatali has double underhooks.
Wilson tries for a takedown but Vatali manages to get underhooks.
Joe Vatali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Wilson.
Vatali digs a right hand into Wilson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Wilson's gas tank.

Vatali breaks from the clinch.
Vatali stuffs the takedown attempt from Wilson. Wilson gets slowly back to his feet.

Vatali moves into the clinch successfully.
Wilson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wilson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Vatali.
Nice body punch from Vatali - that landed with a thud.
Wilson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wilson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vatali's elbow.
Wilson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Wilson breaks the clinch.
Vatali throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wilson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Joe Vatali has been cut.
Vatali takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Joe Vatali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vatali tries to close the distance and clinch but Wilson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wilson tries to bum rush Vatali with a series of wild strikes but Vatali uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Wilson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Vatali wants to control but Wilson postures up.
Wilson trying to control the position but Vatali is working away.
Vatali is trying to get back to half guard.
Vatali is trying to get back to his feet.
Vatali manages to work his way to half guard, despite Wilson's best efforts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wilson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vatali is trying to stand back up but Wilson is controlling him
Wilson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Wilson trying to control from half guard but Vatali is working away.
Vatali pushes Wilson off looking to stand but Wilson dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilson slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Wilson lands a nice short elbow.
Vatali tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Wilson manages to move to mount!
Wilson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wilson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vatali wants to try and get back to his feet.
Vatali bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Vatali lands a couple of elbows.
Vatali pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilson is keeping the position for now.

Vatali gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Vatali swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Wilson.

Vatali clinches up against the cage.
Wilson struggles to land a body shot inside as Vatali controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatali lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Wilson throws a punch but it's blocked by Vatali.
Wilson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Vatali.
Wilson is working for takedown but Vatali is calmly controlling the position for now.
Wilson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wilson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Wilson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Wilson is in close to Vatali's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Wilson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vatali looking for a sweep. Not yet Vatali, not yet.
Wilson lands a couple of elbows.
Wilson chips away with some ground and pound.
Wilson passes Vatali's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wilson works his way into side control.
Wilson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Vatali is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vatali manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Vatali manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Wilson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wilson stands up over Vatali, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vatali is on top in guard.
Wilson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vatali not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vatali is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vatali lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vatali stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wilson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wilson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wilson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Vatali is looking to stand up but Wilson won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Wilson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joe Vatali's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Vatali misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Wilson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vatali won't be happy with that.
Wilson moves into full mount!
Oooooh, big shot lands for Wilson! Vatali is hurt baaadly! Wilson is firing away with more strikes - Vatali is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). John Wilson!