PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Vidal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralle Pihl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vidal
vs
Pihl

164 cm
19
132 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Caleb Vidal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ralle Pihl!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vidal attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Vidal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vidal throws a hook to the side of Pihl's head but Pihl sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pihl shoots in for a double leg but Vidal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pihl throws a hook but Vidal blocks it.
Vidal throws a looping overhand right but Pihl ducks down to avoid it.

Pihl scores with a takedown into Vidal's guard.
Pihl wants to stand but Vidal is controlling his posture from full guard.
Vidal is pulling down on Pihl's head. It's preventing any offense from Pihl, at least for the moment.
Vidal wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vidal is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Pihl tries to pull guard but Vidal won't allow it.
Pihl scores with a nice hook to the head.

Pihl manages to pull guard.
Vidal postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vidal scoring with some ground and pound.
Vidal trying to control but Pihl is working from the bottom.
Pihl avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Pihl looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vidal postures up and lands a big shot to Pihl's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vidal postures up and lands a big shot to Pihl's brow.
Vidal might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Vidal throws a big right hand that misses.
Vidal is pushing down on Pihl's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pihl is fighting to maintain full guard but Vidal has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pihl is looking to control Vidal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pihl avoid being mounted?
Pihl tries to roll over but Vidal keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pihl looks gassed!
Vidal wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pihl on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vidal 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.

Vidal is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pihl makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pihl.
Vidal won't allow Pihl to get back to his feet.
Pihl throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Vidal scoring with some ground and pound.
Vidal is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Vidal drops back looking for a leg! Pihl is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pihl manages to kick Vidal off! Vidal jumps back into Pihl's guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vidal has closed the distance and engaged Pihl in a clinch.
Vidal is trying to drag Pihl to the mat but Pihl just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pihl misses with the head strike.
Pihl lands a hook that snaps the head of Vidal backwards.
Vidal wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pihl avoiding damage.
Pihl is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pihl looking to throw knees to the head but Vidal is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb Vidal dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pihl tries for a takedown but Vidal sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pihl misses with a takedown attempt - Vidal sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pihl looking to slow down the pace here.

Pihl has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Vidal is trying to keep an underhook but Pihl manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Pihl wants to advance to full mount but Vidal doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Vidal doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Pihl is breathing heavily.

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

Vidal moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pihl prevents the takedown attempt.
Vidal blocks the elbow strike.
Vidal tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pihl just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pihl dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Vidal fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Vidal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pihl looking to stall.
Pihl wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vidal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pihl backwards.
Pihl holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pihl receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Pihl trying to control the position but instead, Vidal has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pihl into the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vidal changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pihl fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Caleb Vidal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vidal scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vidal throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pihl stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Vidal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pihl paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vidal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pihl sprawls well. Pihl wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vidal gets slowly back to his feet.
Pihl lands with a nice body kick.
Vidal scores with a one two! Pihl had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Vidal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pihl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vidal darts in and clinches Pihl up against the cage.
Pihl throws a punch but it's blocked by Vidal.
Vidal lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pihl backwards.
Nice body punch from Vidal.
Pihl is looking to control Vidal's arms but Vidal gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pihl has his back to the cage.

Vidal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vidal.
Vidal looks up at the clock and then as Pihl takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Vidal smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Vidal is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pihl has escaped the position, nice work there.

Vidal is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Pihl looks calm but he's in trouble here. Vidal gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Pihl is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Vidal lets go of the hold and Pihl can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Caleb Vidal!