PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kanaan Rasheem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Quinton Vickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Vickson's choice of entrance music: Can't be Touched. Quinton Vickson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rasheem
vs
Vickson

186 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kanaan Rasheem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Quinton Vickson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vickson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rasheem's half guard.
Vickson throws a strike but Rasheem avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rasheem keeping full guard, as Vickson tries to pass.
Vickson postures up.
Vickson throwing strikes from guard but Rasheem blocks nicely.
Vickson throwing strikes but missing.
Vickson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rasheem utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vickson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rasheem works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Vickson gets a takedown into half guard.
Rasheem is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vickson misses with a head shot. Rasheem uses the momentum to regain guard.
Vickson throws a strike but Rasheem rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rasheem trying to control but Vickson is working from the bottom.

Rasheem drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rasheem jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rasheem pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vickson is keeping the position for now.
Vickson keeping moving, preventing Rasheem from controlling successfully.
Vickson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rasheem. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vickson throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rasheem trying to control the position from guard on top but Vickson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vickson striking off his back but it's not causing Rasheem any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rasheem fails with the takedown

and Vickson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rasheem's guard now.
Vickson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vickson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rasheem works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vickson lands a couple of digs.
Vickson throws a strike but Rasheem rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Vickson striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Vickson lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Vickson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Vickson looking for a sweep. Not yet Vickson, not yet.
Vickson looks gassed!
Rasheem trying to control but Vickson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vickson wants to sweep here but Rasheem controlling him for the moment.
Rasheem trying to control but Vickson is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vickson looks for a takedown but Rasheem sprawls well.
Rasheem misses with a takedown attempt

and Vickson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vickson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rasheem's head.
Vickson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rasheem gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rasheem is on top in guard.
Rasheem passes into half guard.
Rasheem is trying to control the action in half guard but Vickson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vickson can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasheem is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Rasheem is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rasheem keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Vickson wants to sweep but Rasheem has passed to side control!
Vickson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rasheem slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Vickson.
Rasheem can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vickson is looking to escape.
Vickson is trying to reverse the position but instead Rasheem has taken his back - oops!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rasheem throws a leg kick which misses Vickson's front leg but catches the back leg as Vickson tries to avoid it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Vickson has clasped his hands together around Rasheem's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
An elbow from Vickson crashes against the mat.
Vickson with the ground and pound but Rasheem regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Rasheem moves into full guard.
Vickson being controlled here momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vickson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vickson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasheem working a defensive guard here.
Vickson throwing strikes but missing.
Vickson is breathing heavily.
Vickson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rasheem looking to control.
Vickson throws a strike but Rasheem rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rasheem is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rasheem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vickson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rasheem tries to close the distance and clinch but Vickson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Vickson fails with the takedown
and Rasheem counters with a nice leg kick.
Vickson stuffs the takedown.
Vickson shoots and misses
and Rasheem counters with an inside leg kick.
Rasheem tries to clinch up.
Rasheem shoots in but no luck this time.
Rasheem tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vickson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rasheem somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kanaan Rasheem. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vickson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vickson throwing strikes but Rasheem manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Rasheem tries for a kimura but Vickson is defending well.
Vickson throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasheem cracks Vickson with a big right hand but Vickson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Vickson is trying to get back to half guard.

Rasheem thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Vickson is trying to improve his position.
Quinton Vickson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rasheem working the body and head with strikes.
Vickson throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Vickson striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Rasheem trying to control the action but Vickson is working from the bottom.

Rasheem is trying to get an arm triangle but Vickson is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vickson is trying to improve his position.
Rasheem trying to control the position but Vickson is working away.

Rasheem tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rasheem is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vickson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rasheem landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rasheem misses with a wild body shot.
Vickson with a poor takedown
and Rasheem counters with an inside leg kick.
Rasheem shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Vickson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rasheem won't be happy with that.
Vickson is putting a hurting on Rasheem here, landing some big shots from side control.
Vickson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Vickson working the ground and pound from side control.
Rasheem dodges the ground and pound from Vickson.
An elbow from Vickson crashes against the mat.
You can see the frustration on Rasheem's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rasheem is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vickson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasheem manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rasheem scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Vickson wants to improve his position but Rasheem is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rasheem closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rasheem jumps guard.
Rasheem is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Vickson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vickson throws a strike but Rasheem rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rasheem pushing down on Vickson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vickson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vickson is refusing to be controlled, as Rasheem sits in half guard.
Vickson is trying to get back to full guard.
Rasheem controlling the action here.
Rasheem blocks the strikes from Vickson.
Rasheem blocks the strikes from Vickson.
Vickson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rasheem wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vickson keeps working.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rasheem gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Vickson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vickson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vickson throws a strike but Rasheem avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rasheem is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vickson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vickson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vickson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vickson throws a strike but Rasheem rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Vickson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vickson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rasheem sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vickson misses with a takedown attempt

and Rasheem counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kanaan Rasheem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Quinton Vickson.
Vickson misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Rasheem is looking for a kimura here.
Vickson tries to get to full guard but Rasheem has control of the leg.
Vickson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Vickson is staying active underneath Rasheem, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Rasheem is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rasheem prevents Vickson from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vickson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Vickson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kanaan Rasheem.
I think Rasheem has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kanaan Rasheem!