PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Say Nara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasquez comes to the cage accompanied by Careless Whisper. Michael Vasquez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Vasquez
vs
Nara

185 cm
24
210 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

180 cm
24
217 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Say Nara!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nara throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vasquez shoots in but Nara avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vasquez shoots in for a takedown but Nara shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nara wants to clinch up but Vasquez keeps it at a distance.
Vasquez shoots in and drives through. Nara sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vasquez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nara is trying to stand.
Vasquez not doing much here.
Vasquez wants to control but Nara is keeping him busy.
Vasquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vasquez 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.
Nara on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nara preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Nara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vasquez.
Nara trying to hold on to Vasquez's head to control him but Vasquez postures up.
Vasquez prevents Nara from improving his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nara can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nara avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vasquez.
Nara slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

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.
Vasquez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nara struggling a bit here.
Nara tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nara avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Vasquez.
Nara is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vasquez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Vasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nara defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vasquez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nara wants to get back to full guard.
Vasquez thows a huge punch but Nara dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Vasquez there.
Vasquez working over Nara with some ground and pound. Nara looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Vasquez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nara does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Vasquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nara regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Vasquez.
Vasquez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Nara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nara pulls Vasquez in close to prevent any damage.
Nara looking for a sweep. Not yet Nara, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vasquez throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Vasquez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nara throws a series of punches but Vasquez avoids them all with ease.
Vasquez misses with a takedown attempt - Nara sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vasquez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Vasquez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nara did well to prevent Vasquez getting side control.
Vasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nara defending well though.
Vasquez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nara is looking for a sweep. Vasquez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vasquez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vasquez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Vasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nara defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nara keeps working.
Vasquez content to control rather than advance.
Vasquez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vasquez wants to take a breather but Nara is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vasquez shoots for a takedown but Nara saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vasquez shoots in for a double leg but Nara sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
An inside leg kick from Nara misses.
Nara throws a series of punches but Vasquez avoids them all with ease.
Vasquez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vasquez shoots in for a takedown but Nara shows good takedown defense.
Nara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vasquez shoots for a double leg takedown but Nara sprawls well. He's pushed Vasquez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nara cracks Vasquez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Vasquez scores a takedown into full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nara is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Vasquez looking to finish Nara with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nara!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nara is looking to improve his position but Vasquez isn't that keen on the idea.
Vasquez looking to control but Nara is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nara tries to hold on but Vasquez postures up.
Vasquez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nara is looking to escape.
Nara is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Vasquez swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nara is now in Vasquez's guard. A big mistake from Vasquez there, giving up the dominant position!

Vasquez is looking for a triangle here but Nara uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Nara has knee on belly momentarily but Vasquez bucks him off and regains half guard.
Nara has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Vasquez works to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Say Nara will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nara throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vasquez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nara but Nara pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nara misses with a low kick.

Vasquez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nara is staying active underneath Vasquez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nara is looking to improve his position.
Vasquez throws a strike but Nara avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Nara wants to stand and escape but Vasquez is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nara looking for a sweep. Not yet Nara, not yet.
Vasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vasquez trying to control but Nara is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nara scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Vasquez doesn't seem bothered though.
Say Nara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vasquez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vasquez shoots for a double leg takedown but Nara sprawls well. He's pushed Vasquez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A bone on bone clash there as Vasquez blocks the leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nara!
Donk. Nara catches Vasquez right on the button with a cross.
Nara jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nice body punch from Nara.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Nara 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.
Nara stuns Vasquez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez slips a jab and a cross from Nara.
Nara misses with the combination.

Vasquez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Vasquez wants to control from the top but Nara keeps moving.
Nara being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nara trying to control the position.
Vasquez postures up in Nara's guard and throws a big left but Nara blocks it.
Nara can't keep his opponent in guard - Vasquez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nara is trying to stand.
Vasquez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vasquez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Say Nara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nara has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Say Nara!