PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gorram Reavers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Art Vandelay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Art Vandelay will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Reavers
vs
Vandelay

190 cm
21
282 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
230 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gorram Reavers!
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, Art Vandelay!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vandelay gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Reavers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Reavers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reavers passes into half guard.

Reavers is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vandelay has managed to free his arm - good work.

Reavers is working for a kimura but Vandelay is defending it quite comfortably.
Vandelay wants to get back to full guard.
Vandelay is trying to control but can't.
Reavers working over Vandelay with some ground and pound. Vandelay looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reavers is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vandelay defends it well.
Vandelay won't allow Reavers to pass to mount.

Reavers is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Vandelay is looking to control Reavers's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vandelay avoid being mounted?
Vandelay desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Reavers seems to be working for a kimura but Vandelay defends the submission attempt.
Reavers missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Reavers is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A clash of legs there as Reavers blocks the low kick.
Vandelay misses with a body kick.
Vandelay misses with a low kick.

Reavers shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vandelay manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Reavers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vandelay is keeping the position for now.
Reavers slips nicely into half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Reavers is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Reavers is breathing heavily.
Reavers throwing shots but Vandelay is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reavers scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Vandelay slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Reavers preventing the sweep.
Reavers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Reavers 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.
Vandelay is adopting a defensive guard.

Reavers postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vandelay is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Reavers, into his guard.
Vandelay trying to stand up but can't free himself from Reavers's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reavers looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vandelay wants to stand but Reavers has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Reavers looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vandelay trying to stand up but can't free himself from Reavers's guard.
Vandelay stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reavers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gorram Reavers dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Reavers throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Reavers drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Reavers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Reavers throwing strikes from guard but Vandelay blocks nicely.
Reavers stopping the sweep attempt from Vandelay.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vandelay is on top in guard.

Reavers has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Vandelay is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Reavers.
Vandelay tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vandelay decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Vandelay waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Reavers.
Reavers checks a leg kick nicely.

Reavers darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Vandelay wants to improve his position but Reavers is controlling well.
Reavers thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Reavers uses his free foot to push down on Vandelay's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Vandelay.
Reavers landing strikes from the mount and Vandelay is in trouble!

Reavers has hold of Vandelay's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Vandelay manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vandelay is wriggling around trying to escape.

Reavers working for a submission but Vandelay is keeping him at bay.

Reavers with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Reavers punching from mount but Vandelay doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vandelay regains half guard.
Vandelay makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vandelay.
Vandelay has his hands on Reavers's head, controlling the position.
Vandelay looking for a sweep. Not yet Vandelay, not yet.
Reavers missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gorram Reavers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reavers trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Reavers drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vandelay dives on top into guard.
Vandelay wanted to stand there but Reavers had control of the position.
Vandelay really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reavers. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reavers looking for subs off his back but Vandelay has passed one foot through into half guard.
Reavers tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Vandelay has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Vandelay controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Art Vandelay will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Reavers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Reavers moves out of range of the leg kick from Vandelay.
Good leg kick by Vandelay there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Reavers doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vandelay counters with a good low kick that Reavers was not able to check.
Vandelay is looking to slow Reavers down with leg kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vandelay with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vandelay feints and then cracks Reavers's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Reavers down.
Vandelay tries to land a front kick but Reavers steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Vandelay misses with a low kick.
Vandelay 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.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Vandelay.
Vandelay thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Reavers if he has to take too many more of those.
Vandelay moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Reavers uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vandelay.
Vandelay throws a right and a left that Reavers avoids nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vandelay feints and then cracks Reavers's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Reavers down.
Vandelay tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reavers was well out of range. Poor timing from Vandelay.
A solid body kick from Vandelay.
Gorram Reavers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandelay lets loose with a powerful body kick. Reavers will feel that in the morning.
Vandelay motions for Reavers to come forward. Vandelay throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Reavers looks to land a left hand but Vandelay moved out of range nicely.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Vandelay. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
A nice leg kick lands there from Vandelay.
Reavers is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Vandelay is looking to slow Reavers down with leg kicks.
Vandelay pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Vandelay lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Reavers avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Vandelay is looking to score with low kicks.
Vandelay with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vandelay lands a front kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vandelay cracks the inside of Reavers's front leg.
Reavers gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Vandelay counters with a leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Vandelay. That's going to slow Reavers down.
Art Vandelay seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice leg kick lands there from Vandelay.
Crunch! Vandelay slams his shin into Reavers's torso.
A thudding body kick lands there by Vandelay!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vandelay lands with a thumping leg kick.
Vandelay clobbers Reavers with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vandelay throws a sloppy head kick and Reavers moves out of range easily.
Reavers avoids the head kick by Vandelay.
Vandelay connects with the punch.
Reavers avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Reavers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Vandelay counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gorram Reavers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vandelay throws a nice outside leg kick.
Reavers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vandelay works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Vandelay has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vandelay moves out of range of the strikes.
Reavers on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vandelay. Vandelay obviously looking to wear him down.
Vandelay feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Reavers's calf.
Vandelay lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Vandelay throws a front kick aimed at Reavers's knee but Reavers avoids it well.
Vandelay with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vandelay lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Reavers.
Reavers walks forward, straight into a front kick from Vandelay.
Reavers shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vandelay as he avoids it easily.
Vandelay is looking to slow Reavers down with leg kicks.
Vandelay tries a head kick but it misses.
Vandelay lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A bone on bone clash there as Reavers blocks the leg kick.
Reavers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vandelay tries to avoid it but Reavers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vandelay to the ground. Vandelay escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vandelay tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vandelay does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Vandelay tries to work over Reavers's front leg with a kick but Reavers checks it.
Reavers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vandelay scores with a leg kick.
Vandelay scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Reavers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vandelay avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reavers blocks the body kick.
Vandelay thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Reavers if he has to take too many more of those.
A thudding body kick lands there by Vandelay!
Vandelay scores with a nice body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vandelay swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A combination from Vandelay does no damage.
Reavers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vandelay but Vandelay pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vandelay lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Vandelay ducks under a wild hook from Reavers.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Reavers.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vandelay lands with a thumping leg kick.
Vandelay pivots, looking for a leg kick but Reavers is out of range and Vandelay settles back down.
Vandelay throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Art Vandelay comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vandelay 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Art Vandelay!