PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Rook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Vass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rook comes to the cage accompanied by Mr Krinkle. Nick Vass has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rook
vs
Vass

195 cm
20
285 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yuri Rook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Vass!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vass ducks under a wild hook from Rook.

Vass shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Vass was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Vass controlling the position easily from mount.

Vass looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Vass is working for a guillotine from mount but Rook frees his head quite easily.
Rook tries to hold on but Vass postures up.
Rook is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rook tries to hold on but Vass postures up.

Vass goes for an armbar but Rook turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rook.
Vass wants to sweep here but Rook controlling him for the moment.
Vass tries to strike from the bottom.
Rook trying to control the position from guard on top but Vass is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vass is trying to keep Rook in close.

Vass is looking for a triangle but Rook pushes his legs off easily.
Rook is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Vass uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rook throws a big shot that misses.
A head kick misses from Vass.
Rook throws a hook but Vass avoids it easily.
Rook throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vass sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A shot to de liver by Rook. Beautiful body shot.
Vass shoots in for a takedown but Rook shows good takedown defense.
Rook scores with a nice strike.
Rook throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vass slips a straight right by Rook.
Rook connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Yuri Rook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vass throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vass avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Rook scores with a takedown into Vass's guard.
Vass looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vass keeping moving, preventing Rook from controlling successfully.
Rook pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vass is keeping the position for now.
Vass working a defensive guard but Rook manages to pass into side control anyway.
Rook scoring with punches from side control.
Vass struggling a bit here.
Rook blocks the strikes from Vass.
Rook is looking to take a break and control but Vass is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vass struggling a bit here.
Vass might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rook kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Rook thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rook moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vass shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rook's guard.
Vass trying to control but Rook is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rook displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vass.
Vass takes one to the chin there.
Rook swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Vass.
Rook gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Vass moves into the clinch.
Vass misses with the head strike.
Vass goes for a takedown attempt but Rook pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rook paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

It looks like Nick Vass has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vass pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rook scores with a nice strike.
Rook ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vass moves away.
Rook fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vass looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rook swings for the body but Vass moves out of range.
Nick Vass is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vass is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rook fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Vass on the side of the head.

Vass has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vass is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Yuri Rook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Vass.
Vass tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vass tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rook just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vass drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rook has had enough of the clinch but Vass keeps him there for the moment.
Vass looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vass missing with knees to the body.
Rook prevents Vass from breaking the clinch.
Vass throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rook wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rook is looking to break free of the clinch but Vass has double underhooks.
Rook tries to break the clinch but Vass is controlling the position.
Vass goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rook prevents it.

Rook's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vass takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vass takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rook thuds a left hand into Vass's body.
A cross from Rook lands.
Rook lands a jab to the head.
Rook lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Vass is rocked!

Rook changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vass looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Vass is still in real trouble! Can Rook finish him?
Rook passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Vass!
Vass seems to have recovered his senses.
Rook takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vass wants to hold on but Rook pushes him away.
Rook landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rook tries to control but Vass wriggling away.
Rook takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Vass tries to lock up and control but Rook gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rook with good strikes from the mount here!

Rook working for a submission but Vass is keeping him at bay.
Vass really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vass flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Vass is squirming around, avoiding Rook's attempts to control the action.
Vass bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Vass wants to stand but Rook is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rook has Vass pulled in close to control his posture.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rook is trying to control the position but Vass postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Rook dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nick Vass's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Vass shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rook as he jumps to the side.
Rook fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rook catches Vass with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rook throws a jab when Vass was well out of range.
Rook is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Vass bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab lands there for Rook.
Rook misses with a wild body shot.
Rook swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Vass counters with a shoot takedown. Rook fights it but they end up in guard.
Vass trying to control but Rook is working from the bottom.
Vass must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vass won't allow Rook to sweep him here.
Vass trying to control but Rook is working from the bottom.
Rook controls Vass momentarily but Vass frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rook looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vass is one step ahead there.
Rook is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vass trying to control the position from guard on top but Rook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rook bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vass's guard.
Rook wants to control from the top but Vass keeps moving.
Vass manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rook manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rook working a defensive guard here.
Rook has a closed guard, preventing Vass from standing up.
Rook keeping moving, preventing Vass from controlling successfully.
Rook is trying to control the position but Vass postures up.
Rook keeping moving, preventing Vass from controlling successfully.
Yuri Rook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rook managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook looking for a sweep. Not yet Rook, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rook is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vass.
Rook lands a really nice looking cross but Vass seems unphased.
Rook keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Vass shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rook napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Vass trying to control the action but Rook is working from the bottom.
Rook is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vass's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vass is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Vass tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rook controls his leg.
Rook is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vass's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vass's back!
Rook loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Vass hold on?

Rook is persistently looking for the submission but Vass is defending it well.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Nick Vass has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vass prevents Rook from getting a body triangle.

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 Yuri Rook.
Well Rook has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:26
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:26
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Rook!