PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lonnie Thug (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Vassell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Thug might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Breathe - The Prodigy. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thug
vs
Vassell

183 cm
21
192 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
194 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lonnie Thug!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tyler Vassell!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vassell drops Thug with a left right combo! Vassell follows him down to the ground into side control.

It looks like Lonnie Thug has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thug is looking for a sweep.
Vassell lands an elbow.
Vassell working the head and body with strikes.
Thug gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Vassell is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Vassell wants to work for an arm triangle but Thug is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vassell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thug defending well though.
Thug blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vassell.
Thug trying to control here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thug avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vassell.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vassell is looking for a kimura but Thug is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vassell to get the leverage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thug.
Thug fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Thug with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lonnie Thug. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vassell fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vassell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thug moves away.
Nice defenses there by Thug.
Thug fails to land the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Vassell. No joy for Thug on that attempt.
Thug has a takedown stuffed.
Vassell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thug shoots in for a takedown but Vassell shows good takedown defense.
Vassell throws a series of punches but Thug avoids them all with ease.
Thug shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vassell sprawls well. Vassell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thug gets slowly back to his feet.
Vassell stuffs the takedown attempt from Thug. Thug gets slowly back to his feet.
Thug is breathing heavily.
Vassell swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Thug darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Vassell is holding on to half guard well.
Thug not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thug working Vassell over with strikes.
Thug is thwarting Vassell's attempts to control the position.
Thug is pressing down on Vassell's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vassell is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vassell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thug.
Thug thows a huge punch but Vassell dodges it nicely.
Thug prevents Vassell from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Vassell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vassell wants it to stay on the feet.
Vassell displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Vassell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thug has a takedown stuffed.
Thug is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vassell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Thug shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vassell napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Vassell is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Thug working away.
Thug looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Vassell is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thug is trying to ground and pound but Vassell uses the momentary lack of control by Thug to regain half guard.
Vassell makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vassell.
Vassell pulls Thug in close to prevent any damage.
Vassell working a defensive guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vassell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thug working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vassell working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Vassell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lonnie Thug's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vassell lands a two punch combo.
A swing and a miss from Vassell.

Vassell decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thug gets full guard.
Thug manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vassell manages to get himself to full guard.
Vassell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vassell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thug working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vassell controlling Thug's posture.
Vassell lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thug!
Thug is squirming around, avoiding Vassell's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thug tries to hold on but Vassell pushes him away.
Thug tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vassell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

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

Vassell is looking for a triangle but Thug pushes his legs off easily.
Vassell is breathing heavily.
Vassell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thug with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vassell is pulling down on Thug's head. It's preventing any offense from Thug, at least for the moment.
Thug throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vassell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thug throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thug lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vassell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thug manages to get himself to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thug is on top in guard.
Thug throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vassell working a defensive guard here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thug's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Vassell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thug gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thug trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thug postures up in Vassell's guard and throws a big left but Vassell blocks it.
Vassell working a defensive guard here.
Thug throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thug with a lazy takedown attempt

and Vassell counters with a takedown into side control.
Vassell working away.
Thug is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vassell off and has taken his back!
Vassell tries to escape but Thug has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Thug gets his hands free as Vassell looks to control.

Thug is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Thug throwing damaging strikes from the back! Vassell could be in trouble here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vassell trying to control the hands but Thug won't let him.
Thug scores with punches to the body.
Thug throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Thug is punishing Vassell with strikes - can he finish him?!
Thug connects with a big shot to the side of Vassell's head.
Thug misses with punches from the back.
Tyler Vassell has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vassell rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Thug is working for a kimura but Vassell is defending it quite comfortably.

Thug is looking for a kimura but Vassell is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thug to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Vassell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lonnie Thug's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Thug doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vassell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vassell fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lonnie Thug seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vassell 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.
Vassell throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
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!
Vassell lands a jab.
Vassell smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Thug looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Thug uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vassell.
Vassell lands a jab to Thug's midsection.

Vassell scores a takedown into full mount!
Vassell fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Thug is in a horrible position here. Vassell smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Thug really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vassell landing shots from mount.

Vassell goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Thug is on top in guard.
Vassell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vassell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vassell controlling the position.
Thug is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vassell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thug.
Thug content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thug distracts Vassell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lonnie Thug has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thug working some strikes from top position.
Thug throwing strikes but missing.
Vassell wants to sweep but no luck.
Thug throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vassell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vassell is pulling down on Thug's head. It's preventing any offense from Thug, at least for the moment.
Thug preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thug accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thug working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vassell is trying to keep Thug in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vassell misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vassell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Thug is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Vassell's half guard.
Thug sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vassell defending well though.
Vassell manages to get to full guard.
Thug with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thug accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thug preventing the sweep.
Thug postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vassell looking for a sweep. Not yet Vassell, not yet.

Thug drops back looking for a leg! Vassell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vassell manages to kick Thug off! Thug jumps back into Vassell's guard.
Thug trying to control but Vassell is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vassell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vassell misses with a two punch combination.
Thug tries for a takedown but Vassell circles away easily
and Vassell counters with a three punch combo that has Thug backing up. Thug nods at Vassell to acknowledge the strikes.

Thug darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vassell trying to control here.
Tyler Vassell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vassell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thug.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Vassell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vassell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Vassell!