PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Vatali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stewie Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Stewie Evans enters the cage!

Vatali
vs
Evans

188 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

S.W.A.T.

MMA's Best Nutrition

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Vatali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stewie Evans!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans misses with a low kick as Vatali jumps back.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vatali.
Vatali lands a few punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vatali goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Evans has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Vatali but great work by Evans.

Evans is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vatali is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Evans tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
I wouldn't like to be where Vatali is right now.
Vatali tries to buck Evans off but Evans is having none of it.

Evans is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vatali is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Vatali manages to work his way to half guard, despite Evans's best efforts.
Evans trying to control from half guard but Vatali is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evans looks gassed!
Vatali is working to get back to half guard.
Vatali is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Evans trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vatali is working to get back to half guard.
Vatali manages to control the position for a moment.
Evans is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatali wants to hold on but Evans pushes him away.
Vatali keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Evans has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Vatali's face.
Vatali is squirming around, avoiding Evans's attempts to control the action.
Evans with the ground and pound from mount.
Vatali tries to hold on but Evans pushes him away.
Evans controlling the position easily from mount.
Vatali tries to hold on but Evans pushes him away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Evans landing shots from mount.
Vatali is squirming around, avoiding Evans's attempts to control the action.
Evans lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans looking to control but Vatali is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Evans sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Evans scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Vatali?
Evans is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Vatali wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Vatali trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Vatali is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Evans gets his way!
Vatali trying to get back to his feet but Evans is in full control for now.
Evans lands shots from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Evans gets his hands free as Vatali looks to control.
Vatali wants to escape the position.
Evans slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Vatali trying to control the position but Evans manages to sink in the hooks.
Vatali turns into Evans and is now in his guard.
Evans tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Evans is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Evans doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vatali counters with a thumping low kick.

Evans clinches up with Vatali and pushes him back against the cage.

Evans decides to pull guard.

Evans is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Vatali struggles to land a body shot inside as Evans controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stewie Evans dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Evans feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Evans wants to control from the top but Vatali keeps moving.
Vatali working a defensive guard here.
Evans won't allow Vatali to sweep him here.
Evans wanted to stand there but Vatali had control of the position.
Vatali managing to control the position.
Evans won't allow Vatali to sweep him here.
Evans works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Vatali is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Evans keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Vatali is trying to stand back up but Evans is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatali controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Vatali wants to control but Evans is keeping busy.
Evans wants to pass to mount but Vatali is defending the position.
Vatali slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vatali is pulling down on Evans's head to control his posture.
Vatali bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Evans's guard.

Vatali drops back looking for a leg! Evans is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Evans manages to kick Vatali off! Vatali jumps back into Evans's guard.
Vatali 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Vatali trying to control the position from guard on top but Evans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Evans looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vatali is one step ahead there.
Evans working a defensive guard here.
Vatali 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.
Vatali sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Evans's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatali is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Evans is trying to get back to full guard.

Vatali decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Vatali fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Evans, pushing him back against the cage.

Evans breaks the clinch.
Evans misses with a body shot.
Vatali fails in his attempt to clinch.
Evans shoots for a double leg takedown but Vatali sprawls well. He's pushed Evans's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vatali throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Evans shoots in but Vatali avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vatali blocks a head kick by Evans.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans fakes the leg kick and cracks Vatali in the body.
Joe Vatali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown. Vatali tries to sprawl out of it but Evans keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vatali manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Joe Vatali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stewie Evans.

Evans shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Evans was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Evans won't let Vatali get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Evans trying to control but Vatali is having none of it.
Vatali bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Vatali slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joe Vatali will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Vatali looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stewie Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans tries to clinch up
and Vatali counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Evans misses with a double jab.

Vatali gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Vatali breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Evans tries for a takedown but Vatali sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Evans is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Evans keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Evans drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Evans tries to advance to mount but can't.
Evans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vatali manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatali tries to stand but can't do so whilst Evans controls his leg.
Vatali passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Evans!

Vatali working for a submission but Evans is keeping him at bay.
Evans is trying desperately to improve position.
BOOM! Vatali connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Vatali controlling his opponent.
Evans bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatali trying to control the position.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Vatali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Vatali scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Evans feints and as Vatali raises his hands in defense, Evans changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Evans stopping the sweep attempt from Vatali.
Evans wants to control from the top but Vatali keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatali wants to sweep here but Evans controlling him for the moment.
Evans would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Vatali kicks Evans off and gets to his feet.
Vatali tries to clinch up.
Evans looks for a takedown but Vatali sprawls well.
Vatali moves out of range as Evans throws a body kick.
Evans closes the distance looking to clinch

and Vatali counters by moving into the clinch.
Vatali lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Vatali - that landed with a thud.
Vatali is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vatali pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Joe Vatali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stewie Evans.
Vatali using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vatali landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Evans successfully pulls guard.
Evans looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Vatali avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Vatali 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.
Vatali trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Evans looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Evans is on top in guard.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Vatali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 Joe Vatali.
I think Vatali 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joe Vatali!