PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think James might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rick Astley- Never gonna give you up. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

James
vs
Vera

185 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

194 cm
23
193 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Austin Vera!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Alyssa Summers and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Austin Vera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James leaves Vera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A lazy body kick from Vera

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Vera moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
James sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Vera has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
James trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.
Vera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vera trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.

Vera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Vera had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera is pulling down on James's head to control his posture.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Vera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Vera postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

James looking for a guillotine here but Vera defends easily.
Vera is pushing down on James's leg trying to pass to half guard. James is fighting to maintain full guard but Vera has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vera is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! James is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Austin Vera!