PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Mankiw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Osmo Vasama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Vasama's choice of entrance music: Beastie Boys - Sureshot. Gregory Mankiw has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mankiw
vs
Vasama

172 cm
28
154 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

170 cm
24
150 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gregory Mankiw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Osmo Vasama!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mankiw is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vasama.

Vasama fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mankiw, pushing him back against the cage.
Vasama with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Gregory Mankiw has been cut.
Mankiw swings wildly with an uppercut but Vasama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vasama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Vasama.
Vasama connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mankiw's face.
Vasama looking to throw knees to the head but Mankiw is blocking nicely.
Vasama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vasama missing with knees to the body.
Vasama lands a knee to the head.
Vasama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vasama misses with a knee to the head.
Vasama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mankiw blocks it with crossed arms.
Mankiw throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vasama blocks it with crossed arms.
Mankiw using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vasama looks gassed!
Mankiw softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mankiw lands with a right to the head.
Mankiw scores with a shot to the side of Vasama's head.
Mankiw misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vasama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mankiw has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vasama.
Mankiw stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mankiw.
Mankiw lands with a short shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Mankiw.
A short right from Mankiw on the inside.
Mankiw is leaning against Vasama and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mankiw jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vasama walks away with a smile on his face. Mankiw gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Vasama connects with an inside leg kick.
Vasama has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mankiw finds it's way round the side to connect with Vasama's head.
A left and a right from Mankiw both land. Nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mankiw just misses with a punch to the body.
Vasama walks into a left hand.
Mankiw connects with a body shot.
Mankiw misses with a series of wild punches.
Mankiw fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vasama avoids it really well and circles away.
Gregory Mankiw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mankiw connects with a crisp jab.
Mankiw lands with an overhand left.
Vasama is looking to slow Mankiw down with leg kicks.
Mankiw avoids the head kick by Vasama.
A head kick misses from Vasama.
Mankiw sizes up Vasama with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mankiw avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mankiw misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Mankiw there.
Mankiw misses with a hook. Vasama ducked under it nicely.
Mankiw steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Vasama. That one must have hurt.
Vasama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mankiw swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mankiw shoots in looking for a takedown but Vasama manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mankiw's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregory Mankiw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasama tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vasama scores with a leg kick.
Vasama fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mankiw has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mankiw lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A jab from Mankiw misses.
Vasama tries to close the distance and clinch but Mankiw swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mankiw lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mankiw misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mankiw dips to his left and cracks Vasama with an uppercut!
Vasama moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Vasama ducks under a wild hook from Mankiw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasama slips a straight right by Mankiw.
Vasama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Mankiw manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mankiw blocks a head kick by Vasama.
Mankiw misses with a few strikes there.
Nice defenses there by Vasama.
Vasama misses with a low kick as Mankiw jumps back.
Mankiw misses with a right hand
and Vasama counters with a head kick.
Mankiw darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Vasama scores with a nice body kick.
Vasama throws a chopping leg kick but Mankiw manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Vasama turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mankiw misses with a double jab.
Mankiw misses the shot to the body.
Mankiw misses with a leg kick
and Vasama makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Vasama ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mankiw looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mankiw has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Vasama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mankiw jabs Vasama right on the nose. Vasama blinks but takes it well.
Good work by Mankiw as he checks the leg kick.
Vasama tries to clinch there but Mankiw circles away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vasama, right into the meat.
Mankiw throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Osmo Vasama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mankiw fails to land with a series of punches.
Mankiw avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mankiw chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vasama can pounce on him.
Mankiw throws a big shot that misses.
Mankiw is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Vasama scores with a head kick.
Mankiw throws a jab when Vasama was well out of range.
Mankiw misses with a double jab.
Vasama scoring well with a low kick there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big left from Mankiw misses.
Mankiw looks to throw the jab but Vasama is out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Vasama. No joy for Mankiw on that attempt.
Vasama throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gregory Mankiw will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gregory Mankiw's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mankiw scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A solid leg kick lands there for Vasama.
Mankiw misses with a leg kick
and Vasama counters with a nice body kick.
Vasama fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mankiw.
Vasama lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mankiw's sensitive parts.
Vasama connects with a leg kick. Mankiw looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Vasama fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Vasama scores with a head kick. Mankiw tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vasama, right into the meat.

Vasama fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mankiw, pushing him back against the cage.
Vasama throws a head punch that misses.
Mankiw misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mankiw.
Vasama landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vasama tries to land knees in the clinch but Mankiw avoids the damage to the body.
Vasama tries to land knees in the clinch but Mankiw avoids the damage to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vasama.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vasama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vasama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mankiw avoids it.
Vasama misses with a knee to the head.
Mankiw managing to block the knees to the body from Vasama.
Vasama connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mankiw's face.
Vasama utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mankiw misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mankiw avoids it.
Vasama putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mankiw in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Vasama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mankiw blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vasama landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vasama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mankiw throws a head punch that misses.
Vasama misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mankiw.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mankiw creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mankiw is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Vasama tries to land knees in the clinch but Mankiw avoids the damage to the body.
Vasama takes a shot to the head.
Vasama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mankiw has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short uppercut from Mankiw.
Vasama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mankiw has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mankiw throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Vasamas head.
Mankiw is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Vasama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vasama misses with a knee to the head.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mankiw pulls guard successfully.

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

Mankiw is looking for a triangle here but Vasama uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mankiw is trying to get back to half guard.
Vasama trying to control the position but Mankiw is working away.
Mankiw struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mankiw takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Mankiw is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Vasama decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Gregory Mankiw is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mankiw misses the jab.
Vasama steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mankiw.
Mankiw throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vasama uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mankiw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mankiw lands a nice shot that snaps Vasama's head back.
Vasama with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Mankiw checks a leg kick.
Vasama is looking to clinch.
Vasama steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mankiw.
Vasama motions for Mankiw to come forward. Vasama throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vasama avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vasama throws a sloppy head kick and Mankiw moves out of range easily.
Vasama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mankiw throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vasama lands with a slapping head kick.
Vasama throws a head kick that misses
and Mankiw counters with a series of strikes. Vasama will be more careful next time no doubt.
Vasama throws a head kick that misses.
Vasama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vasama lands with a thumping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Osmo Vasama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gregory Mankiw's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mankiw throws a combination that misses
and Vasama counters with a nice body kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mankiw.
Vasama throws a leg kick but Mankiw checks it.
Mankiw misses with a few strikes there.
Vasama chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Vasama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vasama fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mankiw.
Vasama throws a chopping leg kick but Mankiw manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Osmo Vasama seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mankiw uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Vasama clinches.
Mankiw takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mankiw fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mankiw cracks Vasama with a nice body shot.
Mankiw misses with the head strike.
Vasama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vasama lands a knee to the head.
Mankiw lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Vasama's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mankiw is trying to break the clinch but Vasama is controlling him.
Mankiw using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vasama has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vasama misses with a knee to the head.
Mankiw can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mankiw is defending well for now.
Vasama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mankiw is defending well for now.
Mankiw lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Knees to the body from Vasama.
A short uppercut from Mankiw.
Mankiw swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mankiw avoiding damage as Vasama throws knees to the body.
Vasama takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mankiw misses with an elbow over the top.
Vasama misses with a knee strike.
Mankiw working hard to break the clinch.
Vasama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vasama tries a knee to the head but Mankiw blocks it.
Mankiw misses with some punches.
Vasama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vasama tries to land a knee to the head but Mankiw blocks with his arms.
Vasama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mankiw has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mankiw looking to throw knees to the head but Vasama is blocking nicely.
Vasama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mankiw throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vasama blocks it with crossed arms.
Mankiw avoiding damage as Vasama throws knees to the body.
Mankiw misses with a knee strike.
Vasama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mankiw misses with a knee strike.
Vasama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mankiw managing to block the knees to the body from Vasama.
Mankiw with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mankiw trying to land knees to the body.
Vasama scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Vasama with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mankiw takes a knee to the side of the body.
Vasama missing with knees to the body.

Mankiw jumps into guard, dragging Vasama to the mat.

Mankiw had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vasama defends it easily.
Mankiw looking for a sweep. Not yet Mankiw, not yet.

Mankiw working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vasama doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vasama manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vasama stands up over Mankiw, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Mankiw had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vasama defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mankiw working a defensive guard but Vasama passes into half guard.
Vasama controlling the action here.
Vasama prevents Mankiw from improving his position.
Mankiw trying to control but Vasama postures up.
Vasama wants to control but Mankiw is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vasama is thwarting Mankiw's attempts to control the position.
Mankiw is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mankiw cracks Vasama with a right hand to the side of the head.
Vasama throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mankiw is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vasama.
Mankiw throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vasama sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vasama throws a leg kick which misses Mankiw's front leg but catches the back leg as Mankiw tries to avoid it.
Mankiw throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vasama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mankiw.
The fighters circling - Mankiw throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Osmo Vasama.
Well Vasama has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Osmo Vasama!