PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Enrico Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pietrus Malkevicius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Enrico Vargas has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Vargas
vs
Malkevicius

188 cm
20
179 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

170 cm
25
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Enrico Vargas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pietrus Malkevicius!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vargas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Malkevicius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vargas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Malkevicius counters with a straight right hand.

Malkevicius closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Malkevicius is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vargas sees it coming and defends easily.

Malkevicius is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vargas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Malkevicius.
Malkevicius seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vargas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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

Malkevicius wants to work for an arm triangle but Vargas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas wants to control but Malkevicius is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Malkevicius is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vargas is just riding it out for now. Malkevicius eventually gives up the hold.
Vargas wants to control but Malkevicius is keeping busy.

Malkevicius seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two 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.
Malkevicius thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Vargas to regain full guard.
Vargas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vargas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vargas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malkevicius.
Malkevicius loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Malkevicius throws a strike but Vargas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vargas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Malkevicius should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Malkevicius's head.
Vargas throwing strikes but missing.
Malkevicius avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Malkevicius not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vargas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vargas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vargas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vargas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malkevicius works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vargas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vargas postures up in Malkevicius's guard and throws a big left but Malkevicius blocks it.
Vargas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Malkevicius looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Malkevicius working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vargas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vargas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vargas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vargas throwing strikes from guard but Malkevicius blocks nicely.
Vargas preventing the sweep.
Vargas with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vargas chips away with some ground and pound.
Vargas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Malkevicius is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Malkevicius is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vargas moves in looking to clinch but Malkevicius pushes him off.

Malkevicius has managed to clinch.
Malkevicius is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vargas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A body shot lands from Vargas.
Vargas is leaning against Malkevicius and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkevicius tries to score a body lock takedown but Vargas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Vargas gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Vargas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vargas lands strikes from half guard.
Malkevicius blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vargas.
Vargas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Malkevicius is looking to control Vargas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Malkevicius avoid being mounted?
Malkevicius on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vargas thows a huge punch but Malkevicius dodges it nicely.
Vargas looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Malkevicius with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Vargas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Malkevicius on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkevicius is looking for a sweep. Vargas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vargas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Malkevicius defending well though.
Vargas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vargas prevents Malkevicius from improving his position.
Vargas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Malkevicius wants to control but Vargas is keeping busy.
Vargas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vargas throwing shots but Malkevicius is blocking nicely.
Enrico Vargas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Malkevicius is trying to stand.
Vargas prevents Malkevicius from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas thows a huge punch but Malkevicius dodges it nicely.
Malkevicius manages to get to full guard.
Vargas makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Vargas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vargas preventing the sweep.

Malkevicius has his foot on Vargas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vargas works his way back into a safe position though.
Vargas postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkevicius avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Malkevicius has momentary wrist control but Vargas slips an elbow through the middle.

Malkevicius is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Malkevicius is breathing heavily.
Vargas postures up in Malkevicius's guard and throws a big left but Malkevicius blocks it.
Vargas connects with a couple of short punches.
Vargas throws a strike but Malkevicius rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Malkevicius wants to control from the top but Vargas keeps moving.
Vargas keeping full guard, as Malkevicius tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enrico Vargas dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Malkevicius with a poor takedown

and Vargas counters with a takedown into side control.
Malkevicius takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Malkevicius takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Vargas working the ground and pound from side control.
Vargas working the head and body with strikes.
Malkevicius tries to buck Vargas off but Vargas is having none of it.
Malkevicius is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vargas throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Malkevicius tries to buck Vargas off but Vargas is having none of it.
Malkevicius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vargas working the body and head with strikes.
Malkevicius is working to avoid the ground and pound but Vargas connects with a decent elbow.

Malkevicius is rocked!
Vargas scoring with punches from side control.
Malkevicius is still in real trouble! Can Vargas finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas scores with a couple of short elbows.
Malkevicius manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Malkevicius works his way to full guard. Good work.
Malkevicius seems to have recovered his senses.
Vargas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vargas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Malkevicius utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vargas is looking to work some ground and pound but Malkevicius has wrist control.
Vargas throws a strike but Malkevicius rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Malkevicius working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkevicius chips away with some ground and pound.
Malkevicius won't allow Vargas to sweep him here.
Malkevicius sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Vargas's guard.
Vargas wants to improve his position but Malkevicius is controlling well.

Malkevicius is trying for a kimura here. Vargas looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Malkevicius wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Pietrus Malkevicius!