PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mini Bard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malenkai Vario (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bard comes to the cage accompanied by It's Catching Up (NoMeansNo). Vario is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Last Night of the Kings. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Malenkai Vario enters the cage!

Bard
vs
Vario

178 cm
25
158 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

175 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Bloodbath Fighting Clothes

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mini Bard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Malenkai Vario!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vario moves to clinch but Bard breaks away
enabling Bard to counter with a crisp jab.
Vario closes the distance and clinches up with Bard, looking for a takedown. Vario pushes Bard against the cage but Bard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vario shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Bard counter with a right hand.
Vario shoots and misses
and Vario takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mini Bard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malenkai Vario.

Bard moves into the clinch successfully.
Vario is trying to drag Bard to the mat but Bard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Vario tries to score a body lock takedown but Bard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Vario takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vario has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Vario looks gassed!
Bard lands an elbow inside that Vario shrugs off.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bard obliges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bard landing knees to the head.
Bard landing knees to the head.
Nice elbow from Bard.

Bard lands a takedown into guard.
Bard is pushing down on Vario's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vario is fighting to maintain full guard but Bard has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bard takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bard works his foot free and advances to mount.
Vario is in a horrible position here. Bard smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bard dominating with strikes here.
Vario working to try and regain half guard.
Bard trying to control but Vario is having none of it.
Vario blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bard throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Vario because Bard loaded up on that one.
Bard throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Bard goes for an armbar but Vario turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Vario.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bard wants to get back to his feet but Vario is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vario's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vario won't allow Bard to sweep him here.
Vario passes into half guard.
Vario looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vario missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bard is not content to let Vario control the position.
Vario missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bard trying to control from the bottom.
Vario lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bard is trying to control but can't.

Vario is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Vario not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bard wants to improve his position but Vario is controlling well.
Bard looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vario missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vario lands a nice short elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vario lands with a punch from half guard.

Bard is defending against the submission attempts here by Vario.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vario is looking to advance position but Bard won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mini Bard dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vario fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vario fails with a takedown attempt.
Bard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vario manages to avoid it.
Vario ducks under a wild hook from Bard.
Bard misses with an attempted mid kick.
Vario closes the distance looking to clinch
and Bard counters with a low kick, right behind Vario 's knee.
Bard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Vario. That did some damage!

Vario is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bard's half guard.
Bard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vario throwing strikes but missing.
Bard trying to keep a closed guard but Vario is proving a slippery customer.
Vario trying to control but Bard is working from the bottom.
Vario is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A big right from Bard misses.
Vario shoots in for a takedown but Bard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mini Bard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malenkai Vario.

Bard darts in and clinches Vario up against the cage.
Bard scores a nice knee to the body.
Vario jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bard walks away with a smile on his face. Vario gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vario closes the distance looking to clinch
and Bard finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Bard changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Vario moves out of range as Bard throws a body kick.
Vario on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Vario darts in trying to clinch

and Bard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A knee to the head by Bard.
Bard lands a nice elbow.
Bard landing knees to the body.
Bard connects with a knee to the head.
Vario takes an elbow to the temple.
Vario tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vario drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bard pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vario takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bard has Vario up against the cage in a clinch.
Vario is working for takedown but Bard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bard connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vario's face.
Bard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Bard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Bard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vario lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Vario jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bard walks away with a smile on his face. Vario gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Vario shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Bard counter with a right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Bard as Vario shoots in.
Vario shoots and misses
and Bard counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Vario wants to clinch but Bard slips to the side

and Bard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bard.

Bard has hold of one of Vario's legs. Vario is fighting the takedown attempt but Bard gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Vario pushes Bard off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Bard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vario shoots in looking for a takedown. Bard tries to sprawl out of it but Vario keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vario with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bard.
Bard unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bard looking to stall.
Vario has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bard connects with a knee to the head.
Vario fails to pull guard.
Vario is working for takedown but Bard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bard obliges.

Bard tightens his grip and picks Vario up, before dumping him to the ground. Vario manages to land in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vario seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vario is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mini Bard dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bard pushes Vario up against the cage in a clinch.
Vario is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vario looking for a takedown.
Bard comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Bard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A cross from Bard lands.
Vario chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bard can pounce on him.
Vario tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Bard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vario won't be happy with that.

Bard stands up.
Vario looks for a takedown but Bard sprawls well.
Mini Bard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malenkai Vario.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Bard - that will leave a mark!
Bard stuffs the takedown attempt from Vario. Vario gets slowly back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vario shoots in for a takedown but Bard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vario has his takedown stuffed
and Bard counters with a stiff right hand.
Vario bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Malenkai Vario seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vario uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bard.

Vario scores with a takedown into Bard's guard.
Vario has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vario trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vario trying to control but Bard is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vario accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vario looking to sit in guard and control but Bard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vario trying to keep a closed guard but Bard is proving a slippery customer.
Vario is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bard wants to control from the top but Vario keeps moving.
Bard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vario is trying to keep Bard in close.

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

We're going to have a standup here because Mini Bard wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Vario throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Vario is in Bard's guard.
Bard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vario manages to get himself to full guard.
Bard wants to control from the top but Vario keeps moving.

Vario is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bard defends well.
Bard pushing down on Vario's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bard looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bard in particular looking to stall.
Bard tries to pass to full mount but Vario defends it.
Mini Bard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vario is staying active underneath Bard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Bard stands up out of the half guard.
Vario misses with a takedown

and Bard moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mini Bard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mini Bard!