PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Embree (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Vasara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Embree comes to the cage accompanied by Infection by the Rx Bandits. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Embree
vs
Vasara

190 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
18
196 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Embree!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andrei Vasara!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Embree. Vasara shrugs it off though.
Embree is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Embree misses with a body shot.
Embree fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Embree tries to clinch up but Vasara circles away and keeps his distance.
Embree throws a hook to the side of Vasara's head but Vasara sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Embree is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Embree pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vasara checks a leg kick nicely.
Embree is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Embree doesn't manage to clinch there - Vasara circles away.
Embree takes one to the side of the head.
Embree throws a head kick that misses.

Embree gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vasara wants to break the clinch but can't.
Embree lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Andrei Vasara has been cut.
Embree tries for a takedown but Vasara manages to get underhooks.

Embree breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vasara misses with a few strikes there.
Vasara scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vasara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Embree.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasara paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Embree tries to clinch but Vasara moves out of range.
Vasara blocks a head kick by Embree.
Vasara lands with a cross.
Vasara scores with a nice right hand.
Vasara swinging wilding here.
Embree fails with an attempt to clinch.
Embree finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Embree wants to clinch.
A combination from Vasara does no damage.
Vasara throws a nice looking combination but Embree bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vasara misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vasara scores with a punch to the head.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vasara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vasara misses with a wild combination.
Vasara blocks a head kick by Embree.
Embree is breathing heavily.
Vasara swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Embree holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Embree goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vasara prevents it.
Embree lands a nice elbow.
Embree scores a nice knee to the body.
Vasara wants to break free but Embree has control.
Embree goes for a takedown attempt but Vasara pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Embree. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Embree is looking to clinch but Vasara is avoiding it.
Vasara checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Good shot there by Vasara.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Embree rushes Vasara and presses him up against the cage.

Embree breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Embree takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vasara uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Embree.
Vasara lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Vasara.
Vasara thuds a left hand into Embree's body.
Vasara throws a one two combo.
Vasara goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Embree moves in looking to clinch but Vasara pushes him off.
Embree is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vasara lands a really nice looking cross but Embree seems unphased.
Embree tries to clinch up but Vasara circles away and keeps his distance.
A left and a right from Vasara both land. Nice combination.
Vasara lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Embree dodges the punch combination from Vasara.
Vasara swats away the attempt to clinch by Embree.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Embree looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vasara swats away the attempt to clinch by Embree.
Vasara tries to bum rush Embree with a series of wild strikes but Embree uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vasara comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Vasara lands a slapping body shot.
Embree lands a nice shot that snaps Vasara's head back.
Embree scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Vasara circles away from the clinch attempt.
Embree thows a body shot but no joy.
Embree falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vasara counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Embree has managed to clinch.

Embree breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Embree uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vasara.

Embree closes the distance and clinches.
Vasara gets underhooks to prevent Embree's takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Embree is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Embree works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Vasara is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Embree gets to his feet - Vasara follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasara falls off balance throwing a combination
and Embree counters with a nice kick to the body.
Embree is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vasara misses with a two punch combination.
Embree slips a jab and a cross from Vasara.
Embree tries to clinch but Vasara is having none of it.
Embree misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Embree tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Vasara to counter with a crisp jab.
Vasara moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Vasara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vasara throws a right and a left that Embree avoids nicely.
Embree tries to clinch there but Vasara circles away.
Embree shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vasara moves forwards but Embree connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Embree wants to clinch
and Vasara counters with a two punch combo.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vasara misses with the combination.
Vasara works the jab nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Embree dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andrei Vasara'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.

Vasara throws a combination. Embree tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Embree doesn't manage to clinch there - Vasara circles away.
Embree doesn't manage to clinch there - Vasara circles away.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vasara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fighters circling - Embree throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Embree scores with a hook to the body. Vasara takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Vasara has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Embree avoids a punch combination nicely.
Embree throws a right hand that misses
and Vasara counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vasara keeps the fight on the outside.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vasara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Embree connects with a nice looking jab.
Embree avoids a punch combination nicely.
Embree moves in looking to clinch but Vasara pushes him off.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch but Vasara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vasara is working the combinations to good effect here.
Vasara takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Embree is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Embree is looking to clinch.
Vasara throws a series of punches but Embree moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Vasara.
Vasara lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Matt Embree has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vasara lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Embree backs up against the cage.

Embree is rocked!
Embree looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Embree is looking to clinch but Vasara is avoiding it.
Oh Embree is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Embree has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasara drops Embree with a left and a right! Oh, Embree is hurt - Vasara dives into side control looking to finish!

Vasara stands up and beckons Embree to his feet.
Vasara misses with a double jab.
Vasara takes a swing at Embree's ribcage but misses.
Vasara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Embree.
Vasara throws a right hand that Embree ducks under and follows up with a left that Embree also avoids with ease.
Embree seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The fight stays on the outside here - Embree looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Embree clinches.
Vasara gets underhooks to prevent Embree's takedown attempt.
Embree keeps control of Vasara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vasara wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vasara wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Embree has him pressed against the cage.
Vasara tries to break the clinch but Embree is controlling the position.

Vasara breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Vasara misses.
Embree throws a head kick that misses.
Embree throws a lazy right hand but Vasara sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Embree looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Embree clinches but Vasara breaks the clinch
and Vasara connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Embree wants to clinch up but Vasara keeps it at a distance.
No joy there for Vasara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Embree.
Vasara moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Embree throws the left hand but Vasara avoids the punch easily.
A combination from Vasara does no damage.
Vasara looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Embree tries to clinch but Vasara is having none of it.
Vasara uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Embree.
Embree misses with a double jab
and Vasara counters with a one-two to the body.
Vasara swats away the attempt to clinch by Embree.
Embree tests Vasara's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Vasara is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Embree tries to clinch up but Vasara circles away and keeps his distance.
Vasara is still on wobbly legs! Can Embree finish him?
Matt Embree is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Embree gets a clinch.
Vasara seems to have recovered his senses.

Embree breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Embree has closed the distance and engaged Vasara in a clinch.
Embree lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Embree has hold of one of Vasara's legs. Vasara is fighting the takedown attempt but Embree gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Vasara is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Embree stands and steps away. Vasara gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A punch combination from Vasara misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Vasara does no damage.
No joy there for Vasara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Embree throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Vasara to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from Vasara finds it's way through Embree's defenses.
Vasara will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice uppercut there from Vasara.
Vasara throws a left and a right that both miss

and Embree moves into the clinch.

Vasara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Embree.
Vasara throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Embree is looking to clinch.
Embree falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vasara counters with a two punch combo.
Embree takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Embree is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Embree throws a head kick that misses.
Embree is looking to clinch but Vasara is avoiding it.
Vasara throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vasara bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Embree's head.
Vasara looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vasara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasara checks a leg kick.
Matt Embree is winning the standup battle so far.
Embree throws a lazy right hand but Vasara sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Embree throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Vasara counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A punch lands to the side of Embree 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Embree swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vasara swats away the attempt to clinch by Embree.
Embree throws a sloppy head kick and Vasara moves out of range easily.
Vasara circles away from the clinch attempt.

Embree instigates a clinch.
Vasara wants to get back to striking at distance but Embree won't allow it.

Embree escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Embree motions for Vasara to come forward. Embree throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Embree is looking to clinch.
Embree jabs at Vasara's body.

Embree pushes Vasara up against the cage in a clinch.

Embree turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Embree manages to end up in side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vasara is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Embree has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Vasara scores with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Embree dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Embree throws a body punch but Vasara moves out of range.
Embree tries to clinch but Vasara is having none of it.
Embree scores with a shot to the body.

Vasara tries to keep at a distance but Embree has taken the fight into the clinch.
Embree prevents Vasara from breaking the clinch.
Embree leaning his opponent against the cage.
Vasara wants to break free but Embree has control.
Embree slows down the pace here.
Embree is working for takedown but Vasara is calmly controlling the position for now.
Embree keeps control of Vasara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Embree escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vasara blocks a head kick by Embree.
Embree is looking to clinch but Vasara is avoiding it.

Embree clinches.
Vasara wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Embree has him pressed against the cage.

Vasara breaks from the clinch.
Embree tries a head kick but it misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Vasara.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Embree misses with a double jab
and Vasara counters with a left and a right that stings Embree.

Embree drives through and clinches with Vasara against the cage.
Vasara wants to break free but Embree has control.

Embree breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vasara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Embree moves in looking to clinch but Vasara pushes him off.
Vasara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Embree throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vasara misses with the combination.
Vasara throws a one two combo.
Vasara misses with a wild combination.
Vasara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Embree tries to clinch up but Vasara circles away and keeps his distance.
Vasara lands a two punch combo.
Vasara lands a jab-cross combination.
Vasara goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Embree closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vasara counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vasara lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Embree at a distance.
Embree tries to clinch there but Vasara circles away.
Embree tries to clinch up
and Vasara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Embree drives through and clinches with Vasara against the cage.
Vasara can't break the clinch.

Embree escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Embree escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vasara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Embree moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Embree tries to land a leg kick but Vasara saw it coming and moves away.
Embree is looking to clinch but Vasara is avoiding it.
Vasara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Embree tries to clinch there but Vasara circles away.

Embree has managed to clinch.
Vasara tries to break the clinch but Embree is controlling the position.

Embree breaks from the clinch.

Embree closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Embree can't get the takedown.
Embree can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Embree. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Embree breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Embree misses with a low kick.
Embree scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Vasara throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vasara swats away the attempt to clinch by Embree.
Vasara lands with a nice combination. Embree backs away looking to recover.
Vasara lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Embree backs up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Vasara displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Embree throws out the jab.
A left and a right from Vasara both land. Nice combination.
Vasara misses with a wild combination.
Embree doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasara's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Vasara duly obliges.

Vasara tries to keep at a distance but Embree has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vasara tries to break the clinch but Embree is controlling the position.

Embree escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Embree pushes Vasara up against the cage in a clinch.
Vasara wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vasara is looking to break free of the clinch but Embree has double underhooks.
Embree has Vasara pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vasara manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Vasara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vasara dodges the punch combination from Embree.
Vasara misses with a two punch combination.
Andrei Vasara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Embree tries to clinch but Vasara moves out of range.
Embree is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Embree.
Embree wants to clinch.
Embree tries to clinch up but Vasara circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd cheers as Vasara lands an impressive looking overhand right. Embree doesn't seem phased though.
A nice combination there by Vasara.
Embree tries to clinch but Vasara is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Embree tries to clinch there but Vasara circles away.
Embree lands a right hook to the body.
Vasara throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Embree fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vasara, pushing him back against the cage.
Vasara stops a takedown attempt from Embree.

Embree breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vasara lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Vasara scores with a one two! Embree had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A punch lands to the side of Embree 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Embree tries to clinch but Vasara is having none of it.
Embree throws a head kick that misses.
Vasara moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Embree tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Embree is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vasara.
Embree wants to clinch up but Vasara keeps it at a distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Vasara scores with a four punch combination!
Vasara swats away the attempt to clinch by Embree.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vasara circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vasara looks to land a combination but Embree avoids it well.
Vasara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Embree moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Embree keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Embree throws a series of punches but Vasara moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Vasara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Embree 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Embree!