PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Furious George (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thane Vakarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

George
vs
Vakarian

177 cm
22
150 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

176 cm
26
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

FML NY -$25 Q159+ 90% Laundry/Bookie Transfers

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Furious George!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thane Vakarian!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

George shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vakarian manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
George throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
George wants to control from the top but Vakarian keeps moving.
Vakarian keeping full guard, as George tries to pass.
George throwing strikes but missing.
George postures up.
George controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
George throws a series of punches but Vakarian avoids them all with ease.
George shoots for a double leg takedown but Vakarian sprawls well. He's pushed George's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
George throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vakarian's waist but Vakarian gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing George off to one side.
George takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Vakarian throws a nice head kick!

George scores with a takedown into Vakarian's guard.
George looking to sit in guard and control but Vakarian gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

George working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vakarian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vakarian manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
George looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
George looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vakarian wants to control from the top but George keeps moving.
George has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
George is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vakarian is trying to stand.
Vakarian is staying active underneath George, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
George sitting and controlling from the half guard.

George wants to work for an arm triangle but Vakarian is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vakarian won't allow George to pass to mount.
George looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
George throwing shots but Vakarian is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
George wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vakarian keeps working.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

George is trying to work for a kimura but Vakarian is defending well.
George thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Vakarian to regain full guard.
Vakarian wants to get back to his feet but George is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vakarian 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.
Vakarian working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from George.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Furious George dominated that round.
That's time! George's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

An inside leg kick from George misses.
Vakarian throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
George throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vakarian counters with a nice kick to the body.
Vakarian tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vakarian slips a jab and a cross from George.
Vakarian looks to land a body kick but George moved away.
Vakarian connects with the punch.
George fails to land with a series of punches.
George blocks a head kick by Vakarian.

That's one minute gone in the round.
George shoots for a takedown but Vakarian saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
George throws a right hand that Vakarian ducks under and follows up with a left that Vakarian also avoids with ease.
A chopping leg kick lands by Vakarian.
George loads up on a big right hand but Vakarian slips the punch.
No joy there for George, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

George drives through with a takedown into Vakarian's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
George throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
George pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vakarian is keeping the position for now.
George throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
George looking to pass the guard.
George wants to control from the top but Vakarian keeps moving.
Vakarian trying to control the position.
George throws and elbow that misses. Vakarian uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in George's guard. Nice move by Vakarian!
Vakarian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. George is keeping the position for now.

George is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vakarian defends well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
George trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vakarian controls from within his opponent's guard.
George throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
George throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
George bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vakarian's guard.

George is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
George postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vakarian uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Vakarian gets a double leg takedown into George's guard.
George pulls Vakarian in to control the position.
George has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
George looking to control.
George wants to sweep here but Vakarian controlling him for the moment.

George throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
George is trying to keep Vakarian in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Furious George dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

George is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vakarian sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vakarian throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vakarian throws a head kick that misses.
Some wild striking there from Vakarian.
Vakarian scores with a jab to the jaw.
Vakarian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

George gets a double leg takedown into Vakarian's guard.
Vakarian really doesn't want to stay on the ground with George. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
George is looking to work some ground and pound but Vakarian has wrist control.
George throws a big right hand that misses.
Vakarian working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from George.
George trying to control but Vakarian is working from the bottom.
George looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
George postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
George wants to control from the top but Vakarian keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Furious George wasn't doing enough on the ground.
George misses the shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Vakarian.
George waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vakarian.
George fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thane Vakarian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vakarian swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by George.
Vakarian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vakarian goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from George.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Furious George. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vakarian staying out of range there.
Furious George is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for George.
George misses with a hook. Vakarian ducked under it nicely.
Vakarian throws a hook but George avoids it easily.
George shoots in for a takedown but Vakarian shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Furious George seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
George throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vakarian throws a quick inside leg kick.
A jab from Vakarian finds it's way through George's defenses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vakarian misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Furious George.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for George, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Furious George!