PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manu Vatuvel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Roode (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Vatuvel
vs
Roode

180 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
21
218 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manu Vatuvel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bobby Roode!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vatuvel has Roode up against the cage in a clinch.

Vatuvel lands a takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Vatuvel thows a big elbow that misses.
Roode controls Vatuvel momentarily but Vatuvel frees himself.

Roode looking for a guillotine here but Vatuvel defends easily.
Vatuvel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Roode on the ground.
Roode tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vatuvel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Roode has his foot on Vatuvel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vatuvel works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vatuvel stays in close to Roode's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roode is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vatuvel is aware though and is defending well.
Roode trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vatuvel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vatuvel sitting in guard, not really doing much.

We're going to have a standup here because Manu Vatuvel wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Vatuvel leaves Roode with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Roode misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roode avoids the head kick by Vatuvel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roode shoots and misses

and Vatuvel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Roode looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vatuvel with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Vatuvel is nestled in close to Roode, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Roode moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Vatuvel showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Roode looking for a sweep. Not yet Roode, not yet.

Roode has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Vatuvel is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Roode.

Vatuvel decides to stand up, so the ref orders Roode to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roode fails with the takedown

and Vatuvel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Manu Vatuvel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Roode.
Vatuvel is struggling to control the position.

Vatuvel manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Roode is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vatuvel is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vatuvel has escaped and now he's on top!

Roode is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vatuvel defends well.
Vatuvel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Vatuvel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Roode has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vatuvel has managed to get both his arms back between Roode's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvel controls from within his opponent's guard.
Vatuvel seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Roode for as long as he can get away with.
Vatuvel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vatuvel forces his way into half guard.
Vatuvel perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Vatuvel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Roode doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Vatuvel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Vatuvel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Roode is trying to keep Vatuvel in close.
Vatuvel wants to pass the guard but Roode is keeping the position.
Vatuvel tries to stand but Roode is controlling from the bottom.
Vatuvel's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Roode is looking for a triangle but Vatuvel pushes his legs off easily.
Manu Vatuvel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Vatuvel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Roode is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vatuvel sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatuvel wants to pass the guard but Roode is keeping the position.

Roode is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vatuvel showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Roode throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Vatuvel escapes and throws Roode's legs to the side, diving into side control!
A lull in the action here.

Vatuvel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Roode is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvel working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vatuvel decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Roode throws a right and a left that both miss.
Roode fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Roode fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Manu Vatuvel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Roode tries to keep at a distance but Vatuvel has taken the fight into the clinch.

Vatuvel breaks from the clinch.

Vatuvel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Roode is trying to defend but Vatuvel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvel is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Roode!
Vatuvel looking to control and managing it successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roode regains half guard.
Vatuvel tries to stand and escape but Roode is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roode taking some punishment here, with Vatuvel in his half guard.
Roode tries to roll over but Vatuvel keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vatuvel performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Vatuvel dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Roode shoots in for a takedown but Vatuvel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Vatuvel looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Roode!
Roode reaches up to try and control the position but Vatuvel seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Roode rolls and tries to escape and now Vatuvel has his back!
Vatuvel controlling from the back.
I really don't envy Roode right now.
Vatuvel is trying to stick to Roode's back but Roode is turning into Vatuvel. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Vatuvel's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Roode.
Vatuvel has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Roode wants to control from the top but Vatuvel keeps moving.
Roode takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatuvel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vatuvel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Roode manages to get himself to full guard.
Vatuvel wants to control from the top but Roode keeps moving.

Vatuvel gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Roode looks to land a combination but Vatuvel avoids it well.
Roode shoots for a double leg takedown but Vatuvel sprawls well. He's pushed Roode's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Vatuvel closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vatuvel lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvel passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Roode is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roode tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatuvel controls the position from side control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Manu Vatuvel just wasn't active enough.
Roode misses with a takedown

and Vatuvel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Roode won't be happy with that.
Manu Vatuvel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Roode.

Vatuvel stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Roode keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roode blocks the body kick.
Bobby Roode has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roode misses with a takedown attempt

and Vatuvel counters with a shoot takedown. Roode fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vatuvel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roode is keeping the position for now.

Vatuvel has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Roode to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Vatuvel is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Roode pulls down on the head and he's put Vatuvel to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Bobby Roode!