PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Crahan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodolpho Vasquel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crahan comes to the ring accompanied by All That Remains - The Last Time. Vasquel has chosen Surviving the Times as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rodolpho Vasquel told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Crahan
vs
Vasquel

182 cm
25
180 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

186 cm
25
183 lbs
13 - 12 - 3

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shawn Crahan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Rodolpho Vasquel!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crahan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No joy there for Vasquel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Crahan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Crahan swats away the attempt to clinch by Vasquel.
Vasquel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Crahan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Vasquel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Crahan cracks Vasquel with an open hand slap.

It looks like Rodolpho Vasquel has been cut.
Crahan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Vasquel walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vasquel, right into the meat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vasquel fails with a takedown attempt.

Vasquel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A hook to the body from Crahan.

Vasquel breaks the clinch.
Vasquel misses with a series of wild punches.
Crahan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vasquel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Crahan as he avoids it easily.
Shawn Crahan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodolpho Vasquel.
Crahan slips a jab and a cross from Vasquel.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vasquel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crahan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Vasquel slips a jab and a cross from Crahan.
A slow jab from Crahan misses its intended target.
Vasquel looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Crahan lands an overhand right.
Vasquel dives in and grabs Crahan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Crahan pushes down on Vasquel's head and hops out.
Vasquel doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Vasquel throws a head kick that misses
and Crahan counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vasquel's knee momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Crahan. Vasquel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vasquel slips under a jab from Crahan.
Vasquel shoots for a double leg takedown but Crahan sprawls well. He's pushed Vasquel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vasquel shoots in but no luck this time.
Vasquel has a takedown stuffed.
Vasquel looks gassed!
Vasquel avoids the body shot from Crahan.
Vasquel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Crahan.
Crahan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Crahan wants it to stay on the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crahan scores with a sloppy right hand. Vasquel should have avoided that one.
Crahan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Crahan throws a looping overhand right but Vasquel ducks down to avoid it.

Vasquel closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Crahan to the mat! Crahan manages to get full guard.

Vasquel drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Crahan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Vasquel has Crahan in his guard.
Crahan is looking to stand up but Vasquel won't let him.
Crahan wants to control from the top but Vasquel keeps moving.
Crahan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Crahan postures up in Vasquel's guard and throws a big left but Vasquel blocks it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Vasquel has a closed guard, preventing Crahan from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel controls Crahan momentarily but Crahan frees himself.
Vasquel 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.
Crahan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Crahan trying to control but Vasquel is working from the bottom.
Crahan looking to sit in guard and control but Vasquel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Crahan has a closed guard, preventing Vasquel from standing up.
Vasquel preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crahan wants to stand up but Vasquel is controlling him.
Vasquel wants to control from the top but Crahan keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Crahan throws a leg kick that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Crahan as Vasquel shoots in.
Crahan looks to land a left hand but Vasquel moved out of range nicely.
Crahan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vasquel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Crahan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vasquel.
Vasquel motions for Crahan to come forward. Vasquel throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Crahan lands the left hand.
Vasquel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No luck for Vasquel with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Crahan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodolpho Vasquel's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Vasquel gets a double leg takedown into Crahan's guard.
Crahan keeping moving, preventing Vasquel from controlling successfully.
Vasquel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Crahan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Crahan pulls Vasquel in close to prevent any damage.
Vasquel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vasquel is looking to work some ground and pound but Crahan has wrist control.
Vasquel postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vasquel wants to control from the top but Crahan keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquel postures up in Crahan's guard and throws a big left but Crahan blocks it.

Vasquel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Crahan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Vasquel, into his guard.
Crahan works over Vasquel with some ground and pound from guard.
Rodolpho Vasquel has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Crahan stands and steps away. Vasquel gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Crahan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vasquel's head backwards.
Vasquel loads up on a big right hand but Crahan slips the punch.
Nice uppercut lands for Crahan. That snapped Vasquel's head back.
Vasquel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rodolpho Vasquel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasquel shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Crahan eats them both and turns towards Vasquel to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crahan slips a jab and a cross from Vasquel.
Shawn Crahan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vasquel takes one on the button.
Crahan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vasquel.
Crahan tries to bum rush Vasquel with a series of wild strikes but Vasquel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vasquel tries to clinch but Crahan is having none of it.
Crahan throws a hook but Vasquel avoids it easily.
Vasquel shoots in but Crahan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vasquel moves out of range as Crahan strikes.
Vasquel misses with a leg kick
and Crahan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Crahan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vasquel.
Shawn Crahan is winning the standup battle so far.
Vasquel tries to clinch there but Crahan circles away.
Vasquel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Crahan can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crahan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vasquel moves away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Crahan.
Crahan misses with a series of wild punches.
Crahan looks to land a combination. Vasquel sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Crahan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vasquel.
Vasquel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shawn Crahan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodolpho Vasquel.
Crahan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Crahan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Vasquel on the side of the head.

Vasquel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vasquel working the body and head with strikes.
Vasquel is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Crahan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Vasquel tries to score with some ground and pound. Crahan controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel prevents Crahan from escaping the position.
Vasquel staying calm.
Vasquel wants to take a breather but Crahan manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Vasquel.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vasquel wants to control from the top but Crahan keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shawn Crahan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rodolpho Vasquel's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Crahan misses with a straight right.
Vasquel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Crahan counters with a stiff right hand.
Vasquel shoots for a double leg takedown but Crahan sprawls well. He's pushed Vasquel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Crahan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Vasquel checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Crahan takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Vasquel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Crahan's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Crahan is on top in guard.
Crahan postures up in Vasquel's guard and throws a big left but Vasquel blocks it.
Crahan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vasquel is proving hard to escape from.
Vasquel keeping moving, preventing Crahan from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crahan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasquel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Crahan wants to stand but Vasquel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Vasquel trying to keep a closed guard but Crahan is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vasquel shoots in looking for a takedown. Crahan tries to sprawl out of it but Vasquel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Crahan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Crahan throws a hook to the side of Vasquel's head but Vasquel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Crahan's sensitive parts.
Vasquel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crahan is fending him off so far but Vasquel persists. Nope, Crahan circles away and we're back to standing.
Shawn Crahan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodolpho Vasquel.
Vasquel on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Vasquel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Crahan lands a slapping body shot.
Vasquel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crahan circles away.
Vasquel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Crahan slips under a jab from Vasquel.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vasquel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vasquel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vasquel throws a right and a left that Crahan avoids nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vasquel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Vasquel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Crahan tries to buck Vasquel off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crahan working to try and regain half guard.
Crahan is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Vasquel lands a heavy elbow.
Crahan is squirming around, avoiding Vasquel's attempts to control the action.
Vasquel landing punches.
Vasquel throws some wild stikes that Crahan manages to avoid easily.
Vasquel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Crahan is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel thowing shots but they're missing.
Rodolpho Vasquel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vasquel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Crahan is squirming around, avoiding Vasquel's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vasquel putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vasquel unloads with some shots from mount but Crahan bucks and avoids them well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodolpho Vasquel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Crahan 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Shawn Crahan!