PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Ovechkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Vasquez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Rolling Stones-Gimmie Shelter. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Vasquez
vs
Ovechkin

178 cm
21
178 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Close Quarters Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Vasquez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Ovechkin!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ovechkin throws the left hand but Vasquez avoids the punch easily.

Vasquez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ovechkin!
Ovechkin is looking to improve his position but Vasquez isn't that keen on the idea.
Ovechkin wants to control but Vasquez is having none of it.
Ovechkin regains half guard.
Vasquez is pressing down on Ovechkin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ovechkin is holding on for now.
Ovechkin wants to improve his position but Vasquez is controlling well.

Vasquez wants to work for an arm triangle but Ovechkin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vasquez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ovechkin on the ground.

Ovechkin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ovechkin trying to control here.
Ovechkin tries to get to full guard but Vasquez has control of the leg.
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.

Vasquez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ovechkin is just riding it out for now. Vasquez eventually gives up the hold.
Ovechkin has a hand on Vasquez's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Vasquez takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Vasquez thowing shots but they're missing.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vasquez is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ovechkin has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ovechkin!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Ovechkin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Vasquez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ovechkin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vasquez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Vasquez tries to get out of the position.
Vasquez trying to strike off his back.
Ovechkin wants to pass the guard but Vasquez is keeping the position.

Ovechkin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Vasquez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ovechkin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vasquez is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin passes into half guard.

Ovechkin wants to work for an arm triangle but Vasquez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vasquez flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ovechkin prevents Vasquez from improving his position.

Ovechkin is looking for a kimura but Vasquez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ovechkin to get the leverage.

Ovechkin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vasquez defends it well.
Ovechkin is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Vasquez moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin wants to stand but Vasquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Vasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vasquez can't keep his opponent in guard - Ovechkin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ovechkin passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Vasquez!
Ovechkin moves to take his opponent's back.

Vasquez defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Ovechkin's arms.

Vasquez preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Ovechkin.
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!
Vasquez is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Ovechkin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ovechkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A choreographed right hand from Ovechkin misses the target.
Vasquez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ovechkin as he jumps to the side.
Vasquez tries for a takedown but Ovechkin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vasquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ovechkin is fending him off so far but Vasquez persists. Nope, Ovechkin circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ovechkin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vasquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ovechkin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ovechkin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vasquez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ovechkin.

Ovechkin is looking for a kimura here.
Alexander Ovechkin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ovechkin wants to pass the guard but Vasquez is defending well.
Vasquez is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Ovechkin is looking for a kimura but Vasquez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ovechkin to get the leverage.
Ovechkin is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Vasquez reverses the position - he's now on top in Ovechkin's guard.

Vasquez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ovechkin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vasquez is looking to improve his position.

Vasquez looking for submissions off his back.
Ovechkin passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Vasquez is working to get back to half guard.
Ovechkin trying to control but Vasquez is having none of it.

Ovechkin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Vasquez is wriggling around trying to escape.

Vasquez is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Ovechkin locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Vasquez is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexander Ovechkin!
Alexander Ovechkin is the new welterweight champion!