PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Rick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vera's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Black Eyed Peas - Bebot. Ricardo Rick has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vera
vs
Rick

191 cm
27
205 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

188 cm
31
205 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

RMC - $ 11 Shorts!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Rick!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rick shoots in and drives through. Vera sprawls well.
Vera lands a nice shot that snaps Rick's head back.

It looks like Ricardo Rick has been cut.

Rick fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vera sprawls well initially but Rick persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Rick wants to work for an arm triangle but Vera is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vera on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Vera tries to get out of the position.
Vera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rick wants to take a breather but Vera is having none of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vera is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vera trying to control here.
Rick working Vera over with strikes.
Vera tries to roll over but Rick keeps him under control.
Vera looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vera is trying to maintain the position but Rick is very close to passing his half guard.

Rick is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera is refusing to be controlled, as Rick sits in half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rick thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vera's head.
Vera wants to improve his position but Rick is controlling well.

Rick is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Vera actively working from the bottom here.
Rick slips a nice elbow through Vera's hands, connecting with Vera's forehead.
Vera knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rick on the ground.
Vera moves into full guard.
Rick is looking to work some ground and pound but Vera has wrist control.
Rick trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants to sweep but no luck.
Rick seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rick postures up in Vera's guard and throws a big left but Vera blocks it.
Rick stops Vera from standing up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ricardo Rick hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Vera misses with a hook.
Rick sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rick blocks a head kick by Vera.
Rick shoots in for a takedown but Vera shows good takedown defense.
Vera throws a head kick that misses.
Vera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vera is looking to land body kicks.
Vera leaves Rick with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Michael Vera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rick fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vera avoids it really well and circles away.
Rick shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vera as he jumps to the side.

Vera looking to score a takedown here. Rick is defending well but Vera drives through and ends up in Rick's guard.
Rick has momentary wrist control but Vera slips an elbow through the middle.
Vera wants to pass the guard but Rick is keeping the position.
Rick looking to control.

Vera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rick looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rick swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Rick working for a triangle but Vera defends it easily.
Vera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rick avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vera missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Rick is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rick looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Vera puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rick wants to control but Vera is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vera trying to control the action but Rick is working from the bottom.
Vera prevents Rick from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Vera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Rick's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vera defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rick.
Rick throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vera's waist but Vera gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rick off to one side.
Vera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vera finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rick changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vera tries to avoid it but Rick manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vera to the ground. Vera escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Michael Vera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rick.
Vera tries to clinch but Rick moves out of range.
Vera shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rick but Rick pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rick paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vera misses with a head kick.
Vera throws a head kick that misses.
Vera scoring well with a low kick there.
Vera stuffs the takedown attempt from Rick. Rick gets slowly back to his feet.
Michael Vera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vera scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera thows a leg kick but Rick checks it

and Rick counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vera won't be happy with that.
Rick has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vera struggling a bit here.
Rick trying to control the position but Vera is working away.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.

Rick working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vera manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rick's best efforts.

Rick stands up from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rick closes the distance and clinches up with Vera, looking for a takedown. Rick pushes Vera against the cage but Vera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rick has his takedown stuffed
letting Vera counter with a right hand.
Vera scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rick fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Michael Vera is winning the standup battle so far.
Rick is breathing heavily.
Vera throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rick stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Vera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vera throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rick takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Vera gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rick changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vera fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Vera ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a head kick that half lands.
Vera slaps away a takedown attempt from Rick, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rick takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Vera scores with a kick to the body.
Vera scores with a kick to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vera comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Vera effectively controlling the action here.
Rick tries for a takedown but Vera manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Vera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Rick is rocked!

That has opened up Ricardo Rick's cut even more.
Vera controlling the action here for a moment.
Rick is still on wobbly legs! Can Vera finish him?
Vera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rick's defenses.
Rick seems to have recovered his senses.
Vera with a knee to the head.

The cut above Ricardo Rick's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Rick is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rick looking for a takedown.
Vera lands a knee to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rick takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vera lands a big knee to the head and Rick goes down! Vera pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Vera!
Michael Vera made sure to mention his sponsor, ****160Q Energy****95% Laundry in his post fight interview.