PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Efrain Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dai Hard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vera
vs
Hard

177 cm
26
201 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

180 cm
26
185 lbs
15 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $75)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Efrain Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dai Hard!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hard tries to sprawl but Vera drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hard is looking to improve his position.
Vera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hard with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hard is staying active underneath Vera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hard gets back to full guard.
Hard keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.
Vera postures up.
Vera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vera stopping the sweep attempt from Hard.
Hard keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.
Vera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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.
Hard doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hard controlling the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vera controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera wants to control from the top but Hard keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Efrain Vera wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hard throws a jab but it's blocked by Vera.
Vera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hard throws out the jab.
Hard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vera.
Vera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Hard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vera has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hard.
Vera throws a nice looking combination but Hard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hard misses with an uppercut. Vera saw that one coming.
Vera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hard.
Vera has a takedown stuffed.

Vera looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hard!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hard is looking to improve his position but Vera isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard is squirming around, avoiding Vera's attempts to control the action.
Hard is desperately trying to improve his position but Vera has a good base and remains in mount.
Hard is squirming around, avoiding Vera's attempts to control the action.
Hard is looking to improve his position but Vera isn't that keen on the idea.
Hard is squirming around, avoiding Vera's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hard gets back to half guard.
Hard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vera throws a strike but Hard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera keeping moving, preventing Hard from controlling successfully.
Hard preventing the sweep.
Hard trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.
Vera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hard manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Vera stays in close to Hard's body and controls the position.
Hard 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.
Vera postures up and lands a big shot to Hard's brow.

Hard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vera defends well.
Hard is trying to control the position but Vera postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hard looking for a guillotine here but Vera defends easily.
Hard is looking to sweep but instead, Vera has passed into half guard.
Hard taking some punishment here, with Vera in his half guard.
Vera wants to take a breather but Hard is having none of it.
Vera seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hard looking for submissions off his back.
Hard on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vera lands a nice short elbow.
Hard controlling the position for now.
Vera prevents Hard 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 Efrain Vera will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A solid leg kick lands there for Hard.

Hard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hard works to advance to full mount. Vera defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Vera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vera is looking to escape.

Hard with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Vera can't escape the position.
Hard looking to finish Vera with some ground and pound. This is bad for Vera!
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!
Hard tries to control but Vera wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vera has given up his back.
Hard scores with strikes from the back.

Vera preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Hard.
Even with his hooks in, Hard manages to miss with strikes from the back.
The referee is taking a good look at Vera as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Hard!
Vera rolls, trying to escape but Hard keeps control of the position.

Vera defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hard's arms.
Hard doesn't have the hooks in and Vera manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera sitting in guard, not really doing much.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vera defends well.
Vera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vera wants to control from the top but Hard keeps moving.
Vera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vera wants to control from the top but Hard keeps moving.
Vera looking to sit in guard and control but Hard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Vera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hard's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Hard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hard is breathing heavily.
Hard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vera trying to control but Hard is working from the bottom.
Vera connects with a couple of short punches.
Vera wants to control from the top but Hard keeps moving.
Vera lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vera trying to control but Hard is working from the bottom.

Hard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vera defends it easily.
Vera postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera passes Hard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vera lands a nice short elbow.
Hard trying to hold on to Vera's head to control him but Vera postures up.
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!
Vera content to control rather than advance.
Hard trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Vera manages to pass to mount!

Vera has control of Hard's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hard regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Vera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hard is looking to escape.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vera raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dai Hard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. 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.

Hard misses with a takedown attempt - Vera sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vera sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hard somewhat.

Vera tries to sprawl but Hard drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vera gets full guard.

Hard 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.
Vera is trying to control the position but Hard postures up.
Hard won't allow Vera to sweep him here.

Vera had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hard defends it easily.

Hard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera is controlling Hard's posture.
Vera keeping moving, preventing Hard from controlling successfully.
Hard throws a big right hand that misses.
Vera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hard's guard.

Hard is looking for a triangle but Vera pushes his legs off easily.
Hard can't keep his opponent in guard - Vera advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Vera not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vera wants to free his trapped foot but Hard is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Hard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hard being controlled here, momentarily.

Hard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vera is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Hard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hard is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vera looking for a guillotine here but Hard defends easily.
Hard preventing the sweep.
Hard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vera working a defensive guard here.
Hard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hard trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.
Hard pushing down on Vera's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vera is controlling Hard's posture.
Vera trying to keep a closed guard but Hard is proving a slippery customer.
Hard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hard trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hard wants to get back to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vera trying to control the action but Hard is working from the bottom.

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 Efrain Vera.
I think Vera 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Efrain Vera!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Efrain Vera!

Efrain Vera wins by majority decision!
An out of breath Efrain Vera thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.