PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Tommy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Vanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vanko has chosen Oh No by Gogol Bordello as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ivan Vanko was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tommy
vs
Vanko

180 cm
24
238 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

175 cm
20
261 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jason Tommy !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan Vanko!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanko takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Ivan Vanko has been cut.
Vanko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tommy misses with a wild combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tommy tries a knee to the head but Vanko blocks it.

Tommy wants the takedown. Vanko is fighting it off but Tommy persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Vanko's guard against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Vanko keeping full guard, as Tommy tries to pass.
Tommy throws an elbow that misses. Vanko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tommy 's guard. Nice move by Vanko!
Vanko is looking to work some ground and pound but Tommy has wrist control.
Vanko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tommy looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Vanko has picked Tommy up and slammed him! Tommy can't keep hold of the triangle and Vanko manages to pass to side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vanko landing strikes.
Tommy is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Tommy 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Vanko.
Vanko in side control, throwing shots but Tommy defends.
Vanko wants to control but Tommy is keeping him busy.
Vanko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tommy wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Vanko trying to control the action but Tommy is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tommy sneaks back into half guard.
Vanko passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanko tries to control but Tommy wriggling away.
Tommy is desperately trying to improve his position but Vanko has a good base and remains in mount.

Vanko is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Tommy can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Tommy gets back to half guard.
Tommy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vanko advances position into side control!
Vanko cracks Tommy with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Tommy tries to buck Vanko off but Vanko is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanko throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Check out the look on Vanko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Tommy is trying to get back to half guard.
Vanko wants to control but Tommy is keeping him busy.
Tommy throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Vanko lands an elbow.
Tommy wants to get back to his feet but Vanko drags him back down.
Tommy is looking to regain half guard here but Vanko keeps moving and retains side control.
Vanko scoring with punches and elbows.
Tommy is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vanko off and has taken his back!
Vanko rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Vanko gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tommy looking to pass the guard.
Tommy is working hard here to advance position.
Vanko is trying to control the position but Tommy postures up.
Tommy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Vanko has his foot on Tommy 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tommy works his way back into a safe position though.
Tommy working some strikes from top position.
Tommy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vanko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Tommy drops back, looking for a kneebar! Vanko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Vanko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Vanko!
Vanko wants to control but Tommy is keeping him busy.
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 Jason Tommy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ivan Vanko's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tommy slips a straight right by Vanko.

Vanko tries to sprawl but Tommy drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vanko is refusing to be controlled, as Tommy sits in half guard.
Tommy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vanko's head.
Vanko is trying to get back to full guard.
Tommy wants to control but Vanko is keeping him busy.
Vanko is looking to improve his position.
Tommy working over Vanko with some ground and pound. Vanko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Tommy is working for a submission of some sort.
Vanko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tommy is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tommy is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Vanko as he works his way to full guard.
Tommy wants to control from the top but Vanko keeps moving.
Vanko looking to control.
Vanko tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Tommy postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vanko is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tommy , into his guard.

Tommy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanko wants to control from the top but Tommy keeps moving.

Tommy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vanko defends it easily.
Vanko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tommy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tommy keeping full guard, as Vanko tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tommy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Vanko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Tommy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vanko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vanko looking to pass the guard.
Ivan Vanko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vanko looking to sit in guard and control but Tommy gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tommy distracts Vanko with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tommy preventing the sweep.
Tommy is looking to pass into half guard but Vanko pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Vanko is in guard.
Vanko sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vanko working some strikes from top position.

Vanko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tommy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vanko has managed to get both his arms back between Tommy 's legs - danger averted.
Vanko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Vanko is posturing up here but Tommy has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Vanko tries to roll out but it's too tight and Vanko has to tap! Slick submission there by Tommy !

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jason Tommy !
After winning the bout, Jason Tommy thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.