PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Vasara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomi comes to the cage accompanied by Scary. Sami Vasara 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!

Gomi
vs
Vasara

173 cm
31
165 lbs
25 - 7 - 1

174 cm
29
163 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takanori Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sami Vasara!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasara bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vasara shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gomi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gomi swats away the attempt to clinch by Vasara.
Vasara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vasara slips under a jab.
Gomi scores with a head kick.
Gomi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vasara.
Gomi tries a head kick but it misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Gomi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Vasara explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gomi, as that shot connected.
Vasara throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice uppercut lands for Vasara. That snapped Gomi's head back.
Vasara is looking to chop away at Gomi's legs.
Gomi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Vasara on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gomi.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Vasara regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi wants to pass to mount but Vasara is defending the position.
Vasara is looking to improve his position.
Vasara is staying active underneath Gomi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gomi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vasara is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Vasara is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gomi trying to mount his opponent but Vasara defends it.
Gomi wants to control but Vasara is keeping him busy.
Vasara trying to hold on to Gomi's head to control him but Gomi postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gomi checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasara avoids the head kick by Gomi.
Gomi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gomi lands a head kick. Vasara smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sami Vasara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vasara lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Good standup being displayed there by Vasara as he connects with a hook.
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!
Gomi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gomi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Vasara.
Gomi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vasara tries to clinch but Gomi moves out of range.
That kick from Vasara tenderised Gomi's leg. Gomi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gomi walks into a left hand.
Vasara attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A combination from Gomi does no damage.
Vasara fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gomi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vasara sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gomi somewhat.
Gomi throws a head kick but Vasara moves out of range.
Gomi misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi ducks under a wild hook from Vasara.
Vasara tries to clinch there but Gomi circles away.
Gomi throws a leg kick which misses Vasara's front leg but catches the back leg as Vasara tries to avoid it.
Gomi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vasara.
Gomi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vasara tries to clinch up but Gomi circles away and keeps his distance.
Vasara lands a jab to the head.

Gomi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vasara looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Vasara is looking for a sweep.
Vasara manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are battling for position here. Gomi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Vasara wanted to stand there but Gomi had control of the position.

Vasara stands and steps away. Gomi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vasara takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vasara throws a leg kick which misses Gomi's front leg but catches the back leg as Gomi tries to avoid it.
Vasara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasara uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gomi.
Gomi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Vasara. That did some damage!
Vasara tries to clinch but Gomi is having none of it.
Gomi walks into a stiff left hand from Vasara.
Gomi misses with a straight left.
Vasara thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Gomi if he has to take too many more of those.
Gomi scoring well with a low kick there.
Vasara blocks a jab.
Vasara takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Vasara looks to land a body kick but Gomi moved away.
Vasara throws a nice looking combination but Gomi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vasara thuds his right hand into Gomi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Vasara loads up on a big right hand but Gomi slips the punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gomi takes a swing at Vasara's ribcage but misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vasara lands with a slapping head kick.
Vasara cracks Gomi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gomi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Vasara dominated that round.
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.

Vasara tries a low kick but Gomi avoids it.
Gomi works Vasara's body with a nice hook.
Gomi lands a jab-cross combination.
Vasara catches Gomi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Vasara tries to sprawl but Gomi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gomi is trying to control. Vasara wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vasara makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vasara.
Vasara bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gomi's guard.
Vasara is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Vasara wants to stand but Gomi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
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!
Vasara lands a couple of digs.
Gomi controls Vasara momentarily but Vasara frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasara wants to stand but Gomi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Vasara trying to control the position from guard on top but Gomi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Gomi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gomi wants to stand up but Vasara is controlling him.
Vasara wants to get up but he can't break Gomi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Vasara controlling from the top position.

Gomi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vasara defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasara postures up.

Gomi is looking for a triangle but Vasara pushes his legs off easily.
Vasara wants to get up but he can't break Gomi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Gomi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gomi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gomi trying to keep a closed guard but Vasara is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gomi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasara would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Gomi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vasara trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vasara 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.
Vasara wants to pass the guard but Gomi is keeping the position.
Takanori Gomi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vasara wanted to stand there but Gomi had control of the position.
Gomi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vasara keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi controlling from the full mount.
Gomi scoring with strikes but Vasara is staying in there.
Vasara tries to lock up and control but Gomi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gomi throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Vasara because Gomi loaded up on that one.
Vasara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomi lands a big elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vasara is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takanori Gomi dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Vasara is looking to land body kicks.
Vasara lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vasara fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gomi.
Gomi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vasara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gomi was well out of range. Poor timing from Vasara.
Gomi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gomi shoots for a double leg takedown but Vasara sprawls well. He's pushed Gomi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vasara misses with a leg kick.
Vasara throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Vasara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vasara throws a low kick, looking for Gomi's leg but Gomi calmly moves out of range.
Gomi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Vasara.
Vasara moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vasara lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi swinging wildly here.
Gomi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gomi throws a combination. Vasara tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Vasara tries to bum rush Gomi with a series of wild strikes but Gomi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gomi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gomi digs a good hook to Vasara's body.
Gomi misses with a looping left.
Vasara jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vasara misses with a body shot.
Vasara displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gomi throws out the jab.
Vasara moves away from the strike by Gomi.
Vasara lands with an overhand left.
Vasara throws a nice inside leg kick.
Vasara swings for the body but Gomi moves out of range.
Vasara looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gomi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Vasara's hands.
Gomi throws an overhand right that lands on Vasara's shoulder, as Vasara tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomi tests Vasara's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gomi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gomi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gomi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Vasara avoids the body shot from Gomi.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gomi.
Vasara thuds a left hand into Gomi's body.
Gomi misses the shot to the body.
Vasara connects with an inside leg kick.
Vasara dips to his left and cracks Gomi with an uppercut!
Takanori Gomi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Vasara.

Vasara clinches with his opponent.
Vasara using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gomi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gomi tries to throw a body punch but Vasara avoids it by throwing Gomi back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi throws a punch but it's blocked by Vasara.
Vasara with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vasara lands a damaging elbow.
Gomi swings wildly with an uppercut but Vasara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gomi throws a punch but it's blocked by Vasara.
Vasara working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gomi tries for a takedown but Vasara manages to get underhooks.
Vasara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gomi's elbow.
Vasara wants to break free but Gomi has control.

Gomi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gomi looks to score with a jab to the body but Vasara is just out of range.
Gomi misses with a looping right.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gomi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Vasara misses with an uppercut. Gomi saw that one coming.
Gomi scores with a nice head shot.
Gomi avoids the body shot from Vasara.
Vasara showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gomi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasara keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gomi.

Gomi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vasara looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gomi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasara swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gomi won't allow Vasara to sweep him here.
Gomi wants to control from the top but Vasara keeps moving.
Vasara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gomi is one step ahead there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gomi trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sami Vasara.
I think Vasara has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Vasara!
A victorious Sami Vasara thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.