PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vanapa Animai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Ribero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andre Ribero has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Vanapa Animai's chin.

Animai
vs
Ribero

186 cm
24
212 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
210 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Vitality

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vanapa Animai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andre Ribero!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Ribero. No joy for Animai on that attempt.
Ribero fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Animai drives through with a takedown into Ribero's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Animai tries to free his leg and advance position but Ribero is retaining full guard.

Ribero escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Animai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Animai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ribero is trying to keep Animai in close.

Animai gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Ribero as Animai shoots in.
Animai misses with a takedown attempt
and Ribero counters with a left and a right that stings Animai.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vanapa Animai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ribero looking to score a takedown here. Animai is defending well but Ribero drives through and ends up in Animai's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribero wants to stand but Animai has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ribero tries to free his leg and advance position but Animai is retaining full guard.
Animai wants to get back to his feet but Ribero is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Animai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ribero is aware though and is defending well.
Animai wants to sweep here but Ribero controlling him for the moment.

Ribero 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.

Ribero drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ribero jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Animai is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ribero passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Ribero thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ribero stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A right-left combo lands from Ribero.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Animai drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Animai passes into half guard.
Ribero gets full guard.

Ribero escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Animai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ribero throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ribero looks winded!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Animai passes Ribero's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Ribero actively working from the bottom here.

Animai wants to work for an arm triangle but Ribero is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ribero regains full guard. Nicely done.

Animai drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Animai jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ribero working for a triangle but Animai defends it easily.
Animai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ribero is keeping the position for now.

Animai drops back looking for a leg! Ribero is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ribero manages to kick Animai off! Animai jumps back into Ribero's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Animai wants to pass the guard but Ribero is keeping the position.

Animai stands up and waves to Ribero to follow him.
Animai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ribero avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
No luck for Animai with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andre Ribero will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Animai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ribero circles away.
Vanapa Animai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Animai doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Ribero to counter with a crisp jab.

Animai throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ribero was covering up waiting for the punch and Animai finishes the takedown easily into guard.

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

Ribero escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Animai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Animai drops back looking for a leg! Ribero is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ribero manages to kick Animai off! Animai jumps back into Ribero's guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ribero has his foot on Animai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Animai works his way back into a safe position though.

Ribero looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ribero not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ribero is breathing heavily.

Animai drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ribero dives on top into guard.
Ribero works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Ribero is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ribero passes to full mount!
Animai regains half guard.

Animai actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribero tries to pass to full mount but Animai defends it.

Ribero is trying to work for a kimura but Animai is defending well.

Animai kicks off Ribero and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ribero throws a series of punches but Animai avoids them all with ease.
Animai with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ribero counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vanapa Animai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ribero wants to stand but Animai is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ribero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Animai is keeping the position for now.
Ribero wants to stand but Animai has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Animai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ribero doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Animai is tightening it up a little... Ribero has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Ribero reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Ribero taps out! Nice BJJ there by Animai!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Vanapa Animai!
During a confident post fight interview, Vanapa Animai thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.