PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Monte Lara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vade Vega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lara
vs
Vega

170 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

205 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Monte Lara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vade Vega!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vega shoots for a takedown but Lara saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lara circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lara looks to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Vega avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vega fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vega shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lara but Lara pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Monte Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vade Vega.
Lara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vega closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lara circles away.
Vega fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vega fails with a takedown attempt.
Vega misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vega avoids the body shot from Lara.
Lara defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vega.
Vega shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lara fails with a takedown attempt.
Vega lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Monte Lara has been cut.
Vega looks winded!
Lara dives in and grabs Vega's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vega pushes down on Lara's head and hops out.

Lara has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lara is trying to pull guard but Vega has him pressed against the cage.
Lara avoiding damage as Vega throws knees to the body.
Lara is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Vega to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vega tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lara just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vega jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lara walks away with a smile on his face. Vega gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lara shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vega defends it nicely.
Vega dives in and grabs Lara's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lara pushes down on Vega's head and hops out.
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!
Nice takedown defense from Lara. No joy for Vega on that attempt.
Lara blocks the body kick.
Lara could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Vega leaves Lara with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vega pinned against the cage. Vega gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Horrible takedown by Lara or perhaps it was just good defense by Vega which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lara tries to close the distance and clinch but Vega swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lara tries to clinch but Vega moves out of range.
Lara stuffs the takedown.
Lara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vega shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lara as he avoids it easily.
Vega tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lara shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vega defends it nicely.
Lara shoots in for a takedown but Vega shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vega is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lara sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lara fails to land the takedown.
Lara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vega as he avoids it easily.
Vega shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lara as he avoids it easily.
Vega moves out of range of the body kick.

Lara clinches up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lara manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Vega stands and steps away. Lara gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vade Vega will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Monte Lara's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vega slaps away a takedown attempt from Lara, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vega displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lara.
Vega tries for a takedown but Lara sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vega is defended easily by Lara.
Vade Vega seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vega stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monte Lara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Vega. No joy for Lara on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lara stuffs the takedown attempt from Vega. Vega gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Lara. No joy for Vega on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vega tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lara defends well and Vega ends up having to push Lara into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Lara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vega swats away the attempt to clinch by Lara.
Lara looks for a takedown but Vega sprawls well.
Vega looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lara is fending him off so far but Vega persists. Nope, Lara circles away and we're back to standing.
Lara closes the distance and clinches up with Vega, looking for a takedown. Lara pushes Vega against the cage but Vega circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lara with a poor takedown
and Vega counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Vega moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vega tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lara tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A frustrated look appears on Lara's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vega fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vega is looking to take this one to the mat.
Lara is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Lara is trying to push Vega away but Vega has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Lara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lara has a takedown stuffed.
Lara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lara wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vega misses with a body kick.
Lara misses with a takedown attempt - Vega sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vega is fending him off so far but Lara persists. Nope, Vega circles away and we're back to standing.
Vega throws a head kick that Lara semi-blocks.

Lara closes the distance and clinches.
Lara gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vega.
Vega misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lara manages to pull guard.
Lara 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.
Vega trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vega controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vega stopping the sweep attempt from Lara.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vega is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Monte Lara will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Monte Lara's cut.
That's time! Lara's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vega misses with a body kick.
Vega keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vega tries for a takedown but Lara sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A combination from Lara does no damage.
Lara throws a leg kick
and Vega counters with a nice uppercut.
Lara fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vega avoids it really well and circles away.
Lara throws a head kick that misses
and Vega counters with a straight right hand.
Vega shoots in for a takedown but Lara shows good takedown defense.
Vega dives in for a single leg takedown but Lara sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Monte Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vade Vega.
Vega is trying to force a seperation but Lara has the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vega pulls guard.

Vega working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lara has passed into half guard!

Vega looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lara is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vega wants to control but Lara is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vega tries to get to full guard but Lara has control of the leg.
Lara perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Monte Lara wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Vega just misses with a punch to the body.
Lara tries to close the distance and clinch but Vega swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vega avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lara will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vega tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lara sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vega somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lara shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vega but Vega pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vega shoots in but no luck this time.
Lara fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vega avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Vega.
Vega stuffs the takedown.
Vega throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Lara.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lara throws a head kick but Vega moves out of range.
Vega fails with a takedown attempt.

Lara clinches.
Vega just leaning against Lara, taking a breather.
Lara stops a takedown attempt from Vega.

Lara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lara dives in for a single leg takedown but Vega sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vega is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lara pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Vega jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lara walks away with a smile on his face. Vega gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lara feints and then cracks Vega's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Vega down.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vade Vega.
I think Vega 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Vade Vega!