PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Efrain Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Lockyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren Lockyer acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Vera
vs
Lockyer

177 cm
32
201 lbs
17 - 17 - 0

189 cm
29
194 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Firebird Designs - 10% Laundry commission

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 17 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Efrain Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darren Lockyer!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vera is defended easily by Lockyer.
Nice cross by Lockyer.
Vera will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lockyer throws a low kick, looking for Vera's leg but Vera calmly moves out of range.
Lockyer feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Veras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

It looks like Efrain Vera has been cut.
Lockyer misses with a series of wild punches.
A lazy left from Lockyer finds it's target.
Lockyer walks into a left hand.
Lockyer connects with a nice looking jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vera shoots in but Lockyer avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efrain Vera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vera closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vera lands in his opponent's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Vera wants to pass the guard but Lockyer is keeping the position.
Lockyer wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lockyer keeping full guard, as Vera tries to pass.
Lockyer trying to control the position.
Vera won't allow Lockyer to get back to his feet.
Lockyer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lockyer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vera.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lockyer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vera wants to pass the guard but Lockyer is keeping the position.
Vera has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a big right hand that misses.
Lockyer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vera.
Lockyer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vera is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lockyer is on top in guard.
Lockyer throws a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Vera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lockyer trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.

Vera looking for a guillotine here but Lockyer defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lockyer trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vera wants to sweep here but Lockyer controlling him for the moment.
Lockyer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vera seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Lockyer is looking to work some ground and pound but Vera has wrist control.
Vera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lockyer!
Vera with shots to the head and body - Lockyer looks very uncomfortable down there.
Lockyer throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Vera lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lockyer is looking to get to half guard.
Vera with the ground and pound from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vera lands a heavy elbow.
Lockyer is looking to get to half guard.
Vera looking to finish with strikes here!
Vera lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lockyer hang on?
Vera fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
BOOM! Vera connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Vera connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Lockyer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Vera scoring with strikes but Lockyer is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efrain Vera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Efrain Vera's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lockyer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lockyer's waist but Lockyer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vera off to one side.

Vera looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lockyer on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lockyer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lockyer wants to improve his position but Vera is controlling well.
Vera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vera lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lockyer wants to improve his position but Vera is controlling well.
Vera looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lockyer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vera.
Vera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lockyer wants to get back to full guard.
Vera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lockyer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vera.
Lockyer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vera is working away from the top position though.
Vera looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Vera trying to control the action but Lockyer is working from the bottom.
Vera throwing shots but Lockyer is blocking nicely.
Vera seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera with the ground and pound but Lockyer uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Vera postures up.
Lockyer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vera.
Vera with a flurry of punches that miss.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lockyer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lockyer manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vera is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lockyer landing strikes from the mount and Vera is in trouble!
Vera taking shots to the head.
Vera tries to reverse the position but Lockyer maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lockyer working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Lockyer throws some wild stikes that Vera manages to avoid easily.
Vera regains half guard.
Lockyer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vera defending well though.
Lockyer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vera gets back to full guard.
Lockyer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Lockyer got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lockyer has managed to get both his arms back between Vera's legs - danger averted.
Vera is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Vera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lockyer pushes down on Vera's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Vera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lockyer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vera is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lockyer pulls his head out easily.
Lockyer wants to control but Vera is keeping him busy.
Vera works his way to full guard. Good work.

Vera has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lockyer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lockyer is one step ahead there.
Lockyer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lockyer wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.
Lockyer stopping the sweep attempt from Vera.
Vera looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efrain Vera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Efrain Vera's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lockyer takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Vera takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vera tries to close the distance and clinch but Lockyer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vera shoots for a double leg takedown but Lockyer sprawls well. He's pushed Vera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lockyer shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Vera eats them both and turns towards Lockyer to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Lockyer cracks Vera with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Decent striking displayed by Lockyer there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vera ducks under a wild hook from Lockyer.
Lockyer misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Lockyer.
A punch lands to the side of Vera 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Vera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lockyer sprawls well. Lockyer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vera gets slowly back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lockyer avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efrain Vera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lockyer as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Vera shoots in looking for a takedown. Lockyer tries to sprawl out of it but Vera keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lockyer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lockyer scores with the left hand. Vera knows he should have avoided that one.
Lockyer cracks Vera with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Vera tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Lockyer pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Vera is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Darren Lockyer!
During a confident post fight interview, Darren Lockyer thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.