PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joao Lucas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yardigalovich Vasililiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Joao Lucas has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Lucas
vs
Vasililiev

177 cm
25
172 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Lucas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yardigalovich Vasililiev!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasililiev throws a nice looking combination but Lucas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vasililiev misses with a combination
and Lucas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vasililiev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lucas shoots in for a double leg but Vasililiev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vasililiev throws a nice looking combination but Lucas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vasililiev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lucas.
Vasililiev throws a series of punches but Lucas avoids them all with ease.
Lucas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lucas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lucas is breathing heavily.
Vasililiev misses with a combination

and Lucas counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lucas.
Vasililiev is trying to maintain a safe position but Lucas gets an underhook and turns Vasililiev into the cage.
Vasililiev can't break the clinch.
Vasililiev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vasililiev looking to stall.
Lucas wants to take the fight to the mat but Vasililiev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Lucas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vasililiev's efforts to push away.
Vasililiev has Lucas pushed against the cage.
Vasililiev is trying to stall.
Vasililiev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vasililiev gets through Lucas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vasililiev prevents the takedown attempt.
Vasililiev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lucas.
Vasililiev misses with some punches.
Vasililiev has Lucas pressed against the cage, preventing Lucas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vasililiev working hard to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lucas as Vasililiev tries to tie him up.
Vasililiev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas goes for a takedown attempt but Vasililiev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lucas has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cozad MMA Rio in the buildup to the fight.
Vasililiev looks to land a combination but Lucas avoids it well.
Vasililiev misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lucas is defended easily by Vasililiev.
Lucas dodges the punch combination from Vasililiev.
Lucas dodges the punch combination from Vasililiev.
Vasililiev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lucas circles away quickly and effectively.
Vasililiev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Yardigalovich Vasililiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lucas dives in and grabs Vasililiev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vasililiev pushes down on Lucas's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas dodges the punch combination from Vasililiev.
Vasililiev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lucas shoots in looking for a takedown but Vasililiev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lucas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Vasililiev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lucas.
Lucas shoots for a takedown but Vasililiev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A combination from Vasililiev does no damage.
Yardigalovich Vasililiev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lucas clinches up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Vasililiev's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lucas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vasililiev smiles and moves away.
Vasililiev keeps the fight on the outside.
Lucas fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasililiev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lucas shoots in but no luck this time.
Vasililiev throws a right hand that Lucas ducks under and follows up with a left that Lucas also avoids with ease.
Vasililiev throws a combination that misses
and Lucas makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Vasililiev really felt that one!
Vasililiev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vasililiev misses with a double jab.
Vasililiev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lucas tries for a takedown but Vasililiev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vasililiev misses with a few strikes there.
Vasililiev doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Vasililiev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vasililiev misses with a double jab.
Lucas tries to clinch there but Vasililiev circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lucas feints a jab promting Vasililiev to slip. Lucas then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Vasililiev slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yardigalovich Vasililiev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Vasililiev. Those never looked like landing.
Lucas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vasililiev throws a nice looking combination but Lucas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No joy there for Vasililiev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lucas checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Vasililiev looks to land a combination but Lucas avoids it well.
Vasililiev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vasililiev throws a nice looking combination but Lucas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lucas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vasililiev's waist but Vasililiev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lucas off to one side.
Vasililiev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lucas counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vasililiev throws a right hand that Lucas ducks under and follows up with a left that Lucas also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasililiev keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vasililiev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lucas.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lucas is defended easily by Vasililiev.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Lucas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasililiev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lucas counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lucas slips a jab and a cross from Vasililiev.
Lucas dives in for a single leg takedown but Vasililiev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lucas landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vasililiev wants to stall.
Lucas is working for takedown but Vasililiev is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lucas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vasililiev smiles and moves away.
Vasililiev misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasililiev fails to land with a series of punches.
Lucas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vasililiev tries to avoid it but Lucas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vasililiev to the ground. Vasililiev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vasililiev misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Vasililiev does no damage.
Vasililiev swats away the attempt to clinch by Lucas.
Vasililiev looks to land a combination but Lucas avoids it well.
Joao Lucas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vasililiev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lucas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lucas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vasililiev fails to land with a series of punches.
Lucas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vasililiev swivels and escapes.
Lucas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lucas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vasililiev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lucas somewhat.
Yardigalovich Vasililiev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vasililiev attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lucas slips a jab and a cross from Vasililiev.
Lucas lands with a nice combination. Vasililiev backs away looking to recover.
Vasililiev misses with a two punch combination.
Vasililiev swats away the attempt to clinch by Lucas.
Lucas shoots in for a double leg but Vasililiev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vasililiev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vasililiev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vasililiev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasililiev blocks a head kick by Lucas.
Vasililiev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vasililiev misses with a combination
and Lucas counters with a body kick that stops Vasililiev in his tracks momentarily.
A punch combination from Vasililiev misses.
Vasililiev fails to land with a series of punches.
Lucas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vasililiev circles away.
Lucas shoots in for a takedown but Vasililiev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vasililiev throws a series of punches but Lucas avoids them all with ease.
Vasililiev misses with a combination
and Lucas counters with an outside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lucas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lucas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vasililiev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vasililiev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lucas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yardigalovich Vasililiev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Vasililiev misses with a series of wild punches.
No luck for Lucas with that takedown attempt.
Vasililiev looks to land a combination but Lucas avoids it well.
Vasililiev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vasililiev throws a right hand that Lucas ducks under and follows up with a left that Lucas also avoids with ease.
Vasililiev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lucas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vasililiev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Vasililiev tries to keep at a distance but Lucas has taken the fight into the clinch.

Lucas breaks the clinch.
Vasililiev misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lucas throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Vasililiev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasililiev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vasililiev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vasililiev walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lucas checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Vasililiev fails to land with a series of punches.
Vasililiev misses with a double jab
and Lucas counters with a one-two to the body.
Vasililiev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lucas counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Vasililiev is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Lucas looks for a takedown but Vasililiev sprawls well.
A combination from Vasililiev does no damage.
Vasililiev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lucas counters with a left to the body.
Vasililiev misses with a series of wild punches.
Vasililiev throws a right and a left that Lucas avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Vasililiev misses.
Lucas slips a jab and a cross from Vasililiev.
Lucas thumps Vasililiev with a low kick.
Vasililiev fails to land with a series of punches.
Vasililiev throws a left and a right that both miss

and Lucas moves into the clinch.
Lucas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lucas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lucas has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vasililiev after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Lucas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lucas has had enough of the clinch but Vasililiev keeps him there for the moment.
Vasililiev wants to stall.

Lucas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Some wild striking there from Vasililiev.
Vasililiev misses with a combination
enabling Lucas to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas fails with a takedown attempt.
Vasililiev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lucas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vasililiev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lucas counters with a left and a right that stings Vasililiev.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Lucas. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Lucas thuds a left hand into Vasililiev's body.
Vasililiev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Lucas to counter with a crisp jab.
Vasililiev misses with a double jab
and Lucas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lucas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lucas throws a push kick but Vasililiev slaps the foot to one side.
Vasililiev looks to land a combination but Lucas avoids it well.
Lucas is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Vasililiev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lucas counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Vasililiev does no damage.
Lucas lands with a kick to the temple. Vasililiev shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Vasililiev misses with a two punch combination.
Lucas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasililiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vasililiev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vasililiev throws a combination that misses

and Lucas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vasililiev won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Vasililiev is looking to regain half guard here but Lucas keeps moving and retains side control.

Lucas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vasililiev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Vasililiev is trying to get back to half guard.
Joao Lucas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lucas throwing shots but missing, from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joao Lucas.
I think Vasililiev 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yardigalovich Vasililiev!