PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Houston Perkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Talivaldis Vasaris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Talivaldis Vasaris has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Houston Perkins's chin.

Perkins
vs
Vasaris

207 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Houston Perkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Talivaldis Vasaris!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Vasaris misses

and Perkins moves into the clinch.
Vasaris's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Vasaris looking to throw knees to the head but Perkins is blocking nicely.

Vasaris's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vasaris throws a sloppy head kick

and Perkins counters by moving into the clinch.
Vasaris with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vasaris misses with a knee to the head.

Vasaris's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Perkins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vasaris sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Perkins somewhat.
Perkins avoids the head kick by Vasaris.

Perkins gets tackled into the cage by Vasaris. Vasaris maintains the clinch.

Vasaris manages to break the clinch.
Perkins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vasaris swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasaris throws a combination. Perkins tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Houston Perkins has been cut.
Vasaris throws a head kick but Perkins moves out of range.
Vasaris misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Perkins.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Houston Perkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasaris throws a sloppy head kick
and Perkins counters with an inside leg kick.
Vasaris looks winded!
Vasaris misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vasaris misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Vasaris closes the distance and clinches.
Vasaris tries to land a knee to the head but Perkins blocks with his arms.
Perkins goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vasaris prevents it.
Vasaris looking for a takedown.
Vasaris missing with knees to the body.
Perkins has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Perkins tries to pull guard but Vasaris forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Perkins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vasaris throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Vasaris tries to land knees in the clinch but Perkins avoids the damage to the body.
Vasaris throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vasaris using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Perkins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Perkins wants to break the clinch but can't.
Perkins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Perkins is working for takedown but Vasaris is calmly controlling the position for now.

Perkins breaks the clinch.
Perkins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vasaris pinned against the cage. Vasaris gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vasaris misses with a head kick.

Perkins shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vasaris's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Perkins sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vasaris tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Houston Perkins.
Perkins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vasaris but Vasaris pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Perkins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasaris pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vasaris tries a head kick but it misses.

Vasaris closes the distance and pushes Perkins back into the cage.
Perkins is trying to pull guard but Vasaris turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Vasaris using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Perkins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vasaris looking to throw knees to the head but Perkins is blocking nicely.

Perkins pulls guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Perkins is looking for a triangle but Vasaris pushes his legs off easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Perkins has his foot on Vasaris's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vasaris works his way back into a safe position though.
Vasaris slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talivaldis Vasaris dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Houston Perkins's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vasaris throws a sloppy head kick and Perkins moves out of range easily.
Vasaris throws a head kick but Perkins moves out of range.
Perkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vasaris throws a lazy head kick
and Perkins counters with a straight right hand.

Perkins shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Perkins trying to control from half guard but Vasaris is working away.
Perkins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vasaris is trying to stand up here but Perkins is controlling him well.
Perkins takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasaris is breathing heavily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Houston Perkins just wasn't active enough.
Perkins avoids the head kick by Vasaris.
Perkins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vasaris swivels and escapes.
Vasaris just misses with a punch to the body.

Vasaris gets a double leg takedown into Perkins's guard.
Perkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vasaris is one step ahead there.

Perkins looking for a guillotine here but Vasaris defends easily.

Perkins has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Vasaris is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Perkins.
Vasaris trying to control the position but Perkins is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasaris working the ground and pound.
Vasaris connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Perkins some visible discomfort.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vasaris lands an elbow.
Perkins is trying to control Vasaris's posture but Vasaris avoids it.
Perkins is trying to get back to his feet.

Vasaris tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Vasaris working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkins is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Vasaris asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Vasaris works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Vasaris lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Vasaris landing a few strikes.
Vasaris cracks Perkins with a big right hand but Perkins just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Vasaris wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Perkins, who protects the arm well.
Perkins takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Vasaris working the ground and pound.
Vasaris is chipping away with strikes.
Vasaris has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Perkins regains half guard, as Vasaris was trying to land strikes.
Vasaris wants to control but Perkins is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasaris missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vasaris slips a nice elbow through Perkins's hands, connecting with Perkins's forehead.
Vasaris missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vasaris throwing shots but Perkins is blocking nicely.
Talivaldis Vasaris has got the better of the ground game so far.

Vasaris seems to be working for a kimura but Perkins defends the submission attempt.
Perkins trying to hold on to Vasaris's head to control him but Vasaris postures up.
Perkins is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vasaris's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vasaris's back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Perkins lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Vasaris is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talivaldis Vasaris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Houston Perkins's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Perkins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vasaris is fending him off so far but Perkins persists. Nope, Vasaris circles away and we're back to standing.
Perkins takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Vasaris pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Vasaris.
Vasaris throws a sloppy head kick
and Perkins counters with a nice leg kick.
Vasaris throws a head kick but Perkins moves out of range.

Perkins gets the takedown into side control.
Perkins postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Perkins trying to control the position but Vasaris is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Perkins decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasaris throws a head kick that misses.
Perkins shoots in but no luck this time.
Vasaris tries to close the distance and clinch but Perkins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Perkins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Houston Perkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasaris misses with a head kick.
Vasaris slaps away a takedown attempt from Perkins, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Talivaldis Vasaris seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Vasaris darts in and clinches Perkins up against the cage.
Vasaris lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasaris tries to land a knee to the head but Perkins blocks with his arms.
Perkins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vasaris walks away with a smile on his face. Perkins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Vasaris misses with a head kick.

Perkins bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vasaris is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasaris is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Perkins is controlling him well.
Perkins just content to control the position.
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!
Vasaris avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Perkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasaris is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Vasaris's face as Perkins controls the position.
Vasaris is trying to get back to half guard.
Vasaris is being controlled here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Perkins decides to stand back up. Perkins steps back and let's Vasaris get back to his feet.
Vasaris tries to clinch but Perkins moves out of range.
Perkins fails with a takedown attempt.
Perkins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vasaris defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Vasaris.

Perkins drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Vasaris is looking for a sweep.

Vasaris throws Perkins to one side and escapes!
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!

Vasaris closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Perkins fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vasaris tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Houston Perkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Talivaldis Vasaris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vasaris blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

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 Houston Perkins.
I think Vasaris 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Talivaldis Vasaris!