PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lacy Vang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mariusz Linke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Vang
vs
Linke

216 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lacy Vang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mariusz Linke!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vang changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Linke looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Linke tries to buck Vang off but Vang is having none of it.
Vang misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Linke is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vang trying to control the action but Linke is working from the bottom.
Vang wants to stand but Linke is controlling his arm.
Vang is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Linke gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Linke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vang pulls his head out easily.

Linke actively working from the bottom here.
Linke on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Linke actively working from the bottom here.
Vang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vang tries to stand and escape but Linke is controlling the position.

Linke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Linke actively working from the bottom here.

Linke with the active half guard here but Vang passes nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vang wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Linke, who protects the arm well.
Vang looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Linke is avoiding damage well.
Vang wants to stand but Linke is controlling his arm.
Linke manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Linke is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Linke is looking for a kimura here.

Linke is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vang defends it well.
Vang pushes Linke off looking to stand but Linke dives back in and keeps control.
Linke is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Linke has control of Vang's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Vang regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Vang wants to control but Linke is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vang working to try and regain half guard.
Vang really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Vang wants to control but Linke is having none of it.

Linke is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Vang can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Linke swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Vang is now in Linke's guard. A big mistake from Linke there, giving up the dominant position!
Vang works over Linke with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Linke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vang defends well.
Vang loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Linke working for a triangle but Vang defends it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Linke throws his legs up looking for a submission but Vang uses it to pass to side control.
Vang is chipping away with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Linke is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Vang is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Vang putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Linke keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mariusz Linke dominated that round.
That's time! Vang's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Vang closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Linke did well to prevent Vang getting side control.
Vang wants to stand but Linke has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Linke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vang pulls his head out easily.

Vang is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Linke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Linke looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Linke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vang pulls his head out easily.
Linke is looking for a sweep. Vang is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Linke is not content to let Vang control the position.

Linke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vang pulls his head out easily.
Linke regains full guard. Nicely done.

Vang avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Linke is breathing heavily.
Vang is in close to Linke's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Vang landing some decent shots from guard.

Vang stands and steps away. Linke gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vang decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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!
Linke is staying active underneath Vang, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Linke is looking for a sweep. Vang is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Linke looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Linke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vang pulls his head out easily.

Linke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vang controlling the action here.

Vang is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vang lands strikes from half guard.
Mariusz Linke has got the better of the ground game so far.

Linke actively working from the bottom here.

Linke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Vang is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Linke looking for submissions off his back.
Vang is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Well, if Vang is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Linke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Linke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vang pulls his head out easily.
Vang wants to take a breather but Linke is having none of it.

Vang is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Vang is keen to just control but Linke is a slippery customer.

Linke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Linke looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Linke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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 Lacy Vang will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Vang shoots in and bounces Linke off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Vang thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vang missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Linke working for a triangle but Vang defends it easily.

Linke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Linke has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vang can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Vang avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Linke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vang landing with the ground and pound.
Vang knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Linke on the ground.
Vang landing with the ground and pound.
Vang working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Vang avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Linke had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vang defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vang works over Linke with some ground and pound from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Linke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vang wants to control from the top but Linke keeps moving.
Vang wants to get up but he can't break Linke's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Vang drops back looking for a leg! Linke is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Linke manages to kick Vang off! Vang jumps back into Linke's guard.
Vang controlling from the top position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Linke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Linke keeping moving, preventing Vang from controlling successfully.

Linke is looking for a triangle but Vang pushes his legs off easily.
Vang wants to control from the top but Linke keeps moving.
Vang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vang working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Linke's head.
Vang lands a couple of digs.
Vang lands a couple of digs.
Vang lands a couple of digs.
Vang wants to stand but Linke has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Linke looking for a sweep. Not yet Linke, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Linke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vang defends well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Linke has a closed guard, preventing Vang from standing up.

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

Linke working for a triangle but Vang defends it easily.

Linke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vang defends well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vang is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mariusz Linke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Linke 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mariusz Linke!