PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamie Varner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Niga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roy Niga will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Varner
vs
Niga

173 cm
16
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
290 lbs
0 - 38 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jamie Varner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 38 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roy Niga!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Niga enables Varner to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Niga manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Niga wants to sweep here but Varner controlling him for the moment.
Varner slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Niga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Niga looking to hit a scissor sweep but Varner is one step ahead there.
Varner passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Niga looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Niga is trying to maintain the position but Varner is very close to passing his half guard.
Varner tries to pass to full mount but Niga defends it.
Varner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Niga is trying to maintain the position but Varner is very close to passing his half guard.
Varner performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Varner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Varner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Varner trying to control the pace.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Varner is working for a submission of some sort.
Nice strikes from Varner there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niga wants to get back to full guard.
Varner content to control rather than advance.
Niga wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Varner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Niga sprawls well initially but Varner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Niga is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Varner lands a nice short elbow.

Varner is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Niga doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Varner.
Varner looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Niga with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varner not doing much here.
Niga has hold of Varner's hands but Varner slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Varner is working for a kimura here but Niga manages to reverse the position and he's now in Varner's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Varner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Varner dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Varner shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Niga looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Varner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Varner stopping the sweep attempt from Niga.
Varner stays in close to Niga's body and controls the position.
Varner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Niga works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Niga swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Varner chips away with some ground and pound.
Varner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Niga can do to turn this around?
Niga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jamie Varner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niga can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Varner controls the pace.

Niga looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Varner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Varner is pushing down on Niga's leg trying to pass to half guard. Niga is fighting to maintain full guard but Varner has managed to sneak the leg through.
Varner is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Varner trying to pass the guard but Niga defending well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jamie Varner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Varner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Niga sprawls well initially but Varner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Varner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Varner landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varner looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Niga with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Varner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Varner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Varner.
Varner looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Niga on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Varner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Varner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varner content to control rather than advance.
Varner working over Niga with some ground and pound. Niga looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Niga is staying active underneath Varner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Varner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Niga looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Niga is breathing heavily.
Varner working Niga over with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Varner stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Varner dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Varner scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Varner controls the position from side control.
Varner trying to control the position but Niga is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niga tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Varner working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varner is putting a hurting on Niga here, landing some big shots from side control.
Niga wants to control but Varner postures up.
Niga tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Niga has eaten all the pies!
Varner in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Niga takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Niga taking a bit of punishment here - Varner scoring with strikes.

Niga is rocked!
Niga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Varner cracks Niga with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Varner immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Niga is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Varner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jamie Varner!
After winning the bout, Jamie Varner thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.