PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Santos Mayer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinh Tien Nguyen Cong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mayer
vs
Tien Nguyen Cong

193 cm
18
193 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

185 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Santos Mayer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vinh Tien Nguyen Cong!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mayer misses with the combination.
Mayer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nguyen Cong swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Mayer closes the distance and clinches.
Mayer is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nguyen Cong to keep the fight standing.

Nguyen Cong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nguyen Cong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Nguyen Cong shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mayer manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nguyen Cong wanted to stand there but Mayer had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nguyen Cong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mayer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nguyen Cong controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen Cong looking to sit in guard and control but Mayer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nguyen Cong controlling Mayer's posture.
Nguyen Cong wants to sweep here but Mayer controlling him for the moment.
Mayer postures up in Nguyen Cong's guard and throws a big left but Nguyen Cong blocks it.
Mayer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nguyen Cong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mayer prevents Nguyen Cong from getting back to his feet.
Mayer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nguyen Cong wants to control the position but Mayer says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Mayer seems to be looking for submissions.
Nguyen Cong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mayer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mayer thows a huge punch but Nguyen Cong dodges it nicely.
Mayer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nguyen Cong's head.
Mayer prevents Nguyen Cong from improving his position.
Mayer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mayer prevents Nguyen Cong from improving his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Nguyen Cong shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Nguyen Cong was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayer is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nguyen Cong tries to stand and escape but Mayer is controlling the position.
Mayer is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Nguyen Cong wants to control but Mayer is keeping him busy.
Mayer is trying to control but can't.
Nguyen Cong throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nguyen Cong stalling away here and it's allowed Mayer to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Nguyen Cong controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mayer is trying to keep Nguyen Cong in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nguyen Cong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mayer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nguyen Cong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mayer swats away the attempt to clinch by Nguyen Cong.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vinh Tien Nguyen Cong will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nguyen Cong looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mayer 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.
Mayer is trying to control but can't.
Nguyen Cong tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mayer.

Nguyen Cong is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mayer defends it well.
Mayer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mayer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nguyen Cong is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen Cong is trying to control. Mayer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nguyen Cong wants to pass the guard but Mayer is defending well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mayer looks to score with a jab to the body but Nguyen Cong is just out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mayer enables Nguyen Cong to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mayer manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nguyen Cong must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Mayer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nguyen Cong passes into side control.
Nguyen Cong working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen Cong misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mayer keeps Nguyen Cong under control for a moment.
Nguyen Cong trying to control the position but Mayer is working away.
Mayer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mayer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nguyen Cong's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Nguyen Cong slips a nice elbow through Mayer's hands, connecting with Mayer's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen Cong wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Mayer uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Mayer can't keep his opponent in guard - Nguyen Cong advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mayer wants to get back to full guard.
Nguyen Cong is keen to just control but Mayer is a slippery customer.
Nguyen Cong throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nguyen Cong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mayer throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mayer is positioning himself well to prevent Nguyen Cong advancing to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mayer throws a lazy head kick

and Nguyen Cong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nguyen Cong.
Mayer tries to pull guard but Nguyen Cong won't allow it.
Mayer tries to pull guard but Nguyen Cong won't allow it.

Nguyen Cong pulls guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nguyen Cong trying to keep a closed guard but Mayer is proving a slippery customer.
Nguyen Cong is breathing heavily.
Mayer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinh Tien Nguyen Cong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Nguyen Cong scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nguyen Cong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mayer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nguyen Cong tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mayer knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nguyen Cong is keen to just control but Mayer is a slippery customer.
Mayer trying to hold on to Nguyen Cong's head to control him but Nguyen Cong postures up.
Nguyen Cong looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mayer is pressing down on Nguyen Cong's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mayer is trying to control the position but Nguyen Cong postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen Cong trying to control but Mayer is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mayer throws a leg kick but Nguyen Cong sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Mayer closes the distance and clinches.

Nguyen Cong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mayer misses with a body shot.

Nguyen Cong closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mayer to the mat! Mayer manages to get full guard.
Nguyen Cong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mayer is trying to keep Nguyen Cong in close.
Mayer throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mayer trying to keep a closed guard but Nguyen Cong is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen Cong works over Mayer with some ground and pound from guard.
Nguyen Cong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mayer is keeping the position for now.
Nguyen Cong throws an elbow that misses. Mayer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nguyen Cong's guard. Nice move by Mayer!

Nguyen Cong looking for a guillotine here but Mayer defends easily.
Nguyen Cong trying to keep a closed guard but Mayer is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen Cong wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Mayer manages to pass to side control.
Mayer prevents Nguyen Cong from improving his position.
Mayer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nguyen Cong with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mayer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nguyen Cong 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.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nguyen Cong blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mayer.
Mayer winds up and cracks Nguyen Cong with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mayer tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Nguyen Cong manages to get to full guard.
Mayer throwing strikes from guard but Nguyen Cong blocks nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mayer stands up over Nguyen Cong, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vinh Tien Nguyen Cong.
I've got Nguyen Cong winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinh Tien Nguyen Cong!