PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yury Vesnev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommie Gunn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gunn is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Don't Shoot Shotgun. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vesnev
vs
Gunn

170 cm
34
159 lbs
29 - 10 - 1

176 cm
31
164 lbs
24 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Pearson Specter Litt
Sun-Tzu

Reaper Combatwear
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yury Vesnev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tommie Gunn!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vesnev misses with a hook. Gunn ducked under it nicely.
Gunn thuds his shin into the meat of Vesnev's side.
Gunn misses with a body kick.
Gunn fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vesnev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vesnev throws a body shot but no joy.
Vesnev throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Gunn counter with a right hand.
Gunn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vesnev looks to land a combination but Gunn avoids it well.
Vesnev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The fighters circling - Vesnev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gunn feints the counter takedown.
Gunn dives in for a single leg takedown but Vesnev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev moves away from the strike by Gunn.
Vesnev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vesnev takes a swing at Gunn's ribcage but misses.
Gunn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vesnev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A low kick from Gunn misses
and Vesnev counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gunn, right into the meat.
Vesnev moves out of range of the body kick from Gunn.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gunn.
Gunn fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Vesnev has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gunn moves out of range of the leg kick from Vesnev.
Gunn has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Gunn misses with a low kick.
A little feinted left hand from Vesnev on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Gunn clinches.
Gunn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gunn works on Vesnev's body with a couple of short punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gunn.
Vesnev tries to pull guard but Gunn holds him up against the cage and eventually Vesnev drops back down to his feet.
Gunn throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunn throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vesnev.
Vesnev swings wildly with an uppercut but Gunn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gunn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vesnev misses with a punch to the body.
Vesnev struggles to land a body shot inside as Gunn controls his hands.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gunn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vesnev is trying to pull guard but Gunn has him pressed against the cage.

Vesnev manages to break the clinch.
Vesnev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gunn manages to avoid it.
Gunn tried to score with a low kick but Vesnev checks it.
Vesnev tries to counter with a takedown but Gunn is quick to defend against it.
Gunn throws a series of punches but Vesnev avoids them all with ease.
Vesnev lands a glancing blow to the side of Gunn's head.
Gunn misses with a leg kick
and Vesnev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gunn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunn throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gunn scores with a jab. Vesnev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Vesnev fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gunn looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gunn takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Vesnev moves out of range as Gunn strikes.
Vesnev feinted with a counter takedown.
Vesnev shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Vesnev slips a straight right by Gunn.

Gunn gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gunn trying to control the pace.
Vesnev trying to hold on to Gunn's head to control him but Gunn postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunn slips a nice elbow through Vesnev's hands, connecting with Vesnev's forehead.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vesnev regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gunn.
Gunn lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vesnev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gunn trying to control the position from guard on top but Vesnev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommie Gunn dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vesnev misses with a hook
and Gunn counters with a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Vesnev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Vesnev.
Gunn misses with a leg kick.
Gunn feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vesnev's calf.
Vesnev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gunn makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Vesnev really felt that one!
Gunn is looking to slow Vesnev down with leg kicks.
A big right from Vesnev misses.
Gunn follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Vesnev cracks Gunn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gunn fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vesnev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev throws a half hearted mid kick.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Vesnev misses with a low kick.
Gunn throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Gunn fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunn scores with a nice strike.
Gunn misses with a wild body shot.
Gunn connects with a body shot that sends Vesnev's belly button to the back.
Gunn clobbers Vesnev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vesnev tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Vesnev misses with a hook. Gunn ducked under it nicely.
Gunn looks to land a left hand but Vesnev moved out of range nicely.
Vesnev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vesnev throws the left hand but Gunn avoids the punch easily.
Gunn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gunn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vesnev manages to avoid it.
Gunn throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vesnev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gunn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev swings widly with a right hand
enabling Gunn to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gunn clobbers Vesnev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vesnev throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Vesnev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Vesnev works to advance to full mount. Gunn defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Vesnev lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Vesnev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vesnev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gunn is looking to get to half guard.
Vesnev with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev landing strikes from the mount.
Gunn is looking to get to half guard.
Gunn blocking the ground and pound.
Gunn tries to hold on but Vesnev pushes him away.
Gunn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vesnev scoring with strikes but Gunn is staying in there.
Vesnev avoids the attempt from Gunn to control.
Vesnev cracks Gunn with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunn is looking to get to half guard.
Vesnev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gunn's face.
Vesnev unloading with bombs!
Vesnev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vesnev lands a couple of good shots and Gunn has given up his back, trying to escape 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!
Gunn covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Vesnev doesn't have the hooks in and Gunn manages to turn into his guard.
Gunn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yury Vesnev dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vesnev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vesnev misses with a wild body shot.
Vesnev swings for the body but Gunn moves out of range.
Vesnev slips under a jab from Gunn.
Tommie Gunn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vesnev lands a right hook to the body.
Gunn connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gunn looks for the body kick but Vesnev saw that one coming.
It looked like Vesnev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Vesnev throws a half hearted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gunn is looking to clinch.
Vesnev leaves Gunn with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Vesnev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Vesnev showed some decent athleticism there.
Yury Vesnev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunn is staying active underneath Vesnev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vesnev is pressing down on Gunn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gunn is holding on for now.
Vesnev wants to take a breather but Gunn is having none of it.
Vesnev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gunn knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gunn moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gunn wants to control but Vesnev passes easily into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vesnev slips a nice elbow through Gunn's hands, connecting with Gunn's forehead.
Gunn tries to roll over but Vesnev keeps him under control.
Vesnev trying to mount his opponent but Gunn defends it.
Vesnev trying to control from half guard but Gunn is working away.
Vesnev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gunn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vesnev throwing shots but Gunn is blocking nicely.
Vesnev 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.
Vesnev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gunn trying to hold on to Vesnev's head to control him but Vesnev postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vesnev connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vesnev takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunn is looking to clinch.
Tommie Gunn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gunn jabs Vesnev to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gunn is looking to clinch.
Gunn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vesnev looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Gunn swings widly with a right hand
and Vesnev counters with a one-two to the body.
Vesnev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gunn throws a shot from downtown. Vesnev moves away and avoids it.
Vesnev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gunn moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vesnev chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gunn can pounce on him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gunn takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gunn fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yury Vesnev clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vesnev misses with a looping left.
Gunn looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Gunn throws a jab when Vesnev was well out of range.
Vesnev getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vesnev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gunn wants to counter with a clinch but Vesnev pushes him away.
Gunn bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vesnev's head backwards.
Vesnev tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Vesnev connects with a leg kick. Gunn looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gunn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vesnev manages to avoid it.
Vesnev moves out of range as Gunn throws a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gunn dodges the punch combination from Vesnev.
A leg kick checked by Gunn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesnev takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gunn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Vesnev misses with a looping right.
Gunn takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Vesnev misses the shot to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Gunn there.
Gunn swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Vesnev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gunn.
A shot to the liver by Gunn. Beautiful body shot.
Vesnev cracks Gunn with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Vesnev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gunn.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gunn or perhaps it was just good defense by Vesnev, which made it look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch 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!
Vesnev working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gunn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gunn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gunn misses with a punch to the body.
Vesnev misses with the head strike.
Gunn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vesnev.
Gunn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gunn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vesnev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Vesnev manages to break the clinch.
Gunn lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gunn.
Gunn rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Vesnev counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gunn thinking.
Vesnev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gunn defends it nicely.
Vesnev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gunn manages to avoid it.
Vesnev throws a body kick that misses.
Gunn misses with a kick to the body.
Gunn tries for a takedown but Vesnev circles away easily
and Vesnev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vesnev checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A little feinted left hand from Vesnev on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Gunn gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vesnev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gunn uses from the top position.
Gunn throws a big elbow that misses.
Vesnev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gunn being controlled here momentarily.
Vesnev wants to sweep here but Gunn controlling him for the moment.
Gunn trying to control but Vesnev is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Yury Vesnev will probably get the nod.
That's time! Vesnev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Gunn is looking to land body kicks.
Vesnev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gunn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vesnev can pounce on him.
Vesnev scores with a hook to the body. Gunn takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gunn throws a nice outside leg kick.

Vesnev gets caught flat footed, as Gunn shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Vesnev pulls Gunn in to control the position.
Gunn scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gunn content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vesnev is pulling down on Gunn's head. It's preventing any offense from Gunn, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesnev wants to sweep but no luck.
Vesnev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gunn has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gunn there as he acknowledges the shot.
Vesnev misses with a looping left.
Gunn takes one to the side of the head.
A jab from Vesnev misses.
Gunn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Vesnev on the side of the head.
Gunn misses the jab.
Vesnev was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev shoots in for a takedown but Gunn shows good takedown defense.
Vesnev thuds a left hand into Gunn's body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vesnev.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vesnev tries to score with some ground and pound. Gunn controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
You can see the frustration on Gunn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gunn is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vesnev's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gunn won't allow Vesnev to pass to mount.
Gunn manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vesnev throws a big right hand that misses.
Vesnev postures up.
Gunn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gunn keeps trying to improve his position.
Vesnev throws a big right hand that misses.
Vesnev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vesnev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vesnev landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunn can't do much from the bottom here.
Vesnev trying to control the position but Gunn is working away.
Vesnev avoids the strikes from the bottom by Gunn.
Gunn wants to control but Vesnev postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vesnev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vesnev fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yury Vesnev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vesnev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Yury Vesnev!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Yury Vesnev!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Yury Vesnev!

Yury Vesnev wins by unanimous decision!
Yury Vesnev retains his lightweight title!
A victorious Yury Vesnev thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.