PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amir The Mantis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vasquez
vs
The Mantis

167 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alejandro Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Amir The Mantis!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Vasquez throws a big counter combination but The Mantis scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Vasquez drives through and clinches with The Mantis against the cage.
Vasquez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. The Mantis is defending well for now.

Vasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Vasquez does no damage.
The Mantis throws a sloppy head kick and Vasquez moves out of range easily.
It looked like Vasquez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Some wild striking there from Vasquez.
The Mantis replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Vasquez blocks it well.
Vasquez avoids the head kick by The Mantis.
The Mantis just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromVasquez.
The Mantis delivers a nice body kick.
The Mantis misses with a head kick.
The Mantis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez moves out of range of the body kick.
The Mantis misses with a body kick.
The Mantis throws the kick towards the body but Vasquez avoids it.
Vasquez takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Vasquez instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. The Mantis just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The Mantis'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.

Vasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A decent looking body kick lands there for The Mantis.
Amir The Mantis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vasquez blocks the body kick.
A lazy body kick from The Mantis
and Vasquez counters with a one-two to the body.

The Mantis is rocked!
A head kick misses from The Mantis.
The Mantis is still on wobbly legs! Can Vasquez finish him?
The Mantis throws a head kick but Vasquez moves out of range.
Vasquez cracks The Mantis with an open hand slap.
The Mantis misses with an attempted mid kick.
Vasquez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez shoots in for a double leg but The Mantis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The Mantis explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
The Mantis throws a half hearted mid kick.
Vasquez fails to land the takedown.
The Mantis seems to have recovered his senses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The Mantis looks for the body kick but Vasquez saw that one coming.
The Mantis throws a sloppy head kick and Vasquez moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from The Mantis.
Vasquez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by The Mantis.
The Mantis lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The Mantis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Vasquez closes the distance and clinches.
The Mantis stops a takedown attempt from Vasquez.
The Mantis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The Mantis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vasquez is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasquez jumps guard.

Vasquez has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. The Mantis is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Vasquez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The Mantis is pressed up against the cage. Vasquez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag The Mantis down to the mat. The Mantis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Vasquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The Mantis stalling in the clinch but Vasquez improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The Mantis wants to break free but Vasquez has control.

Vasquez manages to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vasquez is on top in guard.

Vasquez is stalling in the full guard.
Vasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alejandro Vasquez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The Mantis misses with an attempted mid kick.
The Mantis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The Mantis tries to land a front kick but Vasquez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The Mantis looks for the body kick but Vasquez saw that one coming.
Amir The Mantis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The Mantis throws a head kick that misses.
Vasquez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Vasquez gets a clinch.
Vasquez working aggressively here.

Vasquez drags the fight down to the ground.

Vasquez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. The Mantis defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. The Mantis manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vasquez advances position into side control!

Vasquez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Vasquez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

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.

Vasquez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but The Mantis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
A lull in the action here.

Vasquez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. The Mantis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez controlling the position from side mount.

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.
The Mantis pushes Vasquez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Vasquez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Vasquez advances to full mount.
Vasquez controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The Mantis defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Vasquez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Vasquez dominated that second round.
That's time! Vasquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

The Mantis throws a head kick but Vasquez moves out of range.
The Mantis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vasquez.
The Mantis tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasquez moves out of range of the body kick.
A head kick misses from The Mantis.
Vasquez just misses with a punch to the body.
The Mantis raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
The Mantis throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Vasquez goes for a double leg but The Mantis avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as The Mantis continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The Mantis lands with a kick to the temple. Vasquez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Vasquez has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez shoots in for a takedown but The Mantis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vasquez moves out of range of the body kick.
The Mantis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Vasquez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
The Mantis looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Vasquez blocks a head kick by The Mantis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Mantis is looking to land body kicks.
The Mantis misses with a head kick.
Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
The Mantis scores with a nice body kick.
A head kick from The Mantis lands but Vasquez takes it in his stride.
The Mantis moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Vasquez gets a clinch.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but The Mantis holds him up against the cage and eventually Vasquez drops back down to his feet.

Vasquez breaks the clinch.
Amir The Mantis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alejandro Vasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? The Mantis is fending him off so far but Vasquez persists. Nope, The Mantis circles away and we're back to standing.
The Mantis throws a head kick but Vasquez moves out of range.

Vasquez takes the fight into the clinch.
The Mantis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The Mantis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The Mantis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vasquez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Vasquez as The Mantis tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Amir The Mantis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasquez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The Mantis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The Mantis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Vasquez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The Mantis throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Vasquez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but The Mantis manages to circle out of the way.
The Mantis misses with a kick to the body.

Vasquez moves into the clinch successfully.
The Mantis taking a breather.
Vasquez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Mantis trying to control the position but instead, Vasquez has worked for underhooks and has pushed The Mantis into the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Vasquez.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but The Mantis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. The Mantis just stands there and leans against the cage.
The Mantis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vasquez is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables The Mantis to keep the fight standing.
Alejandro Vasquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The Mantis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vasquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Amir The Mantis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vasquez 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Vasquez!