PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Semir Vaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kulap Metharom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Metharom has chosen Synkro - Midnight Sun as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vaja
vs
Metharom

190 cm
19
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

193 cm
18
257 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Solid chin

Arcticus University: London

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Semir Vaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kulap Metharom!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vaja moves out of range as Metharom throws a body kick.
Vaja avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Metharom avoids a punch combination nicely.
Metharom throws out a leg kick but Vaja moves out of range and Metharom only half commits.
Vaja throws a sloppy head kick and Metharom moves out of range easily.
Vaja misses with the combination.
Metharom only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Vaja checks a low kick from Metharom.
Metharom thows a leg kick but Vaja checks it

and Vaja decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Metharom's guard.
Metharom pulls Vaja in to control the position.
Vaja would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Metharom wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaja has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Metharom is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metharom pulls Vaja in close to his closed guard and prevents Vaja from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vaja wants to get up but he can't break Metharom's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Vaja trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Metharom throws out a leg kick but Vaja moves out of range and Metharom only half commits.
Metharom finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Metharom blocks the body kick.
Metharom throws a leg kick which misses Vaja's front leg but catches the back leg as Vaja tries to avoid it.
Vaja misses with a head kick.
Metharom flicks out a counter leg kick but Vaja steps away.
Vaja tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Metharom is able to avoid easily.

Metharom closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaja takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Semir Vaja has been cut.
Metharom lands an elbow inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vaja creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Metharom prevents Vaja from breaking the clinch.
Metharom gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Metharom lands an elbow inside that Vaja shrugs off.
Metharom misses with an elbow over the top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Metharom keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vaja's efforts to push away.
Metharom throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Metharom lands an elbow inside that Vaja shrugs off.

Semir Vaja's cut is getting worse.
Vaja is looking to control Metharom's arms but Metharom gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vaja has his back to the cage.
Vaja working hard to break the clinch.
Metharom lands an elbow inside that Vaja shrugs off.
Metharom lands an elbow inside.

Vaja is rocked!
Metharom looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Oh Vaja is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Metharom misses with an elbow over the top.
Metharom looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Metharom pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Vaja seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaja takes an elbow to the temple.
Vaja avoids a wild elbow strike from Metharom.
Clinched against the cage, Metharom lands a big elbow that drops Vaja! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Vaja is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:16 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kulap Metharom!
Kulap Metharom managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Arcticus University: London, into his post fight interview.