PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mack Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Juarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mack Nguyen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nguyen
vs
Juarez

179 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mack Nguyen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Santiago Juarez!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Juarez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Juarez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nguyen is trying to stand up here but Juarez is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nguyen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Juarez throws a strike but Nguyen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Nguyen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Juarez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Left hook, right uppercut from Juarez.

Nguyen is rocked!

It looks like Mack Nguyen has been cut.

Juarez moves into range and clinches up with Nguyen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Juarez is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Nguyen pulls Juarez into guard.
Nguyen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Juarez is one step ahead there.
Juarez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Juarez stands and steps away. Nguyen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Juarez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nguyen sprawls well initially but Juarez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Juarez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Juarez is just content to waste time from the top position. Nguyen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Juarez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nguyen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Juarez has Nguyen in his guard.

Juarez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Juarez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nguyen passes into half guard.
Juarez wants to get back to full guard.

Juarez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Juarez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Juarez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Juarez trying to control but Nguyen is working from the bottom.
Juarez looking to sit in guard and control but Nguyen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Juarez looking for subs off his back but Nguyen has passed one foot through into half guard.

Juarez has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Nguyen is on him like a limpet, forcing Juarez back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Juarez prevents it.

Nguyen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Juarez uses from the top position.
Juarez throws a strike but Nguyen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Juarez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Nguyen preventing the sweep.
Nguyen throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Santiago Juarez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mack Nguyen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Juarez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nguyen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Juarez is in Nguyen's guard.
Nguyen is wriggling around but Juarez manages to pass to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Juarez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Juarez wants to pass to mount but Nguyen is defending the position.
Juarez throws a strike but Nguyen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Juarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juarez trying to control but Nguyen is working from the bottom.
Nguyen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Juarez is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juarez is looking to pass into half guard but Nguyen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nguyen is in guard.

Nguyen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Juarez managing to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nguyen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Juarez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nguyen has picked Juarez up and slammed him! Juarez can't keep hold of the triangle and Nguyen manages to pass to side control!
Juarez looking for a sweep but Nguyen has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juarez is looking to get to half guard.
Nguyen landing strikes from the mount and Juarez is in trouble!
Nguyen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Juarez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Juarez bucks Nguyen off and manages to get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Juarez gets a takedown into half guard.
Juarez is looking to take a break and control but Nguyen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Juarez wants to free his trapped foot but Nguyen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nguyen missing with punches from the bottom.
Nguyen wants to improve his position but Juarez is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Juarez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nguyen defends it well.
Juarez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nguyen tries to kick Juarez off but Juarez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Juarez slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nguyen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Juarez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nguyen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Juarez thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mack Nguyen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mack Nguyen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Juarez misses with a low kick.
Juarez throws a head kick but Nguyen moves out of range.

Juarez has closed the distance and engaged Nguyen in a clinch.
Juarez tries to land knees in the clinch but Nguyen avoids the damage to the body.
Nguyen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Juarez pulls his leg out and moves away.

Juarez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nguyen is pushing Juarez's head away, looking to escape. Juarez manages to hold on to the position though.
Nguyen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Juarez with the ground and pound but Nguyen regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Juarez stands up and beckons Nguyen to join him on the feet.
Juarez throws a sloppy head kick and Nguyen moves out of range easily.
It looked like Nguyen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Juarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Juarez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Juarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nguyen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Juarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Juarez stops Nguyen from standing up.
Santiago Juarez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Juarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Nguyen has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juarez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nguyen striking off his back but it's not causing Juarez any problems.
Juarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Juarez has managed to clinch.

Nguyen breaks the clinch.
Juarez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nguyen counters with a nice uppercut.
Santiago Juarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Juarez throws a leg kick but Nguyen checks it.
Nguyen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Juarez moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juarez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nguyen has him pressed against the cage.

Nguyen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Juarez throws a head kick that misses
and Nguyen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A low kick from Juarez misses
and Nguyen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nguyen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Juarez defends well and Nguyen ends up having to push Juarez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Juarez appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Juarez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nguyen checks it well.
Nguyen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Juarez misses with a two punch combination.
Nguyen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Juarez sprawls and moves away.
Nguyen misses with a takedown
and Juarez counters with a series of strikes. Nguyen will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mack Nguyen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Juarez throws a series of punches but Nguyen avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juarez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Juarez.

Juarez moves into the clinch.
Juarez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Juarez prevents a body shot from Nguyen.
Nguyen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Juarez up against the cage.

Juarez tightens his grip and picks Nguyen up, before dumping him to the ground. Nguyen manages to land in guard.
Juarez wants to control from the top but Nguyen keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santiago Juarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Juarez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santiago Juarez!
Santiago Juarez decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.