PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Dreesen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Vega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dreesen has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dreesen
vs
Vega

177 cm
27
166 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

178 cm
38
169 lbs
16 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Virgil Dreesen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Vega!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vega throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Virgil Dreesen has been cut.
Vega wants to clinch.
Dreesen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A lazy left from Vega finds it's target.
Dreesen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vega.
A jab from Vega finds it's way through Dreesen's defenses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vega is looking to land body kicks.
Vega shoots in looking for a takedown but Dreesen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vega's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Vega scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Vega.
Dreesen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vega thinks about the counter body kick.
Virgil Dreesen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dreesen is breathing heavily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Vega.
Vega misses with a low kick.

Vega 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.
Vega looking to pass the guard.
Vega passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vega advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vega trying to control but Dreesen is having none of it.
Vega lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Vega unloading with bombs!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vega wants to control the pace but Dreesen is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dreesen is bucking up trying to escape but Vega cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Vega lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Vega has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Dreesen's face.

Dreesen is rocked!

Vega working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Dreesen looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Vega! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Steve Vega!
During a confident post fight interview, Steve Vega thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.