PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kavi Putel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ashley Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashley Vargas is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Putel
vs
Vargas

164 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Sydney, Kavi Putel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ashley Vargas!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Skip Squint and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vargas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Putel quickly recovers to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Putel wants to control but Vargas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Putel wants to get back to full guard.
Vargas perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Putel regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vargas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Putel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Putel pulls Vargas in close to his closed guard and prevents Vargas from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putel wants to get back to his feet but Vargas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Vargas stopping the sweep attempt from Putel.
Vargas is looking to stand up but Putel won't let him.
Vargas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Putel is keeping the position for now.
Putel keeping moving, preventing Vargas from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Vargas shoots for a double leg takedown but Putel sprawls well. He's pushed Vargas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Putel feinted with a counter takedown.
Putel looks to score with a jab to the body but Vargas is just out of range.
Vargas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Putel.
Putel just misses with a punch to the body.
Putel misses with a looping right.
Putel throws a body shot but no joy.
Putel takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Vargas shoots in for a takedown but Putel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Putel drops down looking for a counter takedown but Vargas sprawls and moves away.
Putel throws a body shot but no joy.
Putel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vargas.
Vargas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Putel but Putel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kavi Putel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ashley Vargas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Putel avoids it really well and circles away.
Vargas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Putel's head.
Putel misses with a body shot.
Despite the aggression on Vargas's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Vargas tries to clinch up but Putel circles away and keeps his distance.
Putel changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Vargas throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Putel misses with an uppercut.

Putel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Putel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Putel trying to control but Vargas is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Putel drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vargas dives on top into guard.

Putel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vargas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Putel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vargas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vargas won't allow Putel to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kavi Putel dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vargas manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Putel on his heels. He'll look to pass Putel's guard now, I'm sure.
Putel is pulling down on Vargas's head. It's preventing any offense from Vargas, at least for the moment.
Vargas trying to control the position from guard on top but Putel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Putel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Putel trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Putel looking for a sweep. Not yet Putel, not yet.
Kavi Putel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vargas wants to control from the top but Putel keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Putel is pulling down on Vargas's head. It's preventing any offense from Vargas, at least for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vargas scores with a head kick. Putel tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Vargas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vargas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Putel tries to avoid it but Vargas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Putel to the ground. Putel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Putel stuffs the takedown.
Kavi Putel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ashley Vargas.
Vargas is breathing heavily.
Vargas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Putel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vargas gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Vargas pulls guard successfully.

Putel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Putel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Putel wants to pass the guard but Vargas is keeping the position.
Putel stays in close to Vargas's body and controls the position.

Putel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Putel stands and throws Vargas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Putel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vargas has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Putel looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Putel goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Vargas rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Putel's guard! Nice work there by Vargas!
Putel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vargas manages to get himself to full guard.

Putel passes Vargas's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Putel trying to control from half guard but Vargas is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Putel looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Vargas tries to roll over but Putel keeps him under control.

Putel is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vargas has managed to free his arm - good work.

Putel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Putel stalling.
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 Kavi Putel will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Vargas tries for a takedown but Putel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vargas misses with a takedown attempt - Putel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Putel throws a poor cross that misses
and Vargas counters with a straight right hand.
Putel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vargas wants to counter the offense by Putel and move into the clinch position.
Vargas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Putel tries to counter with a takedown but Vargas is quick to defend against it.
Kavi Putel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ashley Vargas.
Vargas fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Putel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The fighters circle momentarily. Vargas darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Putel misses the shot to the body.
And Vargas tries to counter it with a takedown but Putel pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Putel loads up on a big right hand but Vargas slips the punch.
Vargas is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Vargas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Putel.
Vargas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Putel looks to score with a jab to the body but Vargas is just out of range.
Vargas feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putel misses with an uppercut. Vargas saw that one coming.
Kavi Putel is winning the standup battle so far.
Putel misses with a hook. Vargas ducked under it nicely.
As Putel backs off Vargas throws a huge counter combo but Putel manages to avoid it all.
Vargas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Putel.
Vargas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Putel misses with a looping left.
Putel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Putel. Vargas does a little dance to reset his feet.

Vargas moves into the clinch.
Putel swings wildly with an uppercut but Vargas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Putel misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Putel misses with the head strike.

Vargas works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Putel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Putel looking to control.
Putel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vargas is one step ahead there.
Putel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Vargas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas wanted to stand there but Putel had control of the position.
Putel wants to sweep here but Vargas controlling him for the moment.
Putel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vargas scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Vargas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vargas stopping the sweep attempt from Putel.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Putel is on top in guard.

Vargas keeping full guard, as Putel tries to pass.
Putel stops Vargas from standing up.
Putel looking to pass the guard.
Vargas seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Putel wants to control from the top but Vargas keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kavi Putel.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Putel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kavi Putel!