PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Garces (ranked 8583 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derrick Vernon (ranked 6211 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Garces
vs
Vernon

180 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

186 cm
18
189 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miguel Garces!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derrick Vernon!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A thudding body kick lands there by Vernon!
Vernon looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Vernon wants to clinch.
Vernon throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Garces cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vernon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garces defends it nicely.

Garces looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garces postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Garces pushes down on Vernon's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Garces working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garces wants to take a breather but Vernon is having none of it.

Garces is working for a submission of some sort.
Garces looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Garces trying to control from half guard but Vernon is working away.
Garces is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vernon is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Well, if Garces is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Garces is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Garces is nestled in close to Vernon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Garces lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Garces lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Garces slips a nice elbow through Vernon's hands, connecting with Vernon's forehead.
Vernon is not content to let Garces control the position.
Garces landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Garces decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garces throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vernon's waist but Vernon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Garces off to one side.

Garces is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Vernon's half guard.

Vernon pushes Garces off and gets back to his feet.
Vernon shoots in but Garces avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Garces bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garces trying to control the position but Vernon is working away.
You can see the frustration on Vernon's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Garces lands some shots froms side control.
Garces scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Vernon to see if he's OK.
Garces lands a few punches from side control.
Garces wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vernon keeps working.

Garces wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vernon, who protects the arm well.
Vernon is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Garces has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Garces dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Garces lands with a kick to the temple. Vernon shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vernon is defended easily by Garces.

Garces gets a clinch.
Vernon prevents the takedown attempt.
Garces is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vernon can do to turn this around?
Vernon gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Garces.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Garces has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Vernon is trying to keep an underhook but Garces manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Garces lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garces lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Garces is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vernon is refusing to be controlled, as Garces sits in half guard.

Vernon is defending against the submission attempts here by Garces.
Vernon is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Garces is nestled in close to Vernon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Garces looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Vernon with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Vernon on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vernon pushes Garces off looking to stand but Garces dives back in and keeps control.
Garces working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Garces seems to be working for a kimura but Vernon defends the submission attempt.

Garces stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Vernon to get to his feet.
Garces lands a nice looking kick to the body. Vernon takes a step back to recover.
Garces shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Vernon eats them both and turns towards Garces to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garces shoots in for a double leg but Vernon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vernon throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Garces. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vernon swats away the attempt to clinch by Garces.
As Garces backs off Vernon throws a huge counter combo but Garces manages to avoid it all.

Vernon rushes Garces and presses him up against the cage.
We've been informed that Vernon has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Garces is looking for a takedown.
Garces wants a takedown.
Vernon trying to land knees to the body.
Garces fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vernon can't break the clinch.
Garces jumps guard but Vernon stands there with Garces around his waist. Garces gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garces's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck for Garces with that takedown attempt.

Vernon gets tackled into the cage by Garces. Garces maintains the clinch.
Garces goes for a takedown attempt but Vernon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Garces lands a body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vernon moves in looking to clinch but Garces pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Garces dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Garces manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Vernon on his heels. He'll look to pass Vernon's guard now, I'm sure.
Garces postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Garces is in close to Vernon's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Garces is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Garces lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Garces landing with the ground and pound.
Garces looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garces working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vernon has momentary wrist control but Garces slips an elbow through the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garces is working Vernon over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Garces won't allow Vernon to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garces with a nice head shot there.
Garces stands up over Vernon, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Garces is in close to Vernon's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Garces gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Garces shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vernon's guard.
Vernon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Garces preventing the sweep.
Garces stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vernon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garces trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vernon's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garces is in close to Vernon's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Garces working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Garces chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Garces drops back looking for a leg! Vernon is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vernon manages to kick Garces off! Garces jumps back into Vernon's guard.

Garces stands and steps away. Vernon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Vernon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Garces is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Garces looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Vernon!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garces wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vernon keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garces stands up.
Vernon tries a head kick but it misses.

Garces closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vernon's guard.
Vernon has his hands on Garces's head, controlling the position.
Garces looking to sit in guard and control but Vernon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Miguel Garces overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Garces is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garces has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Vernon is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Garces.
Garces regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Garces manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Vernon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Garces is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Vernon drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Vernon jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Derrick Vernon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miguel Garces is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Garces seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Garces showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Garces, 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Garces!
Miguel Garces thanked the fans post fight for their support.