PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ernest Justice (ranked 24336 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mateo Vasquez (ranked 9501 p4p, 0 weight class). Ernest Justice has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Justice
vs
Vasquez

165 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

164 cm
19
139 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ernest Justice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mateo Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Justice takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A combination from Vasquez does no damage.

Vasquez moves into the clinch.
Vasquez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Justice's face.

It looks like Ernest Justice has been cut.
Vasquez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Justice gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Justice not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Justice missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Justice is trying to control the action in half guard but Vasquez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Justice is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vasquez is trying to stand back up but Justice is controlling him
Justice has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Vasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez keeping hold of Justice's head, controlling as best he can.
Vasquez pushes Justice off looking to stand but Justice dives back in and keeps control.
Justice prevents Vasquez from improving his position.
Justice prevents Vasquez from standing back up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Vasquez manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Justice keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Vasquez lands a body punch in the clinch.

Justice manages to break the clinch.

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

Vasquez decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mateo Vasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasquez looks winded!
Vasquez throws a sloppy head kick and Justice moves out of range easily.
Justice changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Justice counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Vasquez tries a head kick but it misses.

Vasquez drives through and clinches with Justice against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Justice manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Justice is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vasquez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Justice wants to sweep here but Vasquez controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justice is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vasquez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Vasquez won't allow Justice to sweep him here.
Vasquez trying to control but Justice is working from the bottom.

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

Vasquez gets tackled into the cage by Justice. Justice maintains the clinch.
Vasquez misses with an elbow over the top.

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.
Justice tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vasquez pushes off an throws an elbow but Justice leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Justice pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Justice wants to sweep here but Vasquez controlling him for the moment.
Justice being controlled here, momentarily.
Vasquez stopping the sweep attempt from Justice.
Vasquez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vasquez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vasquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Justice is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateo Vasquez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ernest Justice's cut.
That's time! Justice's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Vasquez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Vasquez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Vasquez swings for the body but Justice moves out of range.

Vasquez takes the fight into the clinch.

Vasquez tightens his grip and picks Justice up, before dumping him to the ground. Justice manages to land in guard.
Justice trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez stopping the sweep attempt from Justice.
Vasquez wants to stand and escape but instead Justice has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Justice trying to control but Vasquez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Justice sitting in guard here, content to control.
Justice throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Justice accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Justice from controlling successfully.
Justice lands a couple of elbows.
Vasquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Justice.
Vasquez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Vasquez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Justice is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justice is trying to control the position but Vasquez postures up.
Vasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Justice swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vasquez stopping the sweep attempt from Justice.
Vasquez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vasquez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Justice's guard.
Vasquez is breathing heavily.
Vasquez postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vasquez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Justice gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Justice trying to strike off his back.
Vasquez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Justice manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vasquez manages to get himself to full guard.

Justice scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Justice throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vasquez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Justice is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Justice landing with the ground and pound.
Justice trying to control but Vasquez is working from the bottom.
Vasquez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Justice working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vasquez's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Justice looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Justice wants to pass the guard but Vasquez is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateo Vasquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ernest Justice's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vasquez throws a jab but it's blocked by Justice.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Justice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Justice blocks a head kick by Vasquez.
Vasquez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vasquez just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromJustice.
Vasquez misses with the combination.
Justice seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Justice fails with a takedown attempt.
Vasquez tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vasquez jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Vasquez.

Vasquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Justice, pushing him back against the cage.
Justice is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Justice manages to pull guard.
Justice is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Justice is working hard here to advance position.
Justice keeping moving, preventing Vasquez from controlling successfully.
Vasquez won't allow Justice to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vasquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Justice is keeping the position for now.
Vasquez won't allow Justice to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Justice tries to clinch up.
Vasquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Justice is looking to counter punch.
Vasquez looks to score with a jab to the body but Justice is just out of range.
Justice tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Vasquez manages to circle out of the way.
Vasquez throws a sloppy head kick

and Justice decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vasquez's guard.
Justice postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justice won't allow Vasquez to get back to his feet.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Justice from controlling successfully.
Justice throws a big right hand that misses.
Mateo Vasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Justice wants to pass the guard but Vasquez is keeping the position.
Justice lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Justice controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vasquez seems keen to control Justice's posture.

Vasquez pushes Justice off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Justice moves into range and clinches up with Vasquez.
Justice lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mateo Vasquez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Justice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Justice has taken the fight to the clinch.

Justice's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vasquez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Vasquez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Justice to the ground. Vasquez is now in Justice's guard.
Ernest Justice has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Justice working for a triangle but Vasquez defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mateo Vasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vasquez 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mateo Vasquez!