PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Barry Reaves (ranked 4298 p4p, 449 weight class) and Vinnie Vasquez (ranked 7379 p4p, 639 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Reaves
vs
Vasquez

188 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
201 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barry Reaves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vinnie Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reaves displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vasquez.

Vasquez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Vasquez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Reaves defends well.
Reaves has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Reaves accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vasquez is working an open guard so Reaves takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Vasquez moves out of range as Reaves strikes.
Reaves circles away from the clinch attempt.

Reaves has Vasquez up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez looking for a takedown.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but Reaves holds him up against the cage and eventually Vasquez drops back down to his feet.
Barry Reaves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vinnie Vasquez.

Vasquez successfully pulls guard.
Reaves throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Reaves controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Reaves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vasquez is keeping the position for now.

Vasquez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Reaves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Reaves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Reaves decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Reaves gets a double leg takedown into Vasquez's guard.
Reaves not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Reaves showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vasquez is looking for a triangle but Reaves pushes his legs off easily.
Reaves preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Reaves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reaves showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vasquez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Vasquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vasquez shoots for a double leg takedown but Reaves sprawls well. He's pushed Vasquez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Reaves tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasquez steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Reaves.

Vasquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Reaves slaps away a takedown attempt from Vasquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reaves swats away the attempt to clinch by Vasquez.
Vasquez closes the distance and clinches up with Reaves, looking for a takedown. Vasquez pushes Reaves against the cage but Reaves circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Reaves misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Reaves sets himself, and Vasquez steps forward looking for the clinch! Reaves avoids it this time.

Reaves shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Reaves was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Vasquez wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reaves takes a little break here. Vasquez wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaves working away.
Reaves misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasquez trying to remain calm as Reaves controls from the top position.
Vasquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Reaves stands up and beckons Vasquez to his feet.
Reaves throws a head kick that misses.
Barry Reaves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Reaves closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Vasquez is looking to get back to his feet here but Reaves is keeping cool and he's managed to take Vasquez's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reaves biding his time, controlling Vasquez.
Vasquez looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Reaves biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reaves seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Vasquez for as long as he can get away with.
Reaves thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Vasquez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Reaves trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Vasquez doesn't escape.
Vasquez tries to escape but Reaves has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Reaves working for the choke.

Reaves patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Vasquez just trying to survive but Reaves is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Reaves is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Vasquez tries to roll but Reaves sticks to his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Vasquez just trying to survive but Reaves is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Reaves dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Reaves keeps Vasquez at a distance using the push kick.
Vasquez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Vasquez tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasquez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reaves pinned against the cage. Reaves gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vasquez slaps away a takedown attempt from Reaves, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reaves takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reaves closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Reaves lands in his opponent's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Vasquez manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaves's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Reaves has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Vasquez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Reaves working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Reaves controlling the positon.
Barry Reaves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Reaves working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reaves working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Vasquez just trying to survive but Reaves is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Even with his hooks in, Reaves manages to miss with strikes from the back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vasquez rolls, trying to escape but Reaves keeps control of the position.
Vasquez trying to control the hands but Reaves breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reaves has good solid back control here.
Reaves thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Reaves has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Vasquez defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Vasquez is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reaves is not going to allow Vasquez to sit and survive in this position.
Vasquez is trying to get back to his feet but Reaves has full control of the position and if anything, Vasquez has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Reaves biding his time, controlling Vasquez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Reaves showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Reaves has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Reaves!