PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antony Vasquez (ranked 7642 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ze Manel (ranked 4642 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Vasquez
vs
Manel

156 cm
24
346 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Antony Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ze Manel!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manel tries to clinch but Vasquez moves out of range.
Manel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vasquez.
Manel tries to clinch up
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ze Manel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Manel throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vasquez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Manel is in Vasquez's guard.

Vasquez is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Manel presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Manel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good work by Manel as he checks the leg kick.
Manel misses with a kick to the body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Vasquez enables Manel to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Vasquez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Vasquez really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Manel postures up.
Manel slips nicely into half guard.
Vasquez wants to get back to his feet.
Vasquez manages to get to full guard.
Manel looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Manel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Manel is looking to stand up but Vasquez won't let him.
Manel wants to control from the top but Vasquez keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Manel tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasquez is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Manel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vasquez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez wants to sweep here but Manel controlling him for the moment.
Manel being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Manel from controlling successfully.
Manel tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasquez is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Manel from controlling successfully.
Manel landing some decent shots from guard.
Manel wants to get up but he can't break Vasquez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Manel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vasquez managing to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Manel throws a head kick that misses

and Vasquez counters with a shoot takedown. Manel fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ze Manel will probably get the nod.
That's time! Vasquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Manel closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Vasquez did well to prevent Manel getting side control.
Manel working over Vasquez with some ground and pound. Vasquez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Vasquez trying to control from the bottom.
Manel wants to stand up but Vasquez manages to regain full guard.
Manel looking to pass the guard.
Manel is still trying to improve position.
Vasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Manel drops back, looking for a kneebar! Vasquez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Vasquez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Vasquez!

Manel looking for a sweep but Vasquez has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manel is desperately trying to improve his position but Vasquez has a good base and remains in mount.
Manel wants to get back to his feet.
Manel sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vasquez lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasquez is thwarting Manel's attempts to control the position.
Manel is trying to escape back to his feet but Vasquez uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manel is looking for a sweep.
Manel manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ze Manel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vasquez is controlling Manel's trapped leg to prevent Manel from advancing to side control.
Manel wants to pass the guard but Vasquez is defending well.
Manel working Vasquez over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is not content to let Manel control the position.
Manel takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vasquez trying to control but Manel postures up.
Manel tries to stand and escape but Vasquez is controlling the position.
Vasquez trying to control from the bottom.

Manel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Vasquez trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ze Manel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four 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.
Manel lands with a straight right. Vasquez didn't see that one coming.

It looks like Antony Vasquez has been cut.
Manel tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Vasquez counters with a single leg into guard. Manel didn't expect that.
Manel is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Vasquez dives into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Manel looking for a sweep but Vasquez has passed into full mount! Oh no!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ze Manel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Antony Vasquez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Manel throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vasquez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Manel is in Vasquez's guard.
Manel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vasquez is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Manel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vasquez wants to pass the guard but Manel is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasquez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vasquez has managed to get both his arms back between Manel's legs - danger averted.
Vasquez wants to control from the top but Manel keeps moving.
Manel is looking to stand up but Vasquez isn't so interested in that idea.
Manel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Manel wants to hit a switch here but Vasquez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Manel there!
Manel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Manel wants to control but Vasquez is having none of it.
Vasquez trying to control but Manel is having none of it.
Vasquez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manel tries to hold on but Vasquez postures up.
Vasquez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Manel is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Manel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Vasquez controlling his opponent.
Manel is looking to get to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vasquez tries to control but Manel wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antony Vasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Manel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ze Manel!