PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Soren Bak (ranked 2357 p4p, 211 weight class) and Marcin Vanatta (ranked 4922 p4p, 363 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bak
vs
Vanatta

175 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
148 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$100)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Soren Bak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcin Vanatta!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bak looks to score with a jab to the body but Vanatta is just out of range.

Bak clinches.
Bak tries to work over Vanatta's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vanatta told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Bak tries a body shot but Vanatta blocks it.
Bak leaning against his opponent.
Vanatta is trying to force a seperation but Bak has the dominant position.
Vanatta managing to block the knees to the body from Bak.
Vanatta trying to land knees to the body.
Bak jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vanatta walks away with a smile on his face. Bak gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bak moves into the clinch successfully.
Bak is pushing Vanatta up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Bak throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanatta wants to stall.
Bak landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Bak breaks the clinch.
Bak on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vanatta. Vanatta obviously looking to wear him down.
Bak throws a push kick but Vanatta slaps the foot to one side.
Soren Bak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bak closes the distance and pushes Vanatta back into the cage.
Vanatta is struggling to control the position.
Bak tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bak is stalling here.
A bit of stalling here from Vanatta.

Bak manages to break the clinch.

Bak fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vanatta, pushing him back against the cage.
Vanatta missing with knees to the body.
Vanatta blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bak tries to land knees in the clinch but Vanatta avoids the damage to the body.
Bak using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vanatta looking to slow down the pace here.
Bak is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vanatta is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bak is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bak lands a knee to the body.
Vanatta misses with a punch on the inside.
Vanatta looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bak scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Marcin Vanatta has been cut.
Vanatta effectively controlling the action here.
Bak lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Vanatta backwards.
Vanatta tries to stall but Bak uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Vanatta wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bak trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bak landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Bak is stalling here.
Bak tries to pull guard but Vanatta holds him up against the cage and eventually Bak drops back down to his feet.
Bak tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bak utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bak stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vanatta trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soren Bak dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcin Vanatta's cut.
That's time! Bak's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vanatta moves away.

Bak forces Vanatta back against the cage and clinches.
Bak tries a knee to the head but Vanatta blocks it.
Vanatta is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bak is defending well for now.
Vanatta tries a knee to the head but Bak blocks it.
Bak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vanatta can do to turn this around?
Bak using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vanatta tries to stall but Bak uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bak tries to land a knee to the head but Vanatta blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vanatta looking to throw knees to the head but Bak is blocking nicely.
Bak dodges an elbow strike from Vanatta.
Vanatta misses with the head strike.
Bak tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vanatta avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanatta wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bak manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bak'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.
Bak gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Bak struggles to land a body shot inside as Vanatta controls his hands.
Bak definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bak lands a knee to the body.
Bak with a knee to the head.
Soren Bak has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bak tries to land knees in the clinch but Vanatta avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanatta tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bak lands an elbow inside that Vanatta shrugs off.
Bak with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bak obliges.
Vanatta tries to land knees in the clinch but Bak avoids the damage to the body.
Bak crunches a lovely knee into Vanatta's ribcage.
Vanatta managing to block the knees to the body from Bak.
Bak using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vanatta has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bak misses with a knee to the head.
Vanatta avoids the elbow strike from Bak, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bak as Vanatta tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanatta doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vanatta takes an elbow to the forehead.

That has opened up Marcin Vanatta's cut even more.
Bak with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Bak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bak has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Vanatta.

Bak moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Vanatta's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bak managing to block the knees to the body from Vanatta.
Bak is trying to pull guard but Vanatta has him pressed against the cage.

Bak pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bak tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The referee calls for Vanatta to work.
Bak trying to land knees to the body.
Vanatta misses with a knee to the head.
Bak slows down the pace here.
Vanatta managing to block the knees to the body from Bak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soren Bak dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcin Vanatta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bak clinches with his opponent.
Bak trying to land knees to the body.
Vanatta misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bak is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vanatta is defending well for now.
Bak unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vanatta lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Bak drops Vanatta with a big knee straight up the middle! Vanatta is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Vanatta is rocked!

Bak moves into range and clinches up with Vanatta.
Vanatta is still on wobbly legs! Can Bak finish him?
Vanatta takes an elbow to the temple.

The cut above Marcin Vanatta's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bak lands a knee to the body.
Bak lands a damaging elbow.
Vanatta takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bak manages to break the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bak. Vanatta does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vanatta tries to clinch
and Bak counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vanatta thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanatta tries to close the distance and clinch but Bak swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bak rushes Vanatta and presses him up against the cage.
Vanatta seems to have recovered his senses.
Vanatta takes an elbow to the forehead.

Marcin Vanatta's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Bak breaks the clinch.
Vanatta fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Bak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Bak takes the fight into the clinch.
Bak effectively controlling the action here.

Vanatta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bak clinches up with Vanatta and pushes him back against the cage.
Vanatta managing to block the knees to the body from Bak.
Bak misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vanatta.
Bak cracks Vanatta with a nice body shot.

Bak breaks the clinch.
Bak swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vanatta wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bak has him pressed against the cage.
Bak tries a knee to the head but Vanatta blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanatta tries a body shot but Bak blocks it.
Bak using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vanatta has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Bak has Vanatta pushed against the cage.
Vanatta is looking to break free of the clinch but Bak has double underhooks.
Vanatta has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bak on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vanatta will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bak up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Bak.

That's four 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.
Vanatta can't find room to land a body shot as Bak controls the action.
Bak tries a knee to the head but Vanatta blocks it.
Nice body punch from Bak - that landed with a thud.
Vanatta managing to block the knees to the body from Bak.
Bak will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Vanatta up against the cage.

Bak breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Soren Bak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Vanatta closes the distance and clinches.
Marcin Vanatta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bak tries for a takedown but Vanatta manages to get underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Soren Bak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bak, 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Soren Bak!
Soren Bak decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.