PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tiger Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Black comes to the cage accompanied by tattoos + Jewelery. Vera comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Weightless by All Time Low kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Tiger Black has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Black
vs
Vera

180 cm
24
170 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

182 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Masaru Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tiger Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joey Vera!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vera as he jumps to the side.
Black looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vera is fending him off so far but Black persists. Nope, Vera circles away and we're back to standing.
Black shoots in and drives through. Vera sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiger Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black moves out of range of the body kick from Vera.
Black fails with a takedown attempt.

Vera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Black, pushing him back against the cage.
Black prevents the takedown attempt.

Vera jumps guard.
Black looking to pass the guard.
Vera has a closed guard, preventing Black from standing up.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Vera is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.
Vera pulls Black in close to prevent any damage.

Vera has his foot on Black's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Black works his way back into a safe position though.
Black throws a big right hand that misses.
Black controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Black throws a big right hand that misses.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Black.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Vera had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Black is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Vera Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Black's back instead.
Black staying busy and making it hard for Vera to control.
Black manages to reverse the position and now he's in Vera's guard. Nice work there by Black.
Black trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.
Vera wants to get back to his feet but Black is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Vera looks gassed!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Vera has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vera pulls guard.
Black wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Black wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black looking to pass the guard.
Vera keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.

Black stands up from guard. Let's bang!

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.
Black throws a head kick that misses.
Black fails with a takedown attempt.

Vera moves into the clinch.
Black is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Vera drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vera just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Vera dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vera throws a big shot that misses.
Black tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Vera counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Black shoots and misses
and Vera counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Black moves into the clinch successfully.
Vera gets underhooks to prevent Black's takedown attempt.

Vera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vera fails with the takedown

and Black counters by moving into the clinch.
Black is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vera gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiger Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vera managing to block the knees to the body from Black.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vera is looking to break free of the clinch but Black has double underhooks.
Vera gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Black.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vera breaks from the clinch.
Black avoids the body shot from Vera.
Black misses with a takedown

and Vera counters with a nice double leg into side control. Black won't be happy with that.
Black tries to buck Vera off but Vera is having none of it.
The ground and pound from Vera seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Vera decides to stand back up. Vera steps back and let's Black get back to his feet.
Vera takes a swing at Black's ribcage but misses.
Black shoots and misses

and Vera counters with a single leg into guard. Black didn't expect that.
Black trying to keep a closed guard but Vera is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vera is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Vera stopping the sweep attempt from Black.

Black escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vera gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Vera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black misses with a takedown

and Vera counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Black!
Vera throwing strikes here but Black is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Black gets back to half guard.
It looks like Vera is going to stand back up.
Vera looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Black trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Black wants to improve his position but Vera is controlling well.

Vera seems to be looking for submissions.
Black trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Vera manages to pass to mount!
Black tries to lock up and control but Vera gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Vera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Black shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Black was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Vera takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Black with shots to the head and body - Vera looks very uncomfortable down there.
Black wants to control the pace but Vera is squirming around nicely.
Vera tries to hold on but Black postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Black punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Vera is trying to stand up.
Vera is looking to improve his position but Black isn't that keen on the idea.
Black working the ground and pound effectively.
A nice elbow there by Black.
Black with the ground and pound from mount.
Black landing strikes from the mount and Vera is in trouble!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Black unloading with bombs!
Joey Vera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Black dominating with strikes here.
Black landing punches.
Vera tries to control Black's body but Black pushes him off. Vera squirms to his side and now Black has his back!
Vera is in bad spot here.
Vera has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Vera is trapped and Black is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Black has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Vera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Vera is taking damage to the body and head.
Black missing with strikes.
Black scores with punches to the body.
Black struggling to land strikes to the head as Vera covers up.
Black lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

Vera preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Black.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.

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.
Black lands a shot to the head.
Black lands a shot to the body.
Black has good solid back control here.

Vera is having to fend off submission attempts from Black, who is looking to sink in the choke. Black doesn't have the hooks in though and Vera manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Tiger Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joey Vera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiger Black showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vera 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Vera!