PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santo Daniel (ranked 24848 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Vasquez (ranked 5231 p4p, 0 weight class). Santo Daniel has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Daniel
vs
Vasquez

202 cm
22
260 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Santo Daniel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richard Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daniel shoots in for a takedown but Vasquez shows good takedown defense.
Vasquez throws a big counter head kick but Daniel avoids it with no problem.
Vasquez scores with a hook.
Vasquez shoots in but Daniel avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Daniel bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Vasquez explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Vasquez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Vasquez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Daniel to the mat! Daniel manages to get full guard.

Vasquez gets to his feet - Daniel follows without any prompting.
Vasquez throws a sloppy head kick
and Daniel makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Daniel is looking to slow Vasquez down with leg kicks.
Daniel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vasquez steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Daniel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniel thuds his right hand into Vasquez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Richard Vasquez has been cut.

Daniel closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vasquez quickly recovers to half guard.

Vasquez has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Daniel is on him like a limpet, forcing Vasquez back against the cage.

Daniel jumps guard.
Daniel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Daniel wants to sweep here but Vasquez controlling him for the moment.
Daniel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vasquez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Vasquez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Daniel has his foot on Vasquez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vasquez works his way back into a safe position though.
Vasquez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vasquez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vasquez throwing strikes but missing.
Vasquez advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daniel manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Still in half guard, Vasquez seems content to control.

Vasquez decides to stand up.
Daniel dives in and grabs Vasquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vasquez pushes down on Daniel's head and hops out.
As Daniel backs off Vasquez throws a huge counter combo but Daniel manages to avoid it all.
Daniel is breathing heavily.
Daniel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vasquez.
Daniel is looking for a counter combo.

Daniel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vasquez is trying to defend but Daniel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vasquez has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Daniel is on him like a limpet, forcing Vasquez back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez jumps guard but Daniel stands there with Vasquez around his waist. Vasquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Santo Daniel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Vasquez.

Daniel has clasped his hands together around Vasquez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Vasquez bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice sprawl there from Daniel as Vasquez shoots in.
Vasquez wants to clinch up but Daniel keeps it at a distance.
Vasquez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Vasquez counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Vasquez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Richard Vasquez's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vasquez fails to land the takedown.

Vasquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Daniel is trying to pull guard but Vasquez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Vasquez'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.

Daniel has Vasquez pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Daniel pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Vasquez tumbling to the mat - Daniel dives into Vasquez's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniel wants to control from the top but Vasquez keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Daniel won't allow Vasquez to sweep him here.
Vasquez trying to control the position.
Vasquez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Daniel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Daniel won't allow Vasquez to get back to his feet.

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

That's two 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.
Vasquez shoots in looking for a takedown. Daniel tries to sprawl out of it but Vasquez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Daniel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vasquez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Daniel.
Daniel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vasquez circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santo Daniel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Daniel shoots in looking for a takedown. Vasquez tries to sprawl out of it but Daniel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vasquez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vasquez darts in looking for a takedown but Daniel gets double underhooks and turns Vasquez into the cage.
Daniel thinks about countering with a body kick.
Vasquez tries to clinch up but Daniel circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Daniel.

Daniel gets tackled into the cage by Vasquez. Vasquez maintains the clinch.
Vasquez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Daniel walks away with a smile on his face. Vasquez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Daniel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Daniel wants it to stay on the feet.
Vasquez stuffs the takedown.
Vasquez tries to clinch up but Daniel circles away and keeps his distance.
Vasquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Daniel tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Vasquez manages to circle out of the way.
Vasquez throws a sloppy head kick and Daniel moves out of range easily.
Daniel dives in for a single leg takedown but Vasquez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Daniel connects with a high kick.
Santo Daniel is winning the standup battle so far.
Daniel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vasquez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vasquez wants to counter with a clinch but Daniel pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vasquez moves into the clinch successfully.
Daniel wants to take the fight to the mat but Vasquez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Daniel swings wildly with an uppercut but Vasquez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vasquez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vasquez lands with a short shot to the head.

Daniel manages to break the clinch.
Vasquez looks for a takedown but Daniel sprawls well.
Daniel tries to counter by clinching up but Vasquez breaks away and moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Daniel moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Santo Daniel will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Richard Vasquez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Daniel fails with the takedown
and Vasquez counters with a three punch combo that has Daniel backing up. Daniel nods at Vasquez to acknowledge the strikes.
Vasquez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Daniel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vasquez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Daniel pinned against the cage. Daniel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Daniel is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Vasquez's half guard.
Vasquez tries to kick Daniel off in order to stand up. Daniel Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vasquez keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniel is putting a hurting on Vasquez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Vasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Daniel has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Vasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Daniel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Daniel thows a body kick. Vasquez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Daniel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vasquez.
As Vasquez tries to get set, Daniel tries to push him back and clinch up but Vasquez manages to avoid the attempt.
Santo Daniel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Vasquez.
Daniel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vasquez.
Daniel lands a head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniel misses with a low kick.
Vasquez shoots in but no luck this time.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Daniel, right into the meat.

Daniel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Daniel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vasquez keeps working.
Vasquez is letting Daniel control him for a moment.

Daniel stands up and beckons Vasquez to his feet.
Daniel scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez shoots in looking for a takedown. Daniel tries to sprawl out of it but Vasquez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Daniel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No joy there for Daniel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Daniel drives through and clinches with Vasquez against the cage.

Daniel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vasquez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Daniel's waist but Daniel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vasquez off to one side.

Daniel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vasquez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Daniel controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniel works over Vasquez with some ground and pound from guard.
Daniel working some strikes from top position.
Vasquez has his hands on Daniel's head, controlling the position.
Daniel prevents Vasquez from getting back to his feet.

Vasquez working for submissions but it's allowed Daniel to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santo Daniel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Daniel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Santo Daniel!