PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vince Waller (ranked 5185 p4p, 0 weight class) and Canelo Avila (ranked 4458 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.

Waller
vs
Avila

171 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vince Waller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Canelo Avila!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waller doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Avila counters with a three punch combo that has Waller backing up. Waller nods at Avila to acknowledge the strikes.
Avila lands a high kick!

Waller shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Avila napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Waller creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Waller controlling from side mount.
Waller creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Avila sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Waller creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Avila sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Waller just content to control the position.
Waller trying to control the action but Avila is working from the bottom.
Waller tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waller trying to control the action but Avila is working from the bottom.
Waller working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Waller slows the pace down.
Avila takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The referee asks Waller politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Waller prefers to stall for the moment though.
Waller scores with a couple of short elbows.
Avila can't do much from the bottom here.
Avila is trying to improve his position.

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.

Waller wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Avila, who protects the arm well.
Waller slows the pace down.
Sloppy strikes there by Waller.
Waller is trying to ground and pound but Avila uses the momentary lack of control by Waller to regain half guard.
Waller controlling the pace.
Avila taking some punishment here, with Waller in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waller seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Avila does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Waller in particular looking to stall.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Waller drops an elbow to the side of Avila's head.
Avila blocking the ground and pound attempt from Waller.
Waller thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Waller takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Waller sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Avila defending well though.
Waller lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Waller looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Avila is trying to stand back up but Waller is controlling him

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Avila tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waller shoots for a double leg takedown but Avila sprawls well. He's pushed Waller's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Waller moves in looking to clinch but Avila pushes him off.
Avila throws a series of punches but Waller moves out of range.
Waller thinks about countering with a head kick.
Canelo Avila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick by Avila misses
and Waller counters with a straight right hand.
Avila throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Waller throws a quick counter kick to the body but Avila avoids it.
Waller avoids the head kick by Avila.
Waller feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Avila looks winded!
Waller shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vince Waller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Waller misses with a body kick.
Avila rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Waller moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vince Waller will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Avila misses with a body punch
and Waller counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Avila.
Avila throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Waller.

Waller gets a takedown into half guard.
Waller content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Avila looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Waller thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Avila's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Waller lands with a punch from half guard.
Waller is keen to just control but Avila is a slippery customer.
Waller has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Waller working over Avila with some ground and pound. Avila looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waller is trying to control the action in half guard but Avila is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Waller is stalling here. Avila is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Waller seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Avila has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Waller is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Avila has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Waller can't do much from the bottom here.
Vince Waller overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Waller is trying to buck Avila off.
Waller is trying to control Avila's posture but Avila avoids it.

Waller explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Canelo Avila is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Waller tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waller tries to close the distance and clinch but Avila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Avila flicks out a counter leg kick but Waller steps away.
A lazy left from Avila finds it's target.
Avila is looking to land body kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Avila. Those never looked like landing.
A leg kick checked by Avila.
Waller misses with an attempted mid kick.
Canelo Avila is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Avila swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Waller counters with a head kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Avila misses with a head kick.
Waller tries to counter with a takedown but Avila is quick to defend against it.
Avila looks for the body kick but Waller saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Avila wants it to stay on the feet.
Despite the aggression on Avila's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Waller showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Avila.
Avila is breathing heavily.
Good work by Waller as he checks the leg kick.
Waller is looking to clinch.
Waller shoots for a double leg takedown but Avila sprawls well. He's pushed Waller's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jab from Avila.
Avila tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Avila just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromWaller.

Waller decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avila trying to control but Waller postures up.
Waller keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Waller throwing shots but Avila is blocking nicely.
Waller is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Avila is looking for a sweep. Waller is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Waller takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Waller looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Canelo Avila will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Waller's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Avila connects with a body shot that sends Waller's belly button to the back.
Avila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Waller was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Avila.
A big right from Avila misses.
Waller jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Avila will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Waller looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avila tests Waller's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waller thumps Avila with a low kick.
Waller fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Avila rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Waller moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
It looked like Waller was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Avila.
Avila swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Waller is looking to clinch but Avila is avoiding it.
Avila tries a head kick but it misses.

Avila tries to keep at a distance but Waller has taken the fight into the clinch.

Avila escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Avila closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Avila takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avila throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Waller.
Avila stuffs the takedown attempt from Waller. Waller gets slowly back to his feet.
Avila misses with a double jab
and Waller counters with a nice leg kick.
Avila is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Waller rather than just go for the knockout.
Avila swings away with a body shot that misses
and Waller counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Avila ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Waller moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Waller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Waller drives through with a takedown into Avila's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Waller slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Avila is trying to keep Waller in close.
Avila can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Waller controls the pace.
Waller's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Waller cracks Avila with a solid left hand.

That's four 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.
Avila working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Waller tries to clinch but Avila is having none of it.
No joy there for Avila, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Waller tries to close the distance and clinch up but Avila swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Avila pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Waller tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Avila defends well and Waller ends up having to push Avila into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vince Waller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Avila throws a right hand that Waller ducks under and follows up with a left that Waller also avoids with ease.
Waller throws a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Canelo Avila comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Avila 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Canelo Avila!