PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Vegas (ranked 3929 p4p, 408 weight class) and Alex Polyanskiy (ranked 5181 p4p, 473 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Vegas might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Ace Of Spades by Motorhead. Polyanskiy has chosen Oxxxymiron - Signs of life as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Vegas
vs
Polyanskiy

175 cm
35
170 lbs
13 - 17 - 1

169 cm
30
158 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 13 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Vegas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Polyanskiy!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polyanskiy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vegas.
Vegas moves away from the strike by Polyanskiy.
Vegas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Polyanskiy.
Polyanskiy slaps away a takedown attempt from Vegas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Polyanskiy lands a head shot.
Vegas fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Vegas.
Vegas plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Vegas misses with a two punch combination.
Polyanskiy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Vegas doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Polyanskiy changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vegas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Polyanskiy is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vegas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Polyanskiy is trying to get an arm triangle but Vegas is defending well.

Polyanskiy swings around for an armbar but Vegas sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Polyanskiy's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Polyanskiy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vegas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vegas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vegas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vegas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vegas lands a couple of elbows.
Polyanskiy keeping moving, preventing Vegas from controlling successfully.
Polyanskiy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Polyanskiy working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Vegas has passed into half guard!
Polyanskiy tries to get to full guard but Vegas has control of the leg.

Polyanskiy actively working from the bottom here.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Vegas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Polyanskiy defends it well.
Vegas working over Polyanskiy with some ground and pound. Polyanskiy looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Vegas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Polyanskiy keeps working.

Polyanskiy is defending against the submission attempts here by Vegas.
Polyanskiy gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vegas working some strikes from top position.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vegas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vegas wants to control from the top but Polyanskiy keeps moving.

Vegas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Polyanskiy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vegas has managed to get both his arms back between Polyanskiy's legs - danger averted.
Vegas trying to control the position from guard on top but Polyanskiy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vegas lands a couple of digs.

Polyanskiy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polyanskiy is trying to control the position but Vegas postures up.
Vegas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Polyanskiy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vegas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Polyanskiy is looking for a triangle but Vegas pushes his legs off easily.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Polyanskiy keeping full guard, as Vegas tries to pass.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vegas passes into half guard.
Vegas lands strikes from half guard.
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 Johnny Vegas will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vegas lands a jab-cross combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Vegas.
Polyanskiy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vegas defends well and Polyanskiy ends up having to push Vegas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Vegas.
No luck for Polyanskiy with that takedown attempt.
Polyanskiy lands a jab to Vegas's midsection.
Polyanskiy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vegas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Polyanskiy circles away quickly and effectively.
Polyanskiy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vegas throws a body kick that misses.
Polyanskiy goes for a double leg but Vegas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vegas continues to drive forward.
Johnny Vegas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Polyanskiy.
Polyanskiy cracks a nice hook into Vegas's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Polyanskiy dodges the punch combination from Vegas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polyanskiy throws a sloppy head kick and Vegas moves out of range easily.
Polyanskiy has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Vegas tries for a takedown but Polyanskiy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vegas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vegas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Polyanskiy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Polyanskiy changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vegas connects with a body shot.
Vegas looks to land a combination. Polyanskiy sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Vegas looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Vegas works over Polyanskiy's head and body with a nice combination.

Polyanskiy moves into the clinch successfully.
Polyanskiy looking for a takedown.
Polyanskiy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Vegas breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Polyanskiy is defended easily by Vegas.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vegas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Vegas. Those never looked like landing.
Vegas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vegas looks to score with a jab to the body but Polyanskiy is just out of range.
Nice body punch from Polyanskiy.
Polyanskiy scores with a nice right hand.
Polyanskiy blocks a head kick by Vegas.
Polyanskiy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vegas pinned against the cage. Vegas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Polyanskiy steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Vegas. That one must have hurt.

Vegas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Vegas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vegas trying to keep a closed guard but Polyanskiy is proving a slippery customer.

Polyanskiy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Vegas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Polyanskiy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Polyanskiy is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Polyanskiy stopping the sweep attempt from Vegas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Polyanskiy trying to control the position from guard on top but Vegas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vegas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Polyanskiy has escaped the position, nice work there.

Vegas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Polyanskiy is looking to reverse the position.
Polyanskiy keeps trying to improve his position.
Polyanskiy can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Vegas dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Vegas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Polyanskiy.

Polyanskiy gets caught flat footed, as Vegas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Polyanskiy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vegas is one step ahead there.
Vegas with a nice head shot there.
Vegas trying to control the position from guard on top but Polyanskiy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Polyanskiy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Polyanskiy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polyanskiy trying to keep a closed guard but Vegas is proving a slippery customer.
Vegas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Polyanskiy trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vegas is working for a kimura but Polyanskiy is defending it quite comfortably.
Vegas wants to take a breather but Polyanskiy is having none of it.
Vegas is pressing down on Polyanskiy's thigh, looking to free his foot. Polyanskiy is holding on for now.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Vegas is looking for a kimura here.

Vegas is working for a submission of some sort.
Alex Polyanskiy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnny Vegas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Polyanskiy is refusing to be controlled, as Vegas sits in half guard.
Vegas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Vegas passes into side control, despite Polyanskiy's attempt to control the position.
Polyanskiy is trying to control Vegas's posture but Vegas avoids it.
Polyanskiy is looking for a sweep.
Vegas wants to control but Polyanskiy is keeping him busy.
Vegas working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vegas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Polyanskiy keeps working.
Polyanskiy can't do much from the bottom here.
Polyanskiy is looking for a sweep.
Vegas is looking to take a break and control but Polyanskiy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vegas just content to control the position.
Polyanskiy struggling a bit here.
Vegas trying to control the position but Polyanskiy is working away.
Polyanskiy takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

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.

Vegas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Polyanskiy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vegas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vegas working the body and head with strikes.
Vegas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Polyanskiy can do to turn this around?
Vegas working away.
Vegas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Polyanskiy keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Polyanskiy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Polyanskiy tries to improve position but can't.
Polyanskiy throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Vegas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vegas, 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Vegas!
During a confident post fight interview, Johnny Vegas thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.