PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Faith (ranked 7739 p4p, 5836 weight class) and Vitor Vasconcelos (ranked 560 p4p, 491 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Faith
vs
Vasconcelos

180 cm
18
220
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
225
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Faith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vitor Vasconcelos!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasconcelos tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Vasconcelos misses.
Faith attempts a counter takedown but Vasconcelos avoids it well and moves away.
Vitor Vasconcelos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasconcelos scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

It looks like Mark Faith has been cut.
Faith takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A right-left combo lands from Vasconcelos.
Vasconcelos throws a shot to the body.
Faith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vasconcelos.
Vasconcelos lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Vasconcelos moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Faith being controlled against the cage.
Faith misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasconcelos'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.
Faith has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vasconcelos.
Faith throws a head punch that misses.
Faith tries to work over Vasconcelos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Faith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vasconcelos looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Faith lands a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faith wants to control from the top but Vasconcelos keeps moving.
Faith could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Faith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Vasconcelos has his feet on Faith's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasconcelos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Faith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!
Faith trying to control the action but Vasconcelos is working from the bottom.
Faith stops Vasconcelos from getting back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Faith lands a nice short elbow.
Faith throws a strike but Vasconcelos avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Vasconcelos wants to stand but Faith is controlling the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vasconcelos is on top in guard.

Faith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vasconcelos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasconcelos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vasconcelos is looking to work some ground and pound but Faith has wrist control.
Vasconcelos is pushing down on Faith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Faith is fighting to maintain full guard but Vasconcelos has managed to sneak the leg through.
Vasconcelos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vasconcelos drops an elbow to the side of Faith's head.
Vasconcelos wants to take a breather but Faith is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faith is looking for a sweep. Vasconcelos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vasconcelos lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vasconcelos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Faith keeps working.
Faith tries to roll over but Vasconcelos keeps him under control.
Vasconcelos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasconcelos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vasconcelos thows a huge punch but Faith dodges it nicely.
Faith has hold of Vasconcelos's hands but Vasconcelos slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Vasconcelos content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vasconcelos lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Vasconcelos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Faith's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vasconcelos connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Vasconcelos scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vasconcelos misses with a takedown attempt - Faith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vasconcelos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Faith appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Vasconcelos is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Faith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vasconcelos unleashes a big counter combination but Faith bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Vasconcelos connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Vasconcelos with a nice cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vasconcelos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vasconcelos catches Faith with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasconcelos scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Mark Faith's cut is getting worse.
Vasconcelos throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Faith's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Vasconcelos dives in looking to finish as Faith flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Vasconcelos's strikes! Vasconcelos is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Faith's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Faith was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vitor Vasconcelos!