PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Duke Vanheilm (ranked 4126 p4p, 4744 weight class) and Juan Pablo Montenegro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Pablo Montenegro is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Vanheilm
vs
Montenegro

190 cm
25
270
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
225
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Duke Vanheilm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juan Pablo Montenegro!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanheilm paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

It looks like Juan Pablo Montenegro has been cut.

Montenegro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vanheilm was covering up waiting for the punch and Montenegro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vanheilm holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Montenegro working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vanheilm controlling Montenegro's posture.
Vanheilm manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Montenegro manages to get himself to full guard.

Vanheilm won't allow Montenegro to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vanheilm slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vanheilm has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Montenegro wants to stand up but Vanheilm is controlling him.
Vanheilm controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Vanheilm missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vanheilm throws a big right hand that misses.
Vanheilm works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vanheilm in particular looking to stall.
Montenegro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vanheilm.
Well, if Vanheilm is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

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.
Montenegro tries to get to full guard but Vanheilm has control of the leg.
Vanheilm seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vanheilm in particular looking to stall.
Vanheilm continues to stall.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Vanheilm.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vanheilm throwing shots but Montenegro is blocking nicely.
Vanheilm keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanheilm slips under a jab.
Montenegro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Vanheilm to counter with a crisp jab.
Montenegro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vanheilm is fending him off so far but Montenegro persists. Nope, Vanheilm circles away and we're back to standing.
Vanheilm fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vanheilm. Montenegro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vanheilm moves into range and connects with a jab.
Montenegro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vanheilm connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montenegro has his takedown stuffed
enabling Vanheilm to counter with a crisp jab.
Duke Vanheilm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Pablo Montenegro.
Vanheilm misses with a body shot.
Montenegro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vanheilm appears to be looking for a big counter.
Montenegro tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Vanheilm counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Montenegro has his takedown stuffed
and Vanheilm counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Montenegro looks winded!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vanheilm sizes up Montenegro with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Vanheilm dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juan Pablo Montenegro's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Montenegro has his takedown stuffed
and Vanheilm counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Vanheilm throws a good cross that connects.
Montenegro looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Montenegro has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That has opened up Juan Pablo Montenegro's cut even more.

Montenegro closes the distance and clinches.
Montenegro is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Montenegro wants a takedown but no success here.
Montenegro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vanheilm is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Duke Vanheilm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Pablo Montenegro.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vanheilm looking for a takedown.

Vanheilm has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Montenegro regains guard immediately.
Vanheilm's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanheilm postures up and lands a big shot to Montenegro's brow.
Montenegro can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vanheilm controls the pace.
Vanheilm throws an elbow that misses. Montenegro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vanheilm's guard. Nice move by Montenegro!

Vanheilm avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Montenegro scoring with punches to the head and body.
Montenegro with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Montenegro stopping the sweep attempt from Vanheilm.
Vanheilm is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Vanheilm controlling the pace.
Montenegro is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanheilm is nestled in close to Montenegro, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Montenegro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vanheilm.
Vanheilm not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vanheilm thows a huge punch but Montenegro dodges it nicely.
Duke Vanheilm overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Montenegro is trying to stand up here but Vanheilm is controlling him well.
Vanheilm controlling the pace.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Montenegro can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vanheilm thows a huge punch but Montenegro dodges it nicely.
Well, if Vanheilm is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanheilm scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Montenegro trying to control here.
Vanheilm controlling the action here.
Montenegro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vanheilm.
Vanheilm sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Montenegro defending well though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vanheilm in particular looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Montenegro shoots and misses
and Vanheilm connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Vanheilm.
A jab lands there for Vanheilm.

The cut above Juan Pablo Montenegro's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Vanheilm is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Montenegro can do to turn this around?
Vanheilm keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Montenegro clinches with his opponent.
Vanheilm has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Montenegro avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Montenegro is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Montenegro gets underhooks to prevent Vanheilm's takedown attempt.
Montenegro wants a takedown but no success here.
Montenegro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Montenegro wants a takedown but no success here.
Vanheilm drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Montenegro has picked Vanheilm up - he's going for a ride! Montenegro dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Vanheilm pushes Montenegro off and gets back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Vanheilm dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Juan Pablo Montenegro's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Montenegro fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vanheilm, pushing him back against the cage.
Montenegro prevents a takedown attempt there.
Montenegro is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vanheilm pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Vanheilm tries for a takedown but Montenegro manages to get underhooks.
Montenegro stops a takedown attempt from Vanheilm.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duke Vanheilm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Montenegro stops a takedown attempt from Vanheilm.
Montenegro gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vanheilm.
Montenegro is looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vanheilm is pressed up against the cage. Montenegro has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vanheilm down to the mat. Vanheilm avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
No luck for Montenegro with that takedown attempt.
Vanheilm throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanheilm displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Montenegro.
Vanheilm fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Montenegro takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vanheilm circles away from the clinch attempt.
Montenegro gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Vanheilm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanheilm takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Montenegro moves into the clinch successfully.
Vanheilm is looking to take this one to the mat.
Vanheilm drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Montenegro gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Montenegro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Montenegro drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vanheilm is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Montenegro is defending well.
Montenegro presses Vanheilm against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vanheilm goes for a takedown attempt but Montenegro pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Montenegro tries to clinch there but Vanheilm circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Vanheilm on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montenegro misses with a takedown attempt - Vanheilm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vanheilm lands with a right hand.
Juan Pablo Montenegro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Juan Pablo Montenegro's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Montenegro closes the distance and clinches.
Montenegro gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vanheilm.
Montenegro is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vanheilm gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vanheilm looking for a takedown.
Montenegro is looking for a takedown.
Montenegro struggles to land a body shot inside as Vanheilm controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Montenegro wants the takedown. Vanheilm is fighting it off but Montenegro persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Vanheilm's guard against the cage.
Montenegro wants to control from the top but Vanheilm keeps moving.
Vanheilm has Montenegro pulled in close to control his posture.
Montenegro tries to free his leg and advance position but Vanheilm is retaining full guard.
Vanheilm pulls Montenegro in to control the position.
Montenegro lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Montenegro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Montenegro is looking to work some ground and pound but Vanheilm has wrist control.
Montenegro throws a big elbow that misses.
Duke Vanheilm is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Montenegro is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Juan Pablo Montenegro.
I think Vanheilm 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Duke Vanheilm!