PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mario Lemieux (ranked 4678 p4p, 4644 weight class) and Prokhor Vassily (ranked 553 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lemieux
vs
Vassily

155 cm
25
180
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
175
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mario Lemieux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Prokhor Vassily!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, David Hoff and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lemieux blocks a jab.
Lemieux attempts a counter takedown but Vassily avoids it well and moves away.

Vassily shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lemieux manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lemieux has Vassily pulled in close to control his posture.
Vassily throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vassily looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Vassily with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lemieux wants to sweep here but Vassily controlling him for the moment.
Vassily postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vassily must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vassily is one step ahead there.
Vassily sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lemieux's guard.
Vassily not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vassily scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vassily lands a nice short elbow.
Lemieux wants to get back to full guard.
Vassily seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Vassily connects with a nice short shot to Lemieux's temple.
Vassily missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lemieux moves into full guard.
Vassily throws a big right hand that misses.
Lemieux really is a fat lump.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vassily makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lemieux tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lemieux is trying to control the position but Vassily postures up.

Vassily postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lemieux is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Vassily, into his guard.

Vassily has his foot on Lemieux's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lemieux works his way back into a safe position though.
Lemieux trying to control but Vassily is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vassily tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lemieux makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lemieux might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lemieux loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vassily is pulling down on Lemieux's head to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lemieux won't allow Vassily to sweep him here.
Lemieux scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lemieux wants to control from the top but Vassily keeps moving.
Vassily is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Vassily preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vassily trying to control the position here.
Lemieux throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vassily is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lemieux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vassily wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lemieux enables Vassily to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lemieux manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vassily is looking to work some ground and pound but Lemieux has wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Prokhor Vassily dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vassily shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lemieux is trying to defend but Vassily finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lemieux makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lemieux.
Lemieux manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vassily manages to get himself to full guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vassily holds on and takes a little breather.
Lemieux stopping the sweep attempt from Vassily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vassily pulls Lemieux in to control the position.
Lemieux trying to control but Vassily is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vassily holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux wants to control from the top but Vassily keeps moving.
Lemieux seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Lemieux preventing the sweep.
Lemieux throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vassily works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lemieux scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vassily tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lemieux missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lemieux throwing strikes but missing.
Lemieux trying to control but Vassily is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lemieux makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Prokhor Vassily has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lemieux postures up in Vassily's guard and throws a big left but Vassily blocks it.
Vassily looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lemieux is one step ahead there.

Vassily is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vassily keeping moving, preventing Lemieux from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lemieux throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vassily manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lemieux manages to get himself to full guard.

Vassily not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vassily trying to control the position from guard on top but Lemieux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vassily makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Vassily content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lemieux looking for a sweep. Not yet Lemieux, not yet.
Vassily loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lemieux trying to keep a closed guard but Vassily is proving a slippery customer.
Vassily throws a big right hand that misses.
Vassily stopping the sweep attempt from Lemieux.
Vassily looking to sit in guard and control but Lemieux gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vassily is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lemieux is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vassily's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vassily's back!
Lemieux looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Even with his hooks in, Lemieux manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Vassily tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Lemieux landing shots from mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vassily can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lemieux controlling the pace for now.
Vassily working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lemieux trying to control but Vassily is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Lemieux dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lemieux moves away from the strike by Vassily.

Vassily darts in and clinches Lemieux up against the cage.
Lemieux blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Vassily has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Lemieux regains guard immediately.
Vassily looking to sit in guard and control but Lemieux gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lemieux avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lemieux wants to control from the top but Vassily keeps moving.
Lemieux stopping the sweep attempt from Vassily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux postures up and lands a big shot to Vassily's brow.
Vassily looking for a sweep. Not yet Vassily, not yet.
Lemieux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vassily keeping moving, preventing Lemieux from controlling successfully.
Vassily has Lemieux pulled in close to control his posture.
Vassily looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vassily has Lemieux pulled in close to control his posture.
Lemieux wants to pass the guard but Vassily is keeping the position.
Vassily is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lemieux is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vassily's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vassily's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vassily grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Vassily looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Vassily wants to escape the position.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Lemieux.
Lemieux is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Vassily up.
Vassily wants to escape the position.
Lemieux punches the canvas rather than the man.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lemieux lands punches and elbows.
Lemieux gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Lemieux lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Lemieux doesn't have the hooks in and Vassily manages to turn into his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lemieux is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vassily throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Vassily looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lemieux is one step ahead there.
Vassily pulls Lemieux in to control the position.
Lemieux trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vassily has control of Lemieux's left arm, preventing Lemieux from doing any damage.
Lemieux postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Vassily is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lemieux is aware though and is defending well.
Vassily seems keen to control Lemieux's posture.
Lemieux 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.
Lemieux trying to control the position from guard on top but Vassily is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vassily looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

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.
Lemieux chips away with some ground and pound.
Vassily keeping moving, preventing Lemieux from controlling successfully.
Vassily is pulling down on Lemieux's head. It's preventing any offense from Lemieux, at least for the moment.
Vassily really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lemieux. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lemieux trying to control but Vassily is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Lemieux showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lemieux 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Lemieux!