PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Vercetti (ranked 916 p4p, 1245 weight class) and Darius Frank (ranked 138 p4p, 177 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Vercetti might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Vice City. The crowd seem to be enjoying Frank's choice of entrance music: Trapper x Foogiano . Darius Frank has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vercetti
vs
Frank

182 cm
27
174
10 - 3 - 0

183 cm
27
178
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tommy Vercetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darius Frank!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Lou da Vinci and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vercetti throws a hook to the side of Frank's head but Frank sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vercetti misses with a two punch combination.
Vercetti throws a lazy uppercut
and Frank counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Tommy Vercetti has been cut.
Frank throws a sloppy head kick and Vercetti moves out of range easily.
Frank lands a right hook to the body.
Vercetti throws a looping overhand right but Frank ducks down to avoid it.
Vercetti throws an overhand right that lands on Frank's shoulder, as Frank tries to avoid the shot.

Frank closes the distance and clinches.
Vercetti misses with some punches.
Frank misses with a body punch.
Frank scores with a nice hook to the head.
Frank blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vercetti is leaning against Frank and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Frank gets control of Vercetti's arms and successfully pulls guard. Frank will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Frank has his foot on Vercetti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vercetti works his way back into a safe position though.
Vercetti looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Vercetti tries to free his leg and advance position but Frank is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vercetti stays in close to Frank's body and controls the position.
Vercetti wants to pass the guard but Frank is keeping the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Vercetti slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vercetti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Frank swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Frank throws a jab but it's blocked by Vercetti.

Frank moves into the clinch.
Frank swings wildly with an uppercut but Vercetti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vercetti lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Frank stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Frank.
Vercetti digs a right hand into Frank's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Frank's gas tank.
Frank doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Frank jumps guard but Vercetti stands there with Frank around his waist. Frank gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Frank misses with a hook to the ribs.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vercetti creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vercetti swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frank blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Vercetti fails to land.
Vercetti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vercetti lands a hook that snaps the head of Frank backwards.
Frank has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Vercetti seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Frank can turn it around.
Frank tries to throw a body punch but Vercetti avoids it by throwing Frank back against the cage.
Vercetti scores with a nice hook to the head.
Vercetti throws a punch but it's blocked by Frank.
A short left from Frank.
Frank tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Frank.

Frank jumps into guard, dragging Vercetti to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vercetti showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Frank has an active guard here but Vercetti has managed to pass into half guard.
Vercetti tries to pass to full mount but Frank defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darius Frank will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tommy Vercetti's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vercetti missing with a left hand there. Frank was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Vercetti looks to land a right hand but Frank moved out of range.
Frank lands a head shot.
Frank works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Vercetti has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Vercetti throws out a loose jab but Frank uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vercetti looks to throw the jab but Frank is out of range.
Frank looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Vercetti looks to land a left hand but Frank moved out of range nicely.
Tommy Vercetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Frank lands a jab to the nose.

Vercetti is rocked!
Frank staying out of range there.
Oh Vercetti is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fighters circling - Frank throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vercetti darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Vercetti seems to have got his legs back now.
Vercetti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Frank throws a leg kick but Vercetti moved away.
Frank tried to score with a low kick but Vercetti checks it.
Vercetti is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A big left from Vercetti misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big right from Vercetti misses.
Vercetti connects with a good right hand that stumbles Frank. Frank circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A swing and a miss from Vercetti.
Frank slips a jab and a cross from Vercetti.
Vercetti on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Frank connects with a right hand. Vercetti shakes it off.
Frank moves out of range as Vercetti strikes.
Vercetti thuds his right hand into Frank's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Vercetti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Frank.
Vercetti tries to bum rush Frank with a series of wild strikes but Frank uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Frank moves into the clinch.
Vercetti throws a head punch that misses.
Frank misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vercetti lands a left hand.
Darius Frank seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Vercetti takes a shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Frank lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vercetti or not.

Frank pulls guard effortlessly.
Vercetti slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank controls Vercetti momentarily but Vercetti frees himself.

Frank throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frank being controlled here, momentarily.
Vercetti passes Frank's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Vercetti with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Vercetti'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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Frank lunges at Vercetti with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Vercetti's hand.
Frank fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vercetti throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Frank was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Frank ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Frank throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vercetti lands with a straight right. Frank didn't see that one coming.
Frank tries to clinch but Vercetti is having none of it.
Vercetti's corner calls for a 1-2. Vercetti obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Frank is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vercetti.
Vercetti throws a hook but Frank avoids it easily.
Vercetti moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromFrank.
Frank uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vercetti.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tommy Vercetti will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tommy Vercetti's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Frank throws a shot from downtown. Vercetti moves away and avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Vercetti on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Frank tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vercetti paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Frank drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Frank throwing strikes but missing.
Frank stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vercetti swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

Vercetti controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Frank looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vercetti controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Frank has an active guard here but Vercetti has managed to pass into half guard.
Frank is in trouble now - Vercetti has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vercetti sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Frank wants to control but Vercetti is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vercetti controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vercetti has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Vercetti showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vercetti 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

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