PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Cillian (ranked 1508 p4p, 2500 weight class) and Jefferson Vera (ranked 206 p4p, 304 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Cillian
vs
Vera

178 cm
19
165
6 - 2 - 0

171 cm
19
160
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Shadow Realm NYC

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brandon Cillian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jefferson Vera!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Chad Campbell and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera misses with an uppercut
and Cillian counters with a straight right hand.

Cillian tries to keep at a distance but Vera has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cillian tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vera looking to stall.
Vera trying to land knees to the body.
Vera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cillian's elbow.
Vera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cillian.
Cillian prevents a body shot from Vera.
Vera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vera landing knees to the body.
Cillian being controlled against the cage.
Cillian has had enough of the clinch but Vera keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cillian has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vera is struggling to control the position.
Vera can't find room to land a body shot as Cillian controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cillian tries to break free but Vera pushes him back against the cage.
Cillian managing to block the knees to the body from Vera.
Cillian has had enough of the clinch but Vera keeps him there for the moment.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cillian lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A nice left hand lands by Cillian.
Vera is working Cillian over against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vera obliges.
Vera pressing his opponent against the cage.

Vera breaks from the clinch.
Jefferson Vera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vera tries to clinch but Cillian moves out of range.
Vera tries to clinch but Cillian is having none of it.
Cillian connects with a body shot.
Vera takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Vera looks to clinch
and Cillian counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cillian throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vera sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vera pushes Cillian up against the cage in a clinch.
Vera lands a good knee to the midsection. Cillian won't want to take too many of those.
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!
Vera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cillian blocks it with crossed arms.
Vera landing knees to the head.
Cillian tries to break the clinch but Vera is controlling the position.
Cillian wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cillian is looking to break free of the clinch but Vera has double underhooks.
Cillian working hard to break the clinch.
Cillian avoiding damage as Vera throws knees to the body.
Vera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cillian avoids it.
Cillian working hard to break the clinch.
Vera lands a knee to the body.
Cillian is looking to break free of the clinch but Vera has double underhooks.
Cillian avoiding damage as Vera throws knees to the body.

Cillian breaks from the clinch.
Cillian misses with a leg kick
letting Vera counter with a right hand.

Vera forces Cillian back against the cage and clinches.
Vera lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Brandon Cillian has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera can't find room to land a body shot as Cillian controls the action.
Cillian tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vera tries a body shot but Cillian blocks it.
Cillian is trying to force a seperation but Vera has the dominant position.
Knees to the body from Vera.
Cillian is breathing heavily.
Vera working Cillian over with knees to the body.
Vera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cillian lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Vera lands a body punch.
Vera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vera taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Vera avoiding damage.
Vera receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Vera crunches a lovely knee into Cillian's ribcage.
Vera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Cillian breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cillian is trying to force a seperation but Vera has the dominant position.
Cillian tries to break the clinch but Vera is controlling the position.
Vera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Cillian wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cillian takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cillian taking a breather.
Vera crunches a lovely knee into Cillian's ribcage.
Vera crunches a lovely knee into Cillian's ribcage.

Vera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vera lands a jab-cross combination.
Vera moves in looking to clinch but Cillian pushes him off.
Cillian swats away the attempt to clinch by Vera.
As Vera looks to move away, Cillian throws a big counter combo but Vera just gets out of the way.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jefferson Vera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brandon Cillian's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A big right from Vera misses.
Cillian throws a hook to the side of Vera's head but Vera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vera swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cillian.
Cillian throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Brandon Cillian is winning the standup battle so far.
Cillian throws a right hand that misses
and Vera counters with a nice uppercut.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Vera checks a leg kick.
Vera tries to close the distance and clinch but Cillian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Vera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cillian, pushing him back against the cage.
Cillian is trying to force a seperation but Vera has the dominant position.

Cillian breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vera has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Cillian misses with a left hand
enabling Vera to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cillian swats away the attempt to clinch by Vera.
Cillian definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Vera tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Cillian counter with a right hand.
Vera moves forwards but Cillian connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vera closes the distance and pushes Cillian back into the cage.
Vera landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cillian wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vera crunches a lovely knee into Cillian's ribcage.
Vera holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cillian lands with a short shot to the head.
Vera has Cillian pushed against the cage.

Vera breaks from the clinch.
Vera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cillian takes one on the button.
Vera takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Vera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cillian swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Cillian gets tackled into the cage by Vera. Vera maintains the clinch.
Jefferson Vera seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Vera trying to land knees to the body.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cillian lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A right handed body shot lands from Vera.
A frustrated look appears on Cillian's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vera landing knees to the head.
Vera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cillian's face.
Vera scores with a hook to the body.
Vera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vera lands a knee to the body.

Vera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cillian paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Cillian gets tackled into the cage by Vera. Vera maintains the clinch.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cillian lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Vera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vera putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cillian in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Vera scores with a knee to the head.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Vera landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Vera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Vera works on Cillian's body with a couple of short punches.
Vera lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Vera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Vera darts in and clinches Cillian up against the cage.
Cillian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Vera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cillian takes a knee to the side of the body.
Vera leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cillian has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The referee is keeping an eye on Vera - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cillian is trying to push Vera away but Vera has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cillian takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cillian looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cillian wants to get back to striking at distance but Vera won't allow it.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Vera landing knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vera slows down the pace here.
Vera putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cillian in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Vera putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cillian in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Vera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cillian misses with a wild combination.

Cillian gets tackled into the cage by Vera. Vera maintains the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jefferson Vera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brandon Cillian's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cillian gets tackled into the cage by Vera. Vera maintains the clinch.
Cillian struggles to land a body shot inside as Vera controls his hands.
Vera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cillian wants to get back to striking at distance but Vera won't allow it.

Vera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cillian moves away from the strike by Vera.
Vera tries to clinch but Cillian is having none of it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Vera checks a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cillian circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cillian swats away the attempt to clinch by Vera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cillian throws a low kick but Vera avoids it.

Vera has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cillian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cillian blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cillian wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vera has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Vera.
Cillian wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vera has Cillian pressed against the cage.
Cillian wants to break free but Vera has control.
Cillian managing to block the knees to the body from Vera.
Vera working Cillian over with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cillian is trying to push Vera away but Vera has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Vera scores with a nice hook to the head.
Vera digs a right hand underneath Cillian's ribcage. Cillian let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Vera lands a knee to the body.
Vera manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera presses Cillian against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Vera displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cillian up against the cage.
Vera with a knee to the head.
Come on Vera - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Vera breaks the clinch.

Cillian tries to keep at a distance but Vera has taken the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vera misses with a knee strike.
Cillian throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Veras head.
Vera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vera connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cillian wants to break free but Vera has control.
Vera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vera.
Vera lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Vera scores a nice knee to the body.
Vera stalling.
Vera stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vera landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Vera with a knee to the head.
Cillian wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cillian tries to circle away but Vera has him pinned against the cage.
Vera with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cillian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Vera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vera tries to clinch up.
Cillian lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vera circles away quickly and effectively.
Brandon Cillian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vera slips under a jab from Cillian.
Vera's corner calls for a 1-2. Vera obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Cillian misses the target.
Jefferson Vera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice cross by Cillian.

Vera rushes Cillian and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cillian wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cillian wants to get back to striking at distance but Vera won't allow it.
Vera is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Vera is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Vera crunches a lovely knee into Cillian's ribcage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jefferson Vera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vera winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jefferson Vera!
Our winner, Jefferson Vera, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.