PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eli Vieira (ranked 3251 p4p, 5359 weight class) and Miguel Garces (ranked 361 p4p, 516 weight class). Garces has chosen Light into the Darkness as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vieira
vs
Garces

185 cm
32
185
11 - 13 - 0

183 cm
22
198
5 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eli Vieira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Miguel Garces!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garces fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vieira, pushing him back against the cage.

Vieira breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vieira throws a series of punches but Garces moves out of range.

Garces has taken the fight to the clinch.

Vieira escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vieira swings for the body but Garces moves out of range.
Vieira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vieira just misses with a punch to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Garces.
Vieira throws a series of strikes that have Garces backpedaling.
Vieira tests Garces's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Vieira throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Garces stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Garces pushes Vieira up against the cage in a clinch.
Garces lands a nice knee to the body.
Garces is trying to push Vieira away but Vieira has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Garces effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vieira pressing his opponent against the cage.
Vieira content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Vieira seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Garces misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Garces tries to land knees in the clinch but Vieira avoids the damage to the body.
Vieira managing to block the knees to the body from Garces.
Vieira avoiding damage as Garces throws knees to the body.
Garces creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Garces looking to stall.
Vieira has Garces pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vieira.
Vieira avoiding damage.

Vieira manages to break the clinch.
Eli Vieira is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garces clinches up with Vieira and pushes him back against the cage.
Garces is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vieira is defending well for now.
Stalling in the clinch from Vieira.

Garces pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Garces moves into range and clinches up with Vieira.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Vieira takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The referee calls for Vieira to work.
Vieira blocks an elbow strike.
Come on Vieira - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Vieira breaks from the clinch.

Garces rushes Vieira and presses him up against the cage.
Garces crunches a lovely knee into Vieira's ribcage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garces tries to land knees in the clinch but Vieira avoids the damage to the body.
Vieira has Garces pressed against the cage.
Garces tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vieira manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Eli Vieira.

Garces is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Vieira's half guard.
Garces not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Garces wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vieira keeps working.
Garces not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Garces wants to control but Vieira is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garces thows a huge punch but Vieira dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garces prevents Vieira from standing back up.
Garces trying to control the action but Vieira is working from the bottom.
Garces not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Garces stops Vieira from getting back to his feet.
Garces trying to control the action but Vieira is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vieira displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Garces.
Garces changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vieira tries to avoid it but Garces manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vieira to the ground. Vieira escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Eli Vieira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Garces.

Garces moves into the clinch.
Garces tries to break free but Vieira pushes him back against the cage.
Vieira effectively controlling the action here.
Garces creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Miguel Garces will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Garces looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vieira is fending him off so far but Garces persists. Nope, Vieira circles away and we're back to standing.
Miguel Garces is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garces takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Vieira connects with the punch.
Vieira throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garces ducks right into an uppercut from Vieira.
Vieira is looking to wear down Garces with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Garces gets tackled into the cage by Vieira. Vieira maintains the clinch.

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

Garces has taken the fight to the clinch.
Garces missing with knees to the body.
Vieira displaying some good clinch control by pressing Garces up against the cage.

Vieira breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Garces moves into the clinch successfully.
Garces looking to stall.
Garces lands an elbow inside that Vieira shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garces tries to pull guard but Vieira forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Vieira just leaning against Garces, taking a breather.
Garces jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vieira walks away with a smile on his face. Garces gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Eli Vieira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Garces.
Vieira comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Vieira lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Garces moves into range and clinches up with Vieira.
Vieira takes a knee to the side of the body.
Garces tries to land knees in the clinch but Vieira avoids the damage to the body.
Vieira effectively controlling the action here.
Vieira stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Vieira for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Garces is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vieira is defending well for now.

Vieira breaks the clinch.
Vieira throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Garces on the side of the head.

Garces closes the distance and clinches.
Garces tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Garces creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieira stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Vieira stalling.
The referee is keeping an eye on Vieira - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Vieira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vieira lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
It looks like Vieira has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

Garces takes the fight into the clinch.
Vieira taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Garces is trying to maintain a safe position but Vieira gets an underhook and turns Garces into the cage.
Garces is looking to break free of the clinch but Vieira has double underhooks.
Garces is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Garces wants to stall.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vieira avoiding damage as Garces throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garces changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vieira fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Vieira moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Garces darts in and clinches Vieira up against the cage.
Garces has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vieira avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Vieira displaying some good clinch control by pressing Garces up against the cage.
Vieira managing to block the knees to the body from Garces.
Garces tries to pull guard but Vieira won't allow it.
Garces working hard to break the clinch.
Vieira will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Garces up against the cage.
Garces is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vieira is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieira prevents Garces from breaking the clinch.
Vieira is stalling here.
Garces jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vieira walks away with a smile on his face. Garces gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Garces gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Vieira.

Garces clinches.
Vieira manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Vieira breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Vieira does no damage.
Garces tries to counter by closing the distance.
Vieira catches Garces with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Garces takes the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Garces has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vieira uses from the top position.
Garces controls Vieira momentarily but Vieira frees himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Vieira dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Vieira fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Garces looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vieira connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Garces's hands.
Vieira feints a jab promting Garces to slip. Vieira then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Garces slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Garces moves into the clinch.
Come on Vieira - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Vieira is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Vieira manages to break the clinch.
Vieira scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garces blocks a jab.
As Vieira backs off Garces throws a huge counter combo but Vieira manages to avoid it all.
Garces shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vieira sprawls well. Vieira wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Garces gets slowly back to his feet.
Garces avoids the body shot from Vieira.
Eli Vieira is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garces shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vieira as he avoids it easily.
Eli Vieira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Garces.
Vieira lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Garces misses with a low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Garces trying to stall but Vieira improves his position.
Vieira leaning his opponent against the cage.
Vieira just leaning against Garces, taking a breather.
Garces unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vieira lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Vieira controlling the action here for a moment.
Vieira leaning his opponent against the cage.
Garces wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vieira escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Garces forces Vieira back against the cage and clinches.
Garces working aggressively here.
Stalling in the clinch from Vieira.
Garces tries to land knees in the clinch but Vieira avoids the damage to the body.
Garces misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vieira.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Garces misses with a punch on the inside.
Come on Vieira - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Eli Vieira.

Garces has closed the distance and engaged Vieira in a clinch.
Miguel Garces seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Garces tries to land knees in the clinch but Vieira avoids the damage to the body.

Vieira breaks from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vieira scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Vieira. No joy for Garces on that attempt.

Garces scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Vieira wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Garces wants to control but Vieira is keeping him busy.
Garces working the ground and pound but Vieira is defending the strikes.
Vieira wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Vieira parries the strikes from Garces easily there. Garces is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Vieira to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garces throws a strike aimed at the side of Vieira's head but Vieira avoids it well.
Vieira is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Garces misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Vieira wants to get back to his feet but Garces drags him back down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Garces has Vieira up against the cage in a clinch.

Vieira escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Vieira gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vieira slows down the pace here.

Vieira breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eli Vieira showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vieira 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Vieira!
A pretty intense looking Eli Vieira took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.