PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leo Vuce (ranked 2823 p4p, 4020 weight class) and Great Tiger (ranked 190 p4p, 257 weight class). Vuce comes to the cage accompanied by MC Yankoo. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vuce
vs
Tiger

180 cm
39
145
28 - 32 - 0

172 cm
41
142
32 - 50 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 32 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo Vuce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 50 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Great Tiger!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Vuce.

It looks like Great Tiger has been cut.
Vuce tries to clinch up.
It seemed like Tiger was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tiger swats away the attempt to clinch by Vuce.
Tiger lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tiger looks to score with a jab to the body but Vuce is just out of range.
Vuce takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiger wants to land a leg kick but Vuce is out of range.

Vuce closes the distance and clinches.
I was talking to Vuce's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vuce blocks a body shot from Tiger.
Vuce lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tiger dodges an elbow strike from Vuce.
Tiger's coach down at MMA Training and Sparring Buddies was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tiger's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Vuce lands an elbow inside.
Good body shot from Tiger.
Vuce misses with an elbow over the top.
Vuce unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nice elbow from Vuce.
Nice body punch from Tiger - that landed with a thud.
Vuce avoiding damage as Tiger throws knees to the body.
Vuce pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A short left from Vuce.
Tiger swings wildly with an uppercut but Vuce uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tiger breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vuce looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tiger looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tiger shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vuce manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
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.
Tiger looking to pass the guard.
Tiger's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Vuce is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Vuce looking for a guillotine here but Tiger defends easily.

Vuce is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiger throws a big elbow that misses.
Tiger is stalling in the full guard.

Vuce had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tiger defends it easily.
Tiger is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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.
Vuce keeping moving, preventing Tiger from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Vuce looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tiger is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vuce fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tiger is looking to chop away at Vuce's legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Great Tiger will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Great Tiger's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vuce misses with a series of wild punches.
Vuce tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Tiger counters with a single leg into guard. Vuce didn't expect that.
Great Tiger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tiger trying to control but Vuce is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiger sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiger looking to sit in guard and control but Vuce gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tiger working a defensive guard here.

Tiger isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Vuce stacks Tiger on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Vuce!
Tiger tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vuce working away.
Vuce lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tiger gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vuce decides to stand and escape the position.
Tiger tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vuce sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tiger somewhat.
Vuce throws a big counter combination but Tiger scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Great Tiger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiger swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vuce counters with a left and a right that stings Tiger.
Tiger dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tiger throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tiger circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vuce checks a leg kick.
Tiger chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tiger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vuce throws a series of punches but Tiger moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vuce is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leo Vuce is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tiger lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Vuce has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tiger finds it's way round the side to connect with Vuce's head.
Vuce avoids a kick to the body.
Vuce appears to be looking for a big counter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice sprawl there from Tiger as Vuce shoots in.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tiger throws a low kick but it's checked well by Vuce.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Great Tiger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Great Tiger's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A big left from Tiger misses.
Vuce is looking to counter the offense by Tiger and move into the clinch.
Great Tiger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tiger misses with a low kick.
Tiger misses with a wild combination.

Vuce clinches up against the cage.
Vuce really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tiger successfully pulls guard.
Tiger is controlling Vuce's posture.
Tiger trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vuce scoring with some ground and pound.
Vuce scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tiger looking for a sweep. Not yet Tiger, not yet.
Vuce throws a big right hand that misses.
Vuce scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Vuce got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tiger has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vuce has managed to get both his arms back between Tiger's legs - danger averted.
Tiger pulls Vuce in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vuce throws a strike but Tiger rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Vuce tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tiger trying to control the position from guard on top but Vuce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vuce keeping full guard, as Tiger tries to pass.
Tiger looking to sit in guard and control but Vuce gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tiger controls Vuce momentarily but Vuce frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vuce has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tiger is proving hard to escape from.
Tiger controls Vuce momentarily but Vuce frees himself.
Great Tiger has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tiger looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vuce stands up over Tiger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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.
Vuce keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tiger's head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tiger is on top in guard.

Tiger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vuce works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tiger tries to free his leg and advance position but Vuce is retaining full guard.

Vuce has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tiger can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiger controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leo Vuce.
I think Tiger has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Leo Vuce!
A relieved looking Leo Vuce thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.