PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marco Vera (ranked 1214 p4p, 1268 weight class) and Manco Capac (ranked 168 p4p, 182 weight class). Capac has chosen Iggy Pop - The Passenger 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.

Vera
vs
Capac

178 cm
23
181
6 - 0 - 0

180 cm
33
170
23 - 21 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marco Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manco Capac!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera misses with a looping left.
Capac dodges the punch combination from Vera.
Capac tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Vera misses with an uppercut. Capac saw that one coming.
Capac tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Vera misses with an uppercut. Capac saw that one coming.
Vera wants to clinch

so Capac counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Capac missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Capac trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vera keeping moving, preventing Capac from controlling successfully.
Vera is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capac is stalling in the full guard.
Capac missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Capac working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Capac wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Capac prevents Vera from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vera throws a hook but Capac avoids it easily.
Capac feints the counter takedown.
Vera looks to throw the jab but Capac is out of range.
Capac drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Vera defends it well.
Capac slips under a jab from Vera.
Vera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Capac doesn't seem bothered though.
Capac's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vera connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Capac scrambles back to his feet.

It looks like Manco Capac has been cut.
Vera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Capac is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Vera wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Vera scores with a nice right hand.
Vera throws a body shot but no joy.
Capac drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Vera defends it well.
Vera misses with a combination

and Capac counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vera wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Capac wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vera keeps working.
Vera tries to kick Capac off but Capac keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Capac looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Capac seems content to control.
Nice strikes from Capac there.
Capac slows the pace down in half guard.
Capac throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Capac thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.
Nice strikes from Capac there.
Vera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Capac.
Capac slips a nice elbow through Vera's hands, connecting with Vera's forehead.
Capac is looking to take a break and control but Vera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Capac not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Capac is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Capac stops Vera from getting back to his feet.
Capac not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Capac sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vera defending well though.
Vera tries to kick Capac off but Capac keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Capac content to control rather than advance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Manco Capac will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Manco Capac'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.

Vera is looking to clinch but Capac is avoiding it.
Capac changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A big right from Vera misses.
Vera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Capac paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vera takes a swing at Capac's ribcage but misses.
Capac is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Capac slips a straight right by Vera.
Capac drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Vera defends it well.
Capac keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Capac drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Vera defends it well.
Vera throws an off balance right hand

and Capac counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Capac is controlling him.
Capac postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Capac has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capac tries to free his leg and advance position but Vera is retaining full guard.
Manco Capac has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vera is looking to stand up but Capac isn't so interested in that idea.
Capac landing with the ground and pound.
Capac is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Capac is controlling him.
Capac postures up and lands a big shot to Vera's brow.
Capac wants to pass the guard but Vera is keeping the position.
Vera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Capac.
Capac stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vera swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Capac.
Vera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vera is looking to stand up but Capac isn't so interested in that idea.
Capac trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Capac avoids the body shot from Vera.
Vera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Capac slips under a jab from Vera.
Capac drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Vera defends it well.
Capac blocks a jab.
Capac tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Vera throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera loads up on a big right hand but Capac slips the punch.
Capac is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Vera has Capac up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Capac.
A head punch on the inside from Capac fails to land.
Vera throws a punch but it's blocked by Capac.

Vera breaks the clinch.
Vera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Capac changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vera lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Vera closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Vera throws a hook but Capac avoids it easily.
Capac drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Vera defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Capac with the counter takedown but Vera avoids it easily.
Capac ducks right into an uppercut from Vera.
Vera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Capac changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vera misses with a hook.
Capac feints the counter takedown.
Capac takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Marco Vera is winning the standup battle so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vera is looking to clinch.
Marco Vera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vera getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vera lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Vera.
Vera throws a right and a left that Capac avoids nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Vera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Manco Capac's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Vera loads up on a big right hand but Capac slips the punch.
And Capac tries to counter it with a takedown but Vera pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Vera falls off balance throwing a combination

and Capac counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vera won't be happy with that.
Capac scoring with punches and elbows.
Vera is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Capac goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Vera has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Capac but great work by Vera.
Vera tries to stand but Capac is controlling his head.

Vera has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Vera tries to clinch up but Capac circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera looks to land a left hand but Capac moved out of range nicely.
Vera throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Capac manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Capac circles away from the clinch attempt.
Capac tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Capac keeps the fight on the outside.
Vera misses with a wild body shot.
And Capac tries to counter it with a takedown but Vera pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Vera wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera moves in looking to clinch but Capac pushes him off.
Vera misses with an uppercut

and Capac counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Capac scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Vera looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Capac.
Capac stops Vera from getting back to his feet.
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. Capac connects with a nice short shot to Vera's temple.
Capac working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Capac is looking to advance position but Vera won't allow it.
Vera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Capac.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capac is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Capac lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Capac is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Vera pushes Capac off looking to stand but Capac dives back in and keeps control.
Capac lands with a punch from half guard.
Capac looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Capac missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.
Capac lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vera is trying to stand back up but Capac is controlling him

Capac is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vera defends it well.
Capac is looking to advance position but Vera won't allow it.
Capac missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vera is trying to stand back up but Capac is controlling him
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Capac thows a huge punch but Vera dodges it nicely.
Vera pushes Capac off looking to stand but Capac dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manco Capac comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Capac 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Manco Capac!
After winning the bout, Manco Capac thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.