PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Herbert (ranked 25493 p4p, 5300 weight class) and Simon Vaughan (ranked 528 p4p, 496 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Simon Vaughan was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Herbert
vs
Vaughan

196 cm
18
268
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
18
275
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bobby Herbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Simon Vaughan!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Herbert enables Vaughan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Herbert manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Vaughan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Herbert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Herbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vaughan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vaughan cracks Herbert with a solid left hand.
Herbert keeping moving, preventing Vaughan from controlling successfully.

Herbert looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vaughan scoring with some ground and pound.
Vaughan lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaughan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Herbert is keeping the position for now.
Vaughan lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vaughan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Herbert's head.
Vaughan chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaughan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Vaughan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Herbert is keeping the position for now.
Vaughan lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Herbert is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vaughan is aware though and is defending well.
Vaughan scoring with some ground and pound.
Vaughan works over Herbert with some ground and pound from guard.
Vaughan chips away with some ground and pound.
Vaughan is in close to Herbert's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Herbert is breathing heavily.
Vaughan postures up and lands a big shot to Herbert's brow.
Vaughan cracks Herbert with a solid left hand.
Vaughan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaughan with a nice head shot there.
Herbert has a closed guard, preventing Vaughan from standing up.
Vaughan chips away with some ground and pound.
Vaughan controlling from the top position.
Vaughan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vaughan controlling from the top position.
Vaughan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vaughan content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaughan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vaughan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vaughan working some strikes from top position.

Herbert working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vaughan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vaughan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vaughan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've been informed that Vaughan has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Vaughan distracts Herbert with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vaughan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vaughan connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaughan trying to control the position from guard on top but Herbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vaughan with a nice head shot there.
Vaughan lands a couple of digs.
Vaughan controlling from the top position.
Vaughan postures up and lands a big shot to Herbert's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Herbert keeping moving, preventing Vaughan from controlling successfully.
Vaughan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Vaughan dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Good shot there by Vaughan.
Herbert rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vaughan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Herbert has a takedown stuffed.

Vaughan moves into the clinch successfully.

Vaughan has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Herbert is trying to keep an underhook but Vaughan manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Vaughan is looking to take a break and control but Herbert is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vaughan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaughan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vaughan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Simon Vaughan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vaughan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Vaughan is stalling here. Herbert is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Vaughan seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Herbert has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaughan wants to control but Herbert postures up.
Vaughan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Herbert has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Vaughan tries to bench press Herbert off him but Herbert keeps the position.
Vaughan misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Vaughan tries to bench press Herbert off him but Herbert keeps the position.
Herbert working away.
Herbert passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Vaughan!
Herbert punching from mount but Vaughan doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Vaughan can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herbert avoids the attempt from Vaughan to control.
Vaughan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vaughan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Herbert thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vaughan is looking to improve his position but Herbert isn't that keen on the idea.
Herbert avoids the attempt from Vaughan to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaughan tries to reverse the position but Herbert maintains control.
Vaughan wants to control but Herbert is having none of it.
Vaughan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Vaughan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaughan stands up over Herbert, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vaughan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vaughan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vaughan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vaughan connects with a couple of short punches.
Vaughan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

It looks like Bobby Herbert has been cut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vaughan looking to pass the guard.
Vaughan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Vaughan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bobby Herbert's cut.
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. 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.

Vaughan feints and as Herbert raises his hands in defense, Vaughan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Herbert looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Vaughan puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Herbert is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vaughan pulls his head out easily.
Herbert is not content to let Vaughan control the position.
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. Vaughan connects with a nice short shot to Herbert's temple.
Herbert is looking for a sweep. Vaughan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Herbert could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Vaughan is nestled in close to Herbert, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaughan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Vaughan wants to pass the guard but Herbert is defending well.
Vaughan 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaughan working Herbert over with strikes.
Vaughan lands with a punch from half guard.
Herbert on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vaughan tries to pass to full mount but Herbert defends it.
Vaughan working Herbert over with strikes.
Vaughan working Herbert over with strikes.

Herbert is rocked!
Vaughan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Oh Herbert is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vaughan works his foot free and advances to mount.
Vaughan connects with a bit shot that sees Herbert covering up! More strikes from Vaughan and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Vaughan is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Simon Vaughan!