PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Desmond Gallagher (ranked 2130 p4p, 2543 weight class) and Motum Vakana (ranked 223 p4p, 262 weight class). Gallagher's entrance music is HIGH. A fine choice. This should be fireworks!

Gallagher
vs
Vakana

182 cm
20
169
3 - 1 - 0

165 cm
19
163
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $48

Sakura Style

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Desmond Gallagher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Motum Vakana!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, John Mangel and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vakana displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gallagher throws out the jab.
Vakana on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nice cross by Gallagher.
Gallagher misses with a straight right.

Vakana clinches with his opponent.
Gallagher tries a body shot but Vakana blocks it.
Vakana throws a head punch that misses.
Vakana lands a nice shot to the body.
Vakana lands a right hand.
Vakana working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Vakana misses with an elbow strike.
Vakana swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vakana's coach down at Gym To Nica was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Vakana's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Vakana misses with a punch on the inside.
Vakana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Gallagher breaks from the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gallagher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gallagher scores with the left hand. Vakana knows he should have avoided that one.
Gallagher throws a hook but Vakana avoids it easily.
We've been told by Gallagher's head coaches at Ironbound MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Gallagher darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gallagher misses with a hook. Vakana ducked under it nicely.

Vakana moves into the clinch successfully.
Gallagher wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gallagher swings wildly with an uppercut but Vakana uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vakana tries to throw a body punch but Gallagher avoids it by throwing Vakana back against the cage.
Gallagher lands with a short shot to the head.
Vakana lands with a left to the head.
Vakana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gallagher scores with a shoulder strike.
Vakana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vakana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Vakana.
Vakana misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Vakana.
Vakana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gallagher lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Vakana lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gallagher lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vakana misses with some punches.
Vakana prevents a body shot from Gallagher.
Vakana prevents a body shot from Gallagher.
Gallagher avoids a wild elbow strike from Vakana.
Vakana lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vakana.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gallagher.
Vakana lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gallagher backwards.
Vakana lands a nice uppercut.
Gallagher blocks an uppercut.
Vakana lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Vakana lands a body shot in the clinch.
Vakana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vakana looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gallagher blocking some punches.
Vakana misses with a punch to the body.
Gallagher misses with some punches.
Gallagher tries to throw a body punch but Vakana avoids it by throwing Gallagher back against the cage.
Vakana misses with the head strike.
Gallagher wants to get back to striking at distance but Vakana won't allow it.
Vakana lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gallagher backwards.
Vakana lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Vakana throws an elbow but it misses.
Vakana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Vakana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vakana lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gallagher tries to break free but Vakana pushes him back against the cage.
Gallagher scores with a shot to the side of Vakana's head.
Vakana lands a nice shot to the body.
A body shot lands from Vakana.
Vakana swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vakana misses with a punch on the inside.

Gallagher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Vakana instigates a clinch.
Vakana has Gallagher pressed against the cage, preventing Gallagher from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gallagher misses with a punch on the inside.

Gallagher manages to break the clinch.
Gallagher bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vakana's head backwards.

Vakana closes the distance and pushes Gallagher back into the cage.
Vakana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gallagher misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vakana lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gallagher works on Vakana's body with a couple of short punches.
Vakana lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gallagher working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vakana.
Vakana throws an elbow but it misses.
Vakana gets through Gallagher's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vakana lands a left hand.
Vakana lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Vakana scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vakana has a couple of punches blocked by Gallagher.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vakana.
Vakana misses with a body punch.
Gallagher misses with a hook from the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Vakana keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gallagher's efforts to push away.
Gallagher doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gallagher creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vakana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vakana is working Gallagher over against the cage.
Vakana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vakana struggles to land a body shot inside as Gallagher controls his hands.
Vakana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vakana lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gallagher backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Motum Vakana 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.

Vakana closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gallagher lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vakana backwards.
Gallagher tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vakana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Gallagher manages to break the clinch.
Vakana tries to clinch up but Gallagher circles away and keeps his distance.
Vakana has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gallagher tries to keep at a distance but Vakana has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gallagher working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Gallagher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vakana avoids the body shot from Gallagher.
A lazy left from Gallagher finds it's target.

Vakana clinches.
Nice body punch from Gallagher - that landed with a thud.
Gallagher is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gallagher creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vakana tries to land a knee to the head but Gallagher blocks with his arms.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body punch from Vakana.
Gallagher lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gallagher misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher lands with a light punch inside.
Vakana blocks an uppercut.
Vakana misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gallagher trying to stall but Vakana improves his position.
Vakana lands with a left to the head.
Gallagher pushes Vakana back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gallagher takes an elbow to the temple.
Gallagher throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Vakana is leaning against Gallagher and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gallagher.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gallagher.
Gallagher working hard to break the clinch.
Gallagher trying to control the position but instead, Vakana has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gallagher into the cage.
Vakana scores with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vakana throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Vakana throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gallaghers head.
Gallagher throws a punch but it's blocked by Vakana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vakana swings wildly with an uppercut but Gallagher uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vakana working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by Vakana.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A right hand to the body from Vakana.
Gallagher goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gallagher lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vakana backwards.
Vakana blocks an uppercut.
Gallagher misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gallagher is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gallagher takes a shot to the head.
Vakana lands a right hand.
Gallagher lands with a right to the head.
Gallagher throws a head punch that misses.
Gallagher misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gallagher can't break the clinch.
Gallagher avoids the elbow strike from Vakana, against the cage.
Vakana using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gallagher has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gallagher lands with a left to the head.
Vakana misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gallagher can't find room to land a body shot as Vakana controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Gallagher fails to land.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Motum Vakana seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gallagher wants to break free but Vakana has control.
Vakana doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vakana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gallagher.
A short right from Vakana on the inside.
Vakana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gallagher misses with a punch to the body.
Vakana lands a hook that snaps the head of Gallagher backwards.

Gallagher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gallagher finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gallagher is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Vakana on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vakana tries to clinch up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gallagher.
Gallagher misses with a looping right.
Gallagher lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Vakana backs up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Vakana moves into the clinch.
Vakana lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gallagher lands with a right to the head.

Gallagher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gallagher misses with a looping left.

Vakana moves into the clinch successfully.
Gallagher misses with a punch on the inside.
Vakana throws a head punch that misses.
Gallagher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Gallagher.
Gallagher tries to throw a body punch but Vakana avoids it by throwing Gallagher back against the cage.
Gallagher blocks a body shot from Vakana.
Vakana has Gallagher pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gallagher.
Gallagher doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vakana prevents Gallagher from breaking the clinch.
Gallagher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Vakana as Gallagher tries to tie him up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vakana.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Desmond Gallagher will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Vakana steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gallagher.

Vakana moves into range and clinches up with Gallagher.
Gallagher lands with a right to the head.
Gallagher is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gallagher doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vakana scores with a hook to the body.
Gallagher misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vakana.
Vakana misses with a body punch.
Gallagher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vakana misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gallagher's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gallagher managing to block the knees to the body from Vakana.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vakana pushes Gallagher back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gallagher working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Vakana is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gallagher blocks an elbow strike.
Gallagher has had enough of the clinch but Vakana keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vakana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vakana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vakana struggles to land a body shot inside as Gallagher controls his hands.
Vakana struggles to land a body shot inside as Gallagher controls his hands.
Vakana throws a head punch that misses.
Vakana lands with a left to the head.
Vakana lands with a short shot to the head.
Vakana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vakana.
Vakana misses with a punch on the inside.
Gallagher misses with a punch to the body.
Vakana lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gallagher or not.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vakana creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vakana lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gallagher backwards.
Vakana lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gallagher backwards.
Vakana blocking some punches.
Gallagher trying to stall but Vakana improves his position.
Vakana misses with some punches.
Vakana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gallagher is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gallagher is pushing Vakana up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Vakana lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A body shot lands from Vakana.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short right from Vakana on the inside.
Gallagher throws a head punch that misses.
Gallagher tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Vakana - that landed with a thud.
Vakana lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Vakana works on Gallagher's body with a couple of short punches.
Vakana digs a right hand underneath Gallagher's ribcage. Gallagher let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Vakana lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gallagher backwards.

Gallagher is rocked!
A head punch on the inside from Vakana fails to land.
A left hand lands to the body for Vakana.
Vakana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Oh Gallagher is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gallagher avoids a wild elbow strike from Vakana.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vakana throws an elbow that misses.
Gallagher seems to have got his legs back now.
Vakana lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gallagher backwards.
Vakana lands with a left to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vakana.
A right handed body shot lands from Vakana.
Vakana lands an uppercut.
Vakana lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Vakana.
Gallagher's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gallagher blocks an elbow strike from Vakana.
Vakana throws a big uppercut that drops Gallagher! More strikes from Vakana and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Gallagher lies dazed against the cage as Vakana celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Motum Vakana!
A very excited looking Motum Vakana rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.