PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gaven Ross (ranked 4749 p4p, 5317 weight class) and Patrick Vanderen (ranked 485 p4p, 511 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ross
vs
Vanderen

199 cm
25
265
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
268
0 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gaven Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Patrick Vanderen!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross keeps the fight on the outside.
Vanderen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ross backs up against the cage.
Ross has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cherokees Island Elite Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Vanderen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ross has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ross throws a nice looking combination but Vanderen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ross rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vanderen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ross throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vanderen throws a head kick but Ross moves out of range.
It looked like Ross wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Vanderen dodges the punch combination from Ross.
Vanderen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ross defends it well.
Patrick Vanderen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ross fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanderen throws a nice looking combination but Ross bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ross changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Vanderen scores with a kick to the body.
Ross scores with a body shot.
Vanderen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ross manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ross was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ross misses with a two punch combination.
Vanderen misses with a combination
and Ross counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ross throws a series of strikes that have Vanderen backpedaling.

It looks like Patrick Vanderen has been cut.
Ross moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Vanderen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanderen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ross tries to bum rush Vanderen with a series of wild strikes but Vanderen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ross has closed the distance and engaged Vanderen in a clinch.

Ross has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Vanderen regains guard immediately.
Ross postures up in Vanderen's guard and throws a big left but Vanderen blocks it.
Vanderen is trying to keep Ross in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vanderen wants to stand but Ross is controlling the position.
Vanderen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ross. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ross has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vanderen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ross passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross trying to control the action but Vanderen is working from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Ross.
Ross not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vanderen is staying active underneath Ross, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ross passes to full mount!
Ross throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross looking to control but Vanderen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
We've been informed that Vanderen has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Ross is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Vanderen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ross misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Poor strikes thrown by Ross there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Ross jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Vanderen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Ross throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ross is looking to take a break and control but Vanderen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gaven Ross dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Patrick Vanderen'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.

Vanderen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Ross darts in and clinches Vanderen up against the cage.

Ross breaks from the clinch.
Vanderen fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ross clinches up with Vanderen and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ross breaks the clinch.
Ross takes one on the button.

Ross closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Vanderen did well to prevent Ross getting side control.
Gaven Ross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ross trying to control from half guard but Vanderen is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ross scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Ross is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ross thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Ross is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ross throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ross perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Vanderen has hold of Ross's hands but Ross slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross is pressing down on Vanderen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vanderen is holding on for now.
Ross working Vanderen over with strikes.
Vanderen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ross.
Ross thows a huge punch but Vanderen dodges it nicely.
Vanderen wants to get back to full guard.
Ross is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ross is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Vanderen is in a horrible position here. Ross smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ross loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Vanderen scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Ross land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Ross stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gaven Ross!