PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sun Tzu (ranked 2848 p4p, 1733 weight class) and Sinan Vrases (ranked 256 p4p, 177 weight class). Tzu kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The HU - Wolf Totem feat. Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tzu
vs
Vrases

176 cm
26
145
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
26
158
6 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

Good wrestler
Decent knees
Good gas tank

BANZAI NUTRITION
Tokzik Dope L.A.

BANZAI NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sun Tzu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sinan Vrases!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tzu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vrases is fending him off so far but Tzu persists. Nope, Vrases circles away and we're back to standing.

Vrases gets caught flat footed, as Tzu shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Vrases utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tzu postures up and lands a big shot to Vrases's brow.
Vrases is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vrases avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vrases really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tzu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Tzu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tzu 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.
Tzu preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tzu is looking to work some ground and pound but Vrases has wrist control.
Tzu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vrases pulls Tzu in to control the position.
Tzu postures up and lands a big shot to Vrases's brow.
Tzu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzu passes into half guard.
Vrases trying to control from the bottom.
Vrases moves into full guard.
Vrases keeping full guard, as Tzu tries to pass.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vrases can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vrases is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vrases keeps trying to improve his position.
Vrases managing to control the position.
Vrases looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vrases wants to sweep here but Tzu controlling him for the moment.

Tzu drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tzu jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vrases trying to control the position.
Vrases is controlling Tzu's posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Tzu stopping the sweep attempt from Vrases.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Tzu clinches.
Vrases managing to block the knees to the body from Tzu.
Vrases looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Vrases tries to land a knee to the head but Tzu blocks with his arms.
Tzu tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vrases lands a knee to the body.
Vrases blocks an uppercut.
Tzu is trying to break free.
Vrases lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vrases landing knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Vrases.
Tzu is breathing heavily.
Vrases tries a knee to the head but Tzu blocks it.
Vrases scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Sun Tzu has been cut.
Vrases misses with a knee to the head.
Tzu is working for takedown but Vrases is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sun Tzu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tzu tries for a takedown but Vrases manages to get underhooks.
Tzu tries to break free but Vrases pushes him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Vrases.

Tzu is rocked!
Vrases with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Oh Tzu is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vrases connects with a knee to the head.
Vrases landing knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vrases scores with a knee to the head.
Vrases lands a nice shot to the body.
Vrases lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Vrases connects with a knee to the head.
Vrases unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tzu lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vrases lands a knee to the head.
Vrases tries to throw a body punch but Tzu avoids it by throwing Vrases back against the cage.
Vrases tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vrases lands a knee to the body.
Tzu seems to have got his legs back now.
Tzu takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vrases tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vrases putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Tzu in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tzu fails to pull guard.
Vrases crunches a lovely knee into Tzu's ribcage.
Vrases with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vrases.
Vrases connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tzu's face.
A knee to the head by Vrases.
Tzu takes a knee right on the jaw!
I was talking to Tzu's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Vrases misses with a knee to the head.
A short right from Vrases.
Vrases throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tzu blocks it with crossed arms.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sinan Vrases dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sun Tzu's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tzu shoots in but Vrases avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tzu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vrases sprawls well. Vrases wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tzu gets slowly back to his feet.
Vrases tries to clinch up.
Tzu lands with a hook. Vrases tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Vrases is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Vrases clinches up against the cage.
Tzu misses with some punches.

Tzu has clasped his hands together around Vrases's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vrases is trying to get back to half guard.
Vrases tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Vrases can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vrases is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tzu landing a few strikes.
Vrases managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Tzu.

Tzu working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vrases wants to control but Tzu postures up.
Vrases tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tzu misses with the ground and pound.
An elbow from Tzu crashes against the mat.
Tzu fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Vrases tries to improve position but can't.
Tzu in side control, throwing shots but Vrases defends.
Vrases is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tzu scoring with punches and elbows.
Vrases has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vrases tries to bench press Tzu off him but Tzu keeps the position.

Tzu thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzu throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Vrases is trying to get back to half guard.
Vrases is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tzu is putting a hurting on Vrases here, landing some big shots from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tzu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Tzu looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vrases is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tzu is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vrases has escaped the position, nice work there.
Vrases is trying to control Tzu's posture but Tzu avoids it.
Tzu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Vrases is avoiding damage well.
Tzu works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Tzu postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tzu goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Vrases rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Tzu's guard! Nice work there by Vrases!
Vrases lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sun Tzu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tzu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sun Tzu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sun Tzu's cut.
That's time! Tzu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vrases closes the distance and pushes Tzu back into the cage.
Vrases lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vrases with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tzu avoiding damage as Vrases throws knees to the body.
Vrases with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tzu is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Vrases is defending well.
Tzu has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vrases is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Vrases with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tzu tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sun Tzu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tzu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Vrases scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vrases unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tzu lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tzu takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vrases is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tzu tries for a takedown but Vrases manages to get underhooks.
Vrases connects with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vrases lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tzu backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vrases utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Vrases working Tzu over with knees to the body.
Vrases lands a knee to the body.
Vrases lands a big knee to the head and Tzu goes down! Vrases pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sinan Vrases!
Sinan Vrases really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that BANZAI NUTRITION logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.