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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Henderson (ranked 4021 p4p, 4033 weight class) and Vaki Vakalala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.
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| 186 cm
18
193
0 - 0 - 0 |
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175 cm
23
190
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Likes musicals |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vaki Vakalala!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson looks to clinch
and Vakalala counters with a nice low kick that buckles Henderson's knee momentarily.
Henderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Vakalala, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Henderson moves into the clinch successfully.
Vakalala tries to pull guard but Henderson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Henderson is trying to pull guard but Vakalala has him pressed against the cage.
Henderson breaks the clinch.
Henderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henderson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vakalala counters with a nice low kick that buckles Henderson's knee momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vakalala explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Vakalala gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Henderson counters with a one-two to the body.
John Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vaki Vakalala.
Henderson tries to clinch but Vakalala moves away
and Vakalala counters with a leg kick.
Vakalala is trying hard to land a takedown here. Henderson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vakalala blocks a head kick by Henderson.
Vakalala is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Henderson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vakalala looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Vakalala throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Henderson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Vakalala counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vakalala looks to land a combination. Henderson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Vakalala clinches with his opponent.
Vakalala breaks from the clinch.
Henderson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Vakalala counters with a nice body shot.
Vakalala throws a head kick that Henderson semi-blocks.
Vakalala drives through and clinches with Henderson against the cage.
Henderson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vakalala has him pressed against the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vakalala pulls guard effortlessly.
Henderson looking to sit in guard and control but Vakalala gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henderson trying to control the position.
Vakalala's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Vakalala manages to pass to side control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vakalala in particular looking to stall.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vakalala tries to pass to full mount but Henderson defends it.
Henderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Henderson tries to get out of the position.
Vakalala thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vakalala works his foot free and advances to mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Vakalala there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Vakalala has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Henderson is desperately trying to improve his position but Vakalala has a good base and remains in mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson blocking the ground and pound.
Vakalala controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vakalala landing strikes from the mount and Henderson is in trouble!
Vakalala content just to control the position here.
Vakalala prevents Henderson from getting the reversal.
Vakalala content just to control the position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Vaki Vakalala dominated that round.
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.
Vakalala goes for a double leg but Henderson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Henderson continues to drive forward.
Vaki Vakalala seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vakalala is defended easily by Henderson.
Vakalala keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vakalala gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vakalala wants to take the fight to the mat but Henderson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
John Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vaki Vakalala.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vakalala is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Henderson is defending well.
Henderson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Vakalala is defending well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vakalala is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Henderson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Henderson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vakalala.
Henderson lands a nice knee to the body.
Henderson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Henderson can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vakalala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vakalala closes the distance and clinches.
Henderson has had enough of the clinch but Vakalala keeps him there for the moment.
Vakalala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Henderson does no damage.
Vakalala clinches.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vakalala is working for takedown but Henderson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Henderson jumps guard but Vakalala turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Henderson tries to throw a body punch but Vakalala avoids it by throwing Henderson back against the cage.
Vakalala breaks the clinch.
Henderson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Henderson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vakalala circles away quickly and effectively.
Vakalala shoots in looking for a takedown but Henderson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vakalala's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vakalala fails to land the takedown.
Vakalala has a takedown stuffed.
Vakalala dodges the punch combination from Henderson.
Vakalala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vakalala tries to score a power double leg takedown but Henderson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vakalala somewhat.
Henderson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Vakalala manages to circle out of the way.
Vakalala closes this distance looking for a takedown but Henderson circles away.
Vakalala throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
John Henderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Henderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henderson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vakalala tries to sprawl but Henderson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vakalala is trying to control but can't.
Henderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vakalala tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
Henderson is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Vakalala manages to get to full guard.
Vakalala looking to control.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Vakalala keeps moving.
Vakalala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Henderson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Henderson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henderson has gone for a leg lock! Vakalala slips out almost immediately though and dives into Henderson's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Vaki Vakalala will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Henderson tries to keep at a distance but Vakalala has taken the fight into the clinch.
Henderson working aggressively here.
Henderson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vakalala successfully pulls guard.
Vakalala striking off his back but it's not causing Henderson any problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Vakalala scrambles and gets back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vakalala shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Henderson but Henderson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Henderson throws a sloppy body shot
and Vakalala counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vakalala avoids a kick to the body.
Henderson wants to clinch up but Vakalala keeps it at a distance.
Vakalala moves in looking to clinch but Henderson pushes him off.
Henderson has managed to clinch.
Henderson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Vakalala kicks off Henderson and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vakalala throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Vakalala fails with a takedown attempt.
Henderson tries to counter with a takedown but Vakalala is quick to defend against it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Vakalala.
Vakalala closes the distance and pushes Henderson back into the cage.
Vakalala fails to pull the fight into his guard.
John Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vaki Vakalala.
Henderson tries to break free but Vakalala pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vakalala.
Vakalala presses Henderson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Henderson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Vakalala pulls guard successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vakalala seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vakalala has his feet on Henderson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Henderson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Henderson darts in and clinches Vakalala up against the cage.
Henderson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Vakalala drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Henderson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vakalala scores with a push kick.
Vakalala lands a nice leg kick that just misses Henderson's sensitive parts.
Henderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vakalala tries to counter with a clinch but Henderson shakes him off and moves away.
Vakalala has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vakalala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
John Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vaki Vakalala is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vakalala tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Henderson defends well and Vakalala ends up having to push Henderson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that's the end of the fight!
Vaki Vakalala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vakalala has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vaki Vakalala!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
47% |
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