PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Vader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Gannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Vader has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Vader
vs
Gannon

186 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 London, Thomas Vader!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Gannon!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Gannon does no damage.
Vader tries to clinch but Gannon is having none of it.
Paul Gannon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vader fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gannon.
Gannon shoots in looking for a takedown. Vader tries to sprawl out of it but Gannon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vader manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gannon looks gassed!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vader.
Vader is looking to take a break and control but Gannon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gannon is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gannon taking a bit of punishment here - Vader scoring with strikes.
Vader wants to control but Gannon is keeping him busy.
Vader landing a few strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader trying to control the position but Gannon is working away.
Vader tries to advance to mount but Gannon denies him.
Vader working the head with strikes.
Vader throws an elbow but Gannon slips to the side and avoids it well.
Vader working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Vader working the ground and pound.
Gannon is not content to let Vader control the position.
Gannon regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vader trying to control the pace.
Vader wants to pass to mount but Gannon is defending the position.
Vader will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gannon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vader prevents Gannon from standing back up.
Vader is pressing down on Gannon's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gannon is holding on for now.

Vader decides to stand up.
Vader tries for a takedown but Gannon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Vader shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gannon manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Vader wants to control from the top but Gannon keeps moving.
Vader is really struggling to control Gannon but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gannon uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gannon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vader circles away quickly and effectively.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Vader.
Vader misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gannon with a lazy takedown attempt

and Vader counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gannon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vader trying to control but Gannon is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Vader dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gannon shoots and misses

and Vader counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gannon is pressed up against the cage. Vader has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gannon down to the mat. Gannon avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Vader closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Vader decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Vader shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gannon looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gannon manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vader is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gannon controlling the pace for now.
Gannon avoids the attempt from Vader to control.
Vader is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vader manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Vader wants to control but Gannon is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vader taking some punishment here, with Gannon in his half guard.
Gannon slips a nice elbow through Vader's hands, connecting with Vader's forehead.
Vader blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gannon.
Gannon wants to get back to his feet.
Vader tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Gannon has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gannon punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Gannon.
Gannon controlling from mount.
Gannon throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Vader because Gannon loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vader is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Vader is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gannon dominating with strikes here.
Vader is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gannon landing shots from mount.
Vader tries to hold on but Gannon pushes him away.
Vader is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gannon controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Vader dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gannon fails with the takedown

so Vader counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Vader wants to get up but he can't break Gannon's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Thomas Vader overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vader won't allow Gannon to get back to his feet.
Vader is stalling in the full guard.
Vader postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Vader stands up and waves to Gannon to follow him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vader throws a right and a left that Gannon avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gannon stuffs the takedown attempt from Vader. Vader gets slowly back to his feet.
Vader fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Gannon gets a takedown into half guard.

Gannon stands up out of the half guard.
Gannon doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Vader counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gannon pulls Vader in close to prevent any damage.

Vader stands and steps away. Gannon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vader throws a head kick that Gannon semi-blocks.
Vader dives in and grabs Gannon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gannon pushes down on Vader's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Vader. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gannon falls off balance throwing a combination

and Vader counters with a takedown into side control.
Gannon is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Vader has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Gannon is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Gannon sneaks out the side door and pushes Vader away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gannon shoots in for a double leg but Vader sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gannon clobbers Vader with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gannon shoots for a takedown but Vader saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gannon looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gannon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gannon thows a big elbow that misses.
Gannon trying to control but Vader is working from the bottom.
Gannon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vader looking to control but Gannon passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gannon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Gannon decides to stand up.
Thomas Vader is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gannon blocks a head kick by Vader.
Paul Gannon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas Vader is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gannon throws a shot from downtown. Vader moves away and avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Vader showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vader has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Vader!