PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marco Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sid Larco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sid Larco told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Vera
vs
Larco

185 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marco Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sid Larco!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larco misses with a few strikes there.
Larco shoots in looking for a takedown. Vera tries to sprawl out of it but Larco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vera manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sid Larco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Larco wants to clinch.
Vera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larco connects with a crisp jab.
Vera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larco has his takedown stuffed

and Vera counters with a single leg into guard. Larco didn't expect that.
Larco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Larco keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.
Vera postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vera trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Larco has his foot on Vera's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vera works his way back into a safe position though.
Vera postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Larco keeping full guard, as Vera tries to pass.
Vera stays in close to Larco's body and controls the position.
Vera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vera postures up in Larco's guard and throws a big left but Larco blocks it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Vera drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vera seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Larco is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Vera with a nice head shot there.
Vera is stalling in the full guard.
Vera stands up over Larco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera is stalling in the full guard.
Vera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Larco tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Larco has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Vera is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Larco.
Larco looks gassed!
Vera working the ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vera scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Larco to see if he's OK.
Vera lands some shots froms side control.
Vera cracks Larco with a big right hand but Larco just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera is putting a hurting on Larco here, landing some big shots from side control.
Larco is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Vera working the head and body with strikes.
Vera scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Larco is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Vera can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Marco Vera!