PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marco Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Suarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel Suarez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vera
vs
Suarez

185 cm
23
175 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
181 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 7 - 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manuel Suarez!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Winston Howard and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vera shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Suarez's guard.
Suarez keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.
Suarez working a defensive guard here.
Vera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Suarez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Suarez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vera is controlling him.
Vera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Suarez keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.
Vera stops Suarez from standing up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vera moves out of range as Suarez strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Suarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Danga de danga de dang - Suarez scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suarez misses the shot to the body.
Suarez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Suarez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vera.
Manuel Suarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Suarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Suarez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Suarez loads up on a big right hand but Vera slips the punch.
Suarez throws a right hand that Vera ducks under and follows up with a left that Vera also avoids with ease.
Suarez tries to clinch up but Vera circles away and keeps his distance.
Suarez misses with a double jab.
Suarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vera.
A head kick misses from Vera.
Vera swats away the attempt to clinch by Suarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Vera drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vera sitting in guard here, content to control.
Suarez keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.
Suarez being controlled here, momentarily.
Vera landing with the ground and pound.
Vera 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.
Vera lands a couple of digs.
Vera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Suarez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vera is controlling him.
Vera postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Suarez can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Suarez is keeping the position for now.
Vera landing with the ground and pound.
Vera trying to control but Suarez is working from the bottom.
Vera lands a couple of elbows.

Suarez wriggles free and stands up.
Suarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Suarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Vera.

Vera shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Vera seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Suarez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera not doing much here.
Suarez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vera is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vera trying to control from half guard but Suarez is working away.
Vera is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Suarez is trying to stand.
Suarez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vera is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Suarez defending well though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Vera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Suarez as he avoids it easily.
Suarez throws a series of punches but Vera avoids them all with ease.
Suarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Vera dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Suarez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Suarez!
Vera tries for a takedown but Suarez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Suarez tries to close the distance and clinch but Vera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Suarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vera throws a head kick that misses.
Suarez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Suarez tries to bum rush Vera with a series of wild strikes but Vera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Suarez tries to clinch there but Vera circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suarez goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A punch combination from Suarez misses.
Suarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Suarez is breathing heavily.
Suarez clobbers Vera with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vera misses with a takedown attempt - Suarez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Vera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Vera works over Suarez with some ground and pound from guard.
Vera trying to control the position from guard on top but Suarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vera passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vera working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suarez being controlled for a moment.
Suarez takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Suarez is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Vera trying to control the position but Suarez is working away.
Check out the look on Vera's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Suarez tries to escape but Vera is in control.
Vera landing a few strikes.
Suarez is trying to control Vera's posture but Vera avoids it.
Vera working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera is putting a hurting on Suarez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Vera lands some shots froms side control.
Suarez is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Vera asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Suarez tries to buck Vera off but Vera is having none of it.
Vera controlling the position from side mount.
Vera looks up at the clock and then as Suarez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Vera smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Vera in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Vera creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Suarez is trying to get back to his feet.
Vera creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Suarez keeps working.
Vera working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Vera is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Vera works to advance to full mount. Suarez defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Suarez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Vera controlling from the full mount.
Suarez is in a horrible position here. Vera smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Suarez is working to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Suarez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Vera dominated that second round.
That's time! Vera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Suarez throws a body punch but Vera moves out of range.
Vera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Suarez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Suarez is looking to clinch but Vera is avoiding it.
Suarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vera.
Suarez leaves Vera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Suarez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vera was well out of range. Poor timing from Suarez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suarez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Suarez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vera.
Suarez tries to bum rush Vera with a series of wild strikes but Vera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Suarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Suarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Suarez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Suarez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vera circles away quickly and effectively.
Vera motions for Suarez to come forward. Vera throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Manuel Suarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vera swats away the attempt to clinch by Suarez.
Vera dodges the punch combination from Suarez.
Vera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Suarez.
Suarez tries to clinch there but Vera circles away.
Suarez misses with a double jab.
Manuel Suarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Vera is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Suarez's half guard.
Vera is nestled in close to Suarez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Vera looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Marco Vera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vera prevents Suarez from standing back up.
Vera is taking a breather. Suarez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Vera has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Vera lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vera looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Suarez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Suarez is refusing to be controlled, as Vera sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suarez is looking for a sweep. Vera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vera throwing shots but Suarez is blocking nicely.
Vera working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Suarez trying to control here.
Suarez is looking for a sweep. Vera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Suarez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Suarez fails to land with a series of punches.
Vera shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Vera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vera avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Suarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Vera shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Vera seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Suarez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Vera scores with a couple of nice shots.
Vera lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vera is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nice strikes from Vera there.
Manuel Suarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marco Vera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vera in particular looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Vera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vera, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Vera!