PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pencil Neck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alberto Vabbutori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neck's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Rolling Stones - Paint it black. Vabbutori has chosen Onyx - Slam Harder as his entrance music. Pencil Neck has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Neck
vs
Vabbutori

182 cm
23
178 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

177 cm
23
179 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pencil Neck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alberto Vabbutori!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Neck shoots in and bounces Vabbutori off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Vabbutori keeping moving, preventing Neck from controlling successfully.
Neck is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vabbutori is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Neck tries to stand but Vabbutori is controlling from the bottom.
Neck preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neck tries to free his leg and advance position but Vabbutori is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neck 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.
Vabbutori really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Neck. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Neck gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Neck throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Vabbutori lets loose with a powerful body kick. Neck will feel that in the morning.

Vabbutori drives through and clinches with Neck against the cage.
Vabbutori tries to pull guard but Neck holds him up against the cage and eventually Vabbutori drops back down to his feet.
Neck tries a body shot but Vabbutori blocks it.
Vabbutori tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Neck just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vabbutori is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Neck gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pencil Neck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alberto Vabbutori.

Neck pulls guard.

Neck is working an open guard so Vabbutori takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Vabbutori clinches up with Neck and pushes him back against the cage.

Vabbutori pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Neck looking to pass the guard.
Vabbutori is adopting a defensive guard.
Neck trying to control the position from guard on top but Vabbutori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Neck wants to stand but Vabbutori is controlling his posture from full guard.

Neck decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neck closes the distance and clinches up with Vabbutori, looking for a takedown. Neck pushes Vabbutori against the cage but Vabbutori circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Neck throws a head kick but Vabbutori moves out of range.

Vabbutori decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Vabbutori keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Vabbutori thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Neck wants to get back to his feet.
Neck is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Neck is trying to escape back to his feet but Vabbutori uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Vabbutori decides to stand back up.
Neck keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vabbutori throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Neck was covering up waiting for the punch and Vabbutori finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Vabbutori being controlled here momentarily.
Neck wants to sweep but no luck.
Neck is looking to stand back up but Vabbutori counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Neck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Neck manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alberto Vabbutori will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Neck tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Vabbutori counters with a straight right hand.
Vabbutori looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Neck moves into the clinch.
Vabbutori is pressed up against the cage. Neck has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vabbutori down to the mat. Vabbutori avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Neck tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vabbutori sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Neck somewhat.
Pencil Neck is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vabbutori looks for the body kick but Neck saw that one coming.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A knee to the head by Neck.
Neck jumps guard but Vabbutori stands there with Neck around his waist. Neck gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pencil Neck. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vabbutori ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Vabbutori no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Neck trying to control but Vabbutori is working from the bottom.
Vabbutori is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neck preventing the sweep.

Neck gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Neck bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Neck controlling from side mount.
Neck wants to control but Vabbutori is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neck wants to take a breather but Vabbutori manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Neck.

Neck thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Neck is standing up over Vabbutori. Vabbutori looks to escape but Neck dives into side control.
Neck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vabbutori keeps working.

Neck decides to stand up, so the ref orders Vabbutori to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neck fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Neck throws a push kick but Vabbutori slaps the foot to one side.
Vabbutori stuffs the takedown.

Vabbutori darts in and clinches Neck up against the cage.

Vabbutori's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Neck shoots in but Vabbutori avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Vabbutori gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Neck successfully pulls guard.

Neck looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vabbutori content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neck trying to keep a closed guard but Vabbutori is proving a slippery customer.
Vabbutori trying to control but Neck is working from the bottom.

Neck looking for a guillotine here but Vabbutori defends easily.

Neck manages to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pencil Neck dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Vabbutori rushes Neck and presses him up against the cage.
Neck tries for a takedown but Vabbutori manages to get underhooks.
Neck fails to pull guard.
Vabbutori fails to pull guard.
Vabbutori jumps guard but Neck stands there with Vabbutori around his waist. Vabbutori gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Neck tries to pull guard but Vabbutori holds him up against the cage and eventually Neck drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pencil Neck. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Neck avoiding damage as Vabbutori throws knees to the body.
Neck fails to pull guard.

Vabbutori pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Vabbutori fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Neck, pushing him back against the cage.

Vabbutori's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Neck moves in looking to clinch but Vabbutori pushes him off.
Neck looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vabbutori is fending him off so far but Neck persists. Nope, Vabbutori circles away and we're back to standing.
Neck tries a low kick but Vabbutori avoids it.

Vabbutori has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vabbutori blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Vabbutori breaks from the clinch.
Vabbutori avoids the head kick by Neck.
Neck keeps the fight on the outside.
Vabbutori shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Neck but Neck pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vabbutori looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vabbutori connects with a good right hand that stumbles Neck. Neck circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Neck misses with a takedown attempt
and Vabbutori finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Vabbutori shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Neck is trying to defend but Vabbutori finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pencil Neck overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neck looking for submissions off his back.
Well, if Vabbutori is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neck is trying to stand up here but Vabbutori is controlling him well.
Neck wants to get back to full guard.

Vabbutori stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Neck to get to his feet.
Neck showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vabbutori.
Vabbutori tries a head kick but it misses.
Neck shoots for a takedown but Vabbutori saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Neck tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vabbutori swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alberto Vabbutori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vabbutori throws a quick inside leg kick.
Vabbutori lands a jab to the nose.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vabbutori lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Neck wants to clinch.
Neck tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vabbutori swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Neck throws a head kick but Vabbutori moves out of range.
Vabbutori fails with a takedown attempt.
Neck keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Neck shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vabbutori as he jumps to the side.
Vabbutori lets loose with a powerful body kick. Neck will feel that in the morning.

Vabbutori gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Neck tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vabbutori smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neck tries for a takedown but Vabbutori sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Vabbutori shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Neck's guard.
Vabbutori won't allow Neck to sweep him here.
Neck can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vabbutori controls the pace.
Vabbutori pushes down on Neck's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vabbutori in particular looking to stall.
Neck wants to improve his position but Vabbutori is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alberto Vabbutori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vabbutori 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alberto Vabbutori!