PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Vlay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ravi Raja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marco Vlay has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vlay
vs
Raja

189 cm
20
212 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

190 cm
26
222 lbs
8 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marco Vlay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ravi Raja!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vlay tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No joy there for Raja, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Raja misses with a wild body shot.
Raja scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vlay in his tracks.
Vlay tries to land a front kick but Raja steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Vlay pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Raja shoots in and drives through. Vlay sprawls well.
Vlay throws a leg kick that misses.
Raja avoids the body shot from Vlay.
Raja with a hook.

It looks like Marco Vlay has been cut.
Good work by Raja as he checks the leg kick.
Vlay swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vlay takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Raja shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Raja showed some decent athleticism there.
Vlay is not content to let Raja control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raja drops an elbow to the side of Vlay's head.
Vlay is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raja is looking to take a break and control but Vlay is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vlay trying to control from the bottom.
Raja lands with a punch from half guard.
Raja stalling.
Raja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raja thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vlay slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Raja throwing strikes but missing.
Raja trying to control but Vlay is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Raja looking to sit in guard and control but Vlay gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Vlay wants to pass the guard but Raja is keeping the position.
Vlay passes Raja's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Vlay is working for a submission of some sort.
Raja tries to roll over but Vlay keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ravi Raja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marco Vlay's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vlay swings away with a body shot that misses
and Raja counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Raja avoids a kick to the body.
Vlay misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vlay misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vlay scores with a head kick.

It looks like Ravi Raja has been cut.
Raja uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vlay.
Vlay buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Vlay connects with a solid leg kick.
Vlay avoids a punch combination nicely.

A big head kick from Vlay and Raja is sent sprawling to the canvas!

Raja is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raja keeping moving, preventing Vlay from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vlay wants to pass the guard but Raja is keeping the position.
Vlay is looking to work some ground and pound but Raja has wrist control.
Vlay throws a strike but Raja rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Raja must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Raja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vlay swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vlay is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Raja is controlling him.
Raja trying to control but Vlay is working from the bottom.
Vlay working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raja throws a strike but Vlay rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Vlay trying to control but Raja is working from the bottom.
Raja working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vlay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vlay wants to stand but Raja has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Vlay drops back, looking for a kneebar! Raja looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Raja looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Raja!
Vlay dodges the ground and pound from Raja.
Raja misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Raja in side control, throwing shots but Vlay defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Vlay dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Raja gets a takedown into half guard.
Raja trying to control from half guard but Vlay is working away.
Raja lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Raja throwing shots but Vlay is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vlay trying to hold on to Raja's head to control him but Raja postures up.
Vlay blocking the ground and pound attempt from Raja.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Raja throwing shots but Vlay is blocking nicely.
Raja sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vlay defending well though.
Vlay is staying active underneath Raja, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vlay trying to control but Raja postures up.
Raja thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vlay keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Raja is looking to advance position but Vlay won't allow it.
Vlay keeping control of the position.
Raja with the ground and pound but Vlay uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's four 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.
Raja looking to pass the guard.
Vlay controlling the position.
Raja wants to pass the guard but Vlay is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Vlay working for a triangle but Raja defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ravi Raja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Raja has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ravi Raja!