PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Vasel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Andok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasel's entrance music is Battle of the Mounds-Basil Poledouris. A fine choice. Andok has chosen "Libre" by Tristania as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vasel
vs
Andok

182 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
183 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Vasel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rodrigo Andok!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasel throws a sloppy body shot
and Andok counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Andok takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vasel comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Vasel misses with a series of wild punches.
Vasel with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vasel scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Andok takes one to the side of the head.
Andok with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vasel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Vasel misses with a right hand

and Andok counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Andok tries for a kimura but Vasel is defending well.
Vasel manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Vasel wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Andok is working away from the top position though.
Andok wants to pass to mount but Vasel is defending the position.

Vasel kicks off Andok and gets to his feet.
Andok moves out of range as Vasel strikes.
Vasel misses with an uppercut.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Vasel, as that shot connected.
Vasel scores with a punch to the head.
Tom Vasel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vasel misses with a left hand

and Andok counters with a shoot takedown. Vasel fights it but they end up in guard.
Vasel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Vasel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Andok wants to control but Vasel is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vasel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Andok doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Vasel.

Vasel seems to be working for a kimura but Andok defends the submission attempt.

Andok looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Andok trying to control but Vasel postures up.

Andok manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Andok moves out of range as Vasel strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Vasel, as that shot connected.
Andok blocks a jab.
Andok ducks under a wild hook from Vasel.
Vasel misses the body punch

and Andok counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasel has Andok pulled in close to control his posture.
Vasel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Andok pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vasel is keeping the position for now.
Vasel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Vasel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Andok gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andok missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vasel is looking to stand up but Andok isn't so interested in that idea.
Andok looking to sit in guard and control but Vasel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Andok working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vasel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vasel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Vasel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Andok looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Andok looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rodrigo Andok will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vasel tests Andok's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slow jab from Vasel misses its intended target.
Vasel connects with a body shot that sends Andok's belly button to the back.
Vasel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Andok misses with a takedown
and Vasel counters with a stiff right hand.
Andok shoots and misses
and Vasel counters with a stiff right hand.
Vasel lands a nice hook to Andok's body. Andok takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Andok is breathing heavily.
Vasel pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Andok back to the cage. Vasel follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Vasel throws a series of punches but Andok moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasel misses with a looping right.
Vasel lands a nice looking body shot.
Vasel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Andok moves away.

Andok shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Vasel tries to roll over but Andok keeps him under control.

Andok is looking for a kimura but Vasel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Andok to get the leverage.
Vasel is trying to stand.
Rodrigo Andok has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vasel works his way to full guard. Good work.

Vasel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Andok is aware though and is defending well.

Andok drops back, looking for a kneebar! Vasel looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Vasel looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Vasel!

Vasel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Andok is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vasel tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Andok is looking for a sweep.
Andok is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vasel remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Vasel tries for a kimura but Andok is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andok is looking for a sweep.

Vasel looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Andok is not content to let Vasel control the position.
Andok gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Andok looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Andok manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vasel has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Andok is proving hard to escape from.

Vasel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Andok has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vasel has managed to get both his arms back between Andok's legs - danger averted.
Andok keeping moving, preventing Vasel from controlling successfully.

Andok looking for a guillotine here but Vasel defends easily.
Vasel stands and throws Andok's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Vasel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Andok has escaped the position, nice work there.

Vasel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Andok is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Vasel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Vasel cracks Andok with a good jab.
Vasel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Andok counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Vasel looking for submissions off his back.

Andok is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vasel is just riding it out for now. Andok eventually gives up the hold.
Vasel is looking to control Andok's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vasel avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andok prevents Vasel from standing back up.

Andok seems to be looking for submissions.
Vasel is staying active underneath Andok, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Andok takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vasel gets full guard.
Andok trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vasel keeping full guard, as Andok tries to pass.
Vasel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Andok is one step ahead there.

Andok is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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.
Vasel wants to get back to his feet but Andok is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Vasel is wriggling around but Andok manages to pass to half guard.
Vasel is looking to escape.
Andok wants to pass the guard but Vasel is defending well.

Andok is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Andok is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andok seems to be looking for submissions.

Andok is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vasel defends it well.
Andok stops Vasel from getting back to his feet.
Andok prevents Vasel from improving his position.

Andok is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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.
Vasel wants to get back to his feet.

Vasel makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Andok bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Andok fails with the takedown
and Vasel makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Vasel scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vasel lands a head shot.
Vasel swings away with a body shot that misses

and Andok counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vasel won't be happy with that.

Andok wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vasel, who protects the arm well.

Andok goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Vasel has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Andok but great work by Vasel.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Andok comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Andok 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Andok!