PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Cold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Vargas
vs
Cold

180 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Vargas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sam Cold!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cold looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Vargas!
Cold prevents Vargas from getting the reversal.
Cold trying to control but Vargas is having none of it.
Vargas is looking to get to half guard.
Cold can't control as he wanted to and Vargas manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Vargas is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cold slips a nice elbow through Vargas's hands, connecting with Vargas's forehead.
Vargas trying to hold on to Cold's head to control him but Cold postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cold is looking for a kimura but Vargas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cold to get the leverage.
Vargas gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vargas wants to sweep but no luck.
Cold pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vargas is keeping the position for now.

Cold decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Vargas, up you get!
Cold leaves Vargas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Cold closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vargas is staying active underneath Cold, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cold stops Vargas from getting back to his feet.
Vargas could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Vargas is trying to maintain the position but Cold is very close to passing his half guard.
Cold looks to land a strike but Vargas avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vargas looking to control but Cold passes into half guard.
Cold content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cold throwing shots but Vargas is blocking nicely.
Cold is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Cold slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cold really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vargas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The strikes coming from Cold are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cold happy to just control the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cold trying to control the action but Vargas is working from the bottom.
Cold scores with a couple of short elbows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vargas is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Vargas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cold stopping the sweep attempt from Vargas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Cold dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vargas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cold sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cold swats away the attempt to clinch by Vargas.
Cold throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Cold closes the distance and clinches.
Cold gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vargas.
Vargas is trying to maintain a safe position but Cold gets an underhook and turns Vargas into the cage.

Cold gets control of Vargas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cold will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Vargas trying to control but Cold is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cold throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Cold keeping full guard, as Vargas tries to pass.
Cold looking to control.

Cold looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vargas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Cold is trying to get back to full guard.
Cold is breathing heavily.

Vargas is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cold has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cold wants to control but Vargas is keeping busy.
Cold might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Vargas kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Vargas works his way into full mount!
Cold really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sam Cold has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vargas wants to control the pace but Cold is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas lands with some strikes.
Vargas takes Cold's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Cold is in trouble.

Vargas is persistently looking for the submission but Cold is defending it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vargas misses with an elbow to the head.
Vargas trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cold is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Vargas biding his time, looking for the opening.
Cold tries to break free.
Vargas not allowing Cold to control his hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cold looking very determined here, making life difficult for Vargas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Vargas dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cold forces Vargas back against the cage and clinches.

Vargas jumps into guard, dragging Cold to the mat.
Cold advances to half guard.
Vargas is refusing to be controlled, as Cold sits in half guard.
Cold with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cold missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cold wants to pass to mount but Vargas is defending the position.
Vargas is looking to control Cold's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vargas avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cold is looking for a kimura but Vargas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cold to get the leverage.
Cold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vargas wants to improve his position but Cold is controlling well.
Cold is trying to control the action in half guard but Vargas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Cold gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vargas.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cold.
Cold looking to control but instead Vargas has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vargas is pressing down on Cold's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Vargas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cold can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vargas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vargas performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cold looking for a kimura from the bottom but Vargas passes into side control!
Cold tries to bench press Vargas off him but Vargas keeps the position.

Vargas tries for a kimura but Cold is defending well.

Vargas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cold is not content to let Vargas control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vargas 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.
Cold is looking to reverse the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vargas trying to control the action but Cold is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fernando Vargas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vargas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fernando Vargas!