PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Julio Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JR Powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Powell is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sound of Madness. JR Powell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Vasquez
vs
Powell

177 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julio Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, JR Powell!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Powell's head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vasquez moves in looking to clinch but Powell pushes him off.
Vasquez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Vasquez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Julio Vasquez has been cut.
Vasquez moves in looking to clinch but Powell pushes him off.
Vasquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Julio Vasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Powell takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Vasquez wants to clinch.
Powell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Powell fails to land with a series of punches.
Powell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vasquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Powell takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Powell has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Vasquez.
Vasquez sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Powell to the ground! Vasquez dives into full mount looking to finish!

Powell is rocked!
Powell gets back to half guard.
Powell is still in real trouble! Can Vasquez finish him?

Vasquez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Vasquez moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Powell.
Powell looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez trying to control the position but Powell is working away.
Powell seems to have recovered his senses.
Powell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Powell actively working from the bottom here.
Powell tries to roll over but Vasquez keeps him under control.

Powell kicks Vasquez off and gets back to his feet.
Vasquez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Powell shoots in and bounces Vasquez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Powell has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vasquez is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Powell gets to his feet - Vasquez follows without any prompting.
Powell tries to close the distance and clinch but Vasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Powell feints and as Vasquez raises his hands in defense, Powell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Powell gets to his feet. Vasquez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Powell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vasquez sprawls well initially but Powell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vasquez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Powell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Powell looking to pass the guard.
Vasquez trying to control the position.

Vasquez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vasquez tries to clinch but Powell moves out of range.
Powell falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vasquez counters with a straight right hand.
Jab by Vasquez.
Vasquez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Powell clinches.
Vasquez landing knees to the head.
Vasquez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Powell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vasquez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Powell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vasquez prevents it.
Vasquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Powell.
Vasquez lands a knee to the body.
Vasquez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vasquez working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell wants a takedown but no success here.
Julio Vasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JR Powell.
Vasquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Powell is trying to break the clinch but Vasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Vasquez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vasquez lands a right hand.

Vasquez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Powell is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Vasquez to the mat. Vasquez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Powell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vasquez misses with an uppercut. Powell saw that one coming.
Vasquez throws a nice head kick!
Powell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vasquez swivels and escapes.
Vasquez connects with a single shot there.
Vasquez throws a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Powell decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Vasquez actively working from the bottom here.
Vasquez taking some punishment here, with Powell in his half guard.

Powell decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Powell.
Powell lands a nice forearm strike.
Vasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JR Powell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Julio Vasquez's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vasquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vasquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Powell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vasquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Powell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vasquez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Powell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Powell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vasquez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Good body shot from Vasquez.
Powell is working for takedown but Vasquez is calmly controlling the position for now.
A nice left hand lands by Vasquez.
Vasquez connects with a knee to the head.
Powell tries to pull guard but Vasquez holds him up against the cage and eventually Powell drops back down to his feet.
Vasquez stops a takedown attempt from Powell.
Julio Vasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JR Powell.
Powell tries for a takedown but Vasquez manages to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Powell.

Powell gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Vasquez regains guard.
Powell thows a big elbow that misses.
Powell postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Vasquez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Powell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Powell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
JR Powell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Powell advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Powell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vasquez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powell tries to move to mount but Vasquez blocks the move with his legs.
Vasquez taking punishment in the form of punches.

Powell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Powell tries for a kimura but Vasquez is defending well.
Powell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vasquez keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Powell swings around for an armbar but Vasquez sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Powell's guard.

Powell kicks Vasquez off and gets to his feet.
A jab from Vasquez finds it's way through Powell's defenses.
Vasquez throws a head kick that misses.
Powell chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vasquez can pounce on him.
Vasquez throws a sloppy head kick and Powell moves out of range easily.
Vasquez goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Good leg kick by Vasquez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Vasquez misses the shot to the body.
Vasquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Powell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Powell drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

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

Vasquez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell wants to get back to his feet.
Powell is not content to let Vasquez control the position.
Vasquez prevents Powell from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice body kick there by Vasquez.

That's four 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.
Vasquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vasquez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Powell drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Powell walks forward, straight into a front kick from Vasquez.
Vasquez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Powell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Vasquez's guard now.
Powell advances to half guard.

Powell is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Powell working the head and body with strikes.

Powell is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Powell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vasquez's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JR Powell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Julio Vasquez's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Powell takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Vasquez throws a leg kick which misses Powell's front leg but catches the back leg as Powell tries to avoid it.
Powell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vasquez closes the distance but Powell moves to the side

and Powell counters with a takedown into side control.

Powell decides to stand back up. Powell steps back and let's Vasquez get back to his feet.
Vasquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Powell slips a jab from Vasquez.
Powell keeps the fight on the outside.

Powell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
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!
Powell works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Powell stands up out of the half guard.
Vasquez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Vasquez drops Powell with a right and a left! Vasquez comes rushing in but Powell regains his composure and manages to keep Vasquez in guard.

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

Powell throws his legs up looking for a submission but Vasquez uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell tries to bench press Vasquez off him but Vasquez keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powell pushes Vasquez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Vasquez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Powell gets back to half guard.
Powell flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Vasquez works his foot free and advances to mount.
Powell tries to reverse the position but Vasquez maintains control.
Powell bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Powell stands up and waves to Vasquez to follow him.
Vasquez fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez thows a body shot but no joy.

Powell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Vasquez wants to sweep here but Powell controlling him for the moment.
Powell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Powell tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasquez is retaining full guard.
Powell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Powell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Powell gets to his feet - Vasquez follows without any prompting.
Powell takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Vasquez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Vasquez is looking to clinch but Powell is avoiding it.
Julio Vasquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vasquez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Powell.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vasquez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Powell feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Powell slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell working the body and head with strikes.
Vasquez struggling a bit here.
Powell has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Powell lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Vasquez tries to hold on but Powell postures up.

Powell looking to secure an arm triangle but Vasquez defends it well.
Powell lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Powell moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Vasquez has worked his arm free - good work by Vasquez!
Vasquez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Powell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vasquez stopping the sweep attempt from Powell.

Powell looking for a guillotine here but Vasquez defends easily.
Julio Vasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vasquez passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
JR Powell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Powell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JR Powell!