PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Vegata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ace Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Alter Bridge- Ties that Bind. Antonio Vegata had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Vegata
vs
Popo

175 cm
25
165 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

168 cm
25
158 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Real Fighters Nutrition

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Vegata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ace Popo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vegata drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Popo is looking to reverse the position.
Popo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Popo is being controlled here.

Vegata tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Popo taking punishment in the form of punches.
Popo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Vegata seems to be looking for submissions.
Vegata stops Popo from getting back to his feet.
Popo trying to control here.
Popo wants to improve his position but Vegata is controlling well.
Popo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vegata got a little sloppy there for a moment and Popo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vegata has managed to get both his arms back between Popo's legs - danger averted.
Popo trying to control the position.

Popo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vegata defends well.

Popo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vegata gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vegata trying to control the position from guard on top but Popo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vegata lands a couple of elbows.
Vegata throws a big elbow that misses.
Vegata controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Popo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vegata trying to control the position from guard on top but Popo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vegata trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Popo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vegata is looking to work some ground and pound but Popo has wrist control.
Vegata throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Popo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vegata stands up over Popo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vegata postures up.
Vegata advances position into side control!
Vegata working the ground and pound but Popo is defending the strikes.
Popo tries to bench press Vegata off him but Vegata keeps the position.
Vegata in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Vegata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Popo keeps working.
Popo is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo wants to control but Vegata postures up.
Vegata has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vegata putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Vegata breaks from Popo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Popo is trying to escape the mount.
Vegata raining down shots from the mount!

Vegata looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Vegata raining down hammerfists from mount.
Vegata putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Popo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vegata lands a big shot there that rocks Popo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Vegata with good strikes from the mount here!
Vegata prevents Popo from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vegata putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Popo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vegata working the ground and pound effectively.
Vegata lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Popo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vegata looking to control but Popo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vegata is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Vegata looking to control but Popo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vegata breaks from Popo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Vegata controlling his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Popo is trying to stand.
Vegata has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Popo's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Vegata dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vegata.
Popo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Popo regains half guard.

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

Popo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Popo is looking for a sweep. Vegata is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vegata trying to control from half guard but Popo is working away.
Vegata prevents Popo from improving his position.
Vegata throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vegata prevents Popo from improving his position.
Vegata wants to take a breather but Popo is having none of it.
Vegata seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Vegata not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Popo looking for submissions off his back.
Vegata looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Popo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Vegata throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Popo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vegata controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Popo keeping moving, preventing Vegata from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vegata passes Popo's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Vegata is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Popo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Vegata.
Vegata prevents Popo from improving his position.
Popo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Vegata pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Popo is keeping the position for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Vegata thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Popo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vegata controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Popo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vegata with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vegata throwing strikes from guard but Popo blocks nicely.
Popo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Popo keeping moving, preventing Vegata from controlling successfully.
Vegata scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Vegata avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vegata throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Popo keeping full guard, as Vegata tries to pass.
Vegata wants to control from the top but Popo keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vegata controls the pace.
Vegata throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Popo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Vegata has passed into side control.

Vegata is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Popo looks calm but he's in trouble here. Vegata gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Popo is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Vegata lets go of the hold and Popo can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Antonio Vegata!
Antonio Vegata managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Real Fighters Nutrition, into his post fight interview.