PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Vanpassen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takahiko Mori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Vanpassen
vs
Mori

165 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 Rio de Janeiro, Steve Vanpassen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Takahiko Mori!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanpassen wants to clinch
and Mori cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vanpassen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mori fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vanpassen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vanpassen dodges the punch combination from Mori.
Mori feints a jab promting Vanpassen to slip. Mori then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Vanpassen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Steve Vanpassen has been cut.
Mori misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vanpassen.
Mori is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vanpassen.

Vanpassen moves into the clinch.
Vanpassen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanpassen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mori gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Vanpassen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mori is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Vanpassen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mori blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vanpassen tries to pull guard but Mori forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Vanpassen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mori walks away with a smile on his face. Vanpassen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mori connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Steve Vanpassen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mori will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mori lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mori.
A punch combination from Mori misses.
Vanpassen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mori finds it's way round the side to connect with Vanpassen's head.
Vanpassen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mori sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vanpassen somewhat.
Mori avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mori leaves Vanpassen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vanpassen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mori sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vanpassen somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mori defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vanpassen.
Vanpassen throws a head kick that misses.
Mori jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Mori gets caught napping as Vanpassen dives in and scores a takedown. Mori manages to retain guard.
Vanpassen is breathing heavily.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Vanpassen stops Mori from standing up.
Mori has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mori is looking to stand up but Vanpassen isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanpassen takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Mori is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mori tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mori bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vanpassen's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mori wants to stand and escape but instead Vanpassen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mori 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takahiko Mori dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Vanpassen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vanpassen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mori moves away.
Mori lands a head shot.
Mori scores with a jab to the body.
Mori tries to bum rush Vanpassen with a series of wild strikes but Vanpassen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Horrible takedown by Vanpassen or perhaps it was just good defense by Mori which made him look bad.
Vanpassen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mori tries to avoid it but Vanpassen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mori to the ground. Mori escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vanpassen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vanpassen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mori scores with a jab to the body.
Mori has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mori lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mori throws a series of strikes that have Vanpassen backpedaling.
Mori cracks Vanpassen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mori is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Mori throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vanpassen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mori tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vanpassen was well out of range. Poor timing from Mori.
Mori tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vanpassen was well out of range. Poor timing from Mori.
Vanpassen moves in looking to clinch but Mori pushes him off.
Mori looks to score with a jab to the body but Vanpassen is just out of range.
Takahiko Mori is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vanpassen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mori tries to avoid it but Vanpassen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mori to the ground. Mori escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Vanpassen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mori moves out of range as Vanpassen throws a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanpassen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mori circles away quickly and effectively.
Mori throws a series of punches but Vanpassen moves out of range.
Mori fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mori tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vanpassen was well out of range. Poor timing from Mori.
Mori leaves Vanpassen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vanpassen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mori wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mori is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Vanpassen rather than just go for the knockout.
Vanpassen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mori as he jumps to the side.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanpassen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mori lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Mori moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mori cracks Vanpassen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Steve Vanpassen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mori misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vanpassen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mori circles away.
Mori swings for the body but Vanpassen moves out of range.
Vanpassen takes one to the chin there.
Mori throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanpassen misses with a takedown attempt - Mori sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mori fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vanpassen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Vanpassen avoids the body shot from Mori.
Mori lands with a good body shot.
Mori uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vanpassen.
Mori lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mori scores with a nice right hand.
Vanpassen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takahiko Mori showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Vanpassen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vanpassen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Vanpassen is looking to clinch.
A jab from Mori does it's job there.
A punch combination from Vanpassen misses.
Mori misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vanpassen.
Vanpassen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mori defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vanpassen.
Mori jabs at Vanpassen's body.
Sloppy strikes from Mori. Those never looked like landing.
Mori looks to land a combination. Vanpassen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanpassen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vanpassen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mori.
Vanpassen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mori stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mori wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Vanpassen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vanpassen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Decent striking displayed by Mori there.
Mori takes a swing at Vanpassen's ribcage but misses.
Mori misses with a wild combination.
Mori comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mori digs a good hook to Vanpassen's body.
Vanpassen fails to land with a series of punches.
Mori lands a jab to Vanpassen's midsection.
Mori comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mori keeps the fight on the outside.
Vanpassen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Takahiko Mori is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mori misses the shot to the body.
Mori stalks Vanpassen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Vanpassen's face. Vanpassen staggers backwards, shaken.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mori wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanpassen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mori stuffs the takedown.
Mori digs a good body shot into Vanpassen's ribs.
Vanpassen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vanpassen shoots for a double leg takedown but Mori sprawls well. He's pushed Vanpassen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mori throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mori catches Vanpassen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mori lands with an overhand left.
Mori's jab looks to have found its range, popping Vanpassen under the eye.
Mori scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanpassen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mori takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mori feints a jab promting Vanpassen to slip. Mori then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Vanpassen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Mori scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vanpassen drops his hands momentarily and Mori takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Vanpassen wants to clinch but Mori slips to the side
letting Mori counter with a right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vanpassen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Steve Vanpassen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mori throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vanpassen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takahiko Mori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mori 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight for Takahiko Mori!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Takahiko Mori!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Takahiko Mori!

Takahiko Mori wins by unanimous decision!