PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Albert Marena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rhasta Vecilla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marena
vs
Vecilla

173 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

171 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Albert Marena!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rhasta Vecilla!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vecilla closes the distance and clinches up with Marena, looking for a takedown. Vecilla pushes Marena against the cage but Marena circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vecilla tried to score with a low kick but Marena checks it.
Vecilla tries to clinch but Marena moves out of range.
Marena stuffs the takedown.
Vecilla throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marena's waist but Marena gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vecilla off to one side.
Albert Marena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rhasta Vecilla.
Vecilla fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marena throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Rhasta Vecilla has been cut.

Marena drives through and clinches with Vecilla against the cage.

Marena breaks from the clinch.

Vecilla closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Marena breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rhasta Vecilla seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vecilla looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Marena manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Vecilla on his heels. He'll look to pass Vecilla's guard now, I'm sure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marena slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Vecilla controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marena trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marena loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marena trying to control but Vecilla is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Vecilla controls Marena momentarily but Marena frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vecilla misses with a takedown attempt

and Marena counters by moving into the clinch.

Marena turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Marena manages to end up in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marena decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Vecilla wants to clinch up but Marena keeps it at a distance.
Marena fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vecilla avoids it really well and circles away.
Marena shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vecilla defends it nicely.

Marena has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vecilla swings wildly with an uppercut but Marena uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marena tries to pull guard but Vecilla forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vecilla must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Marena is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vecilla looking to pass the guard.
Marena managing to control the position.
Marena working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vecilla.
Vecilla trying to control but Marena is working from the bottom.
Vecilla preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Marena controls Vecilla momentarily but Vecilla frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vecilla tries for a takedown but Marena circles away easily
and Marena cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Marena is breathing heavily.
Vecilla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marena is fending him off so far but Vecilla persists. Nope, Marena circles away and we're back to standing.

Vecilla closes the distance and clinches.
Marena is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Vecilla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marena is defending well for now.
Marena stalling the fight.
Vecilla tries to break the clinch but Marena is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vecilla misses with a knee to the head.

Marena has clasped his hands together around Vecilla's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Marena trying to control the position but Vecilla is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Albert Marena dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rhasta Vecilla's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Marena throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Vecilla gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Marena counters with a takedown into side control.
Marena is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vecilla can do to turn this around?
Vecilla prevents Marena from moving into mount.
Marena working away.
Marena slows the pace down.
Vecilla is not content to let Marena control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marena working the head and body with strikes.
Albert Marena overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marena working away.
Vecilla is looking to reverse the position.

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

Marena decides to stand back up.

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.
Vecilla shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Marena sprawls well. Marena wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vecilla gets slowly back to his feet.
Vecilla tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marena swivels and escapes.
Albert Marena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rhasta Vecilla.
Vecilla is breathing heavily.
Vecilla shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Marena makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Albert Marena is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vecilla shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marena as he avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vecilla.

Marena 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.
Marena slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Marena grinds an elbow into Vecilla's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marena taking a breather here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Marena is looking to take a break and control but Vecilla is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marena working the head with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marena tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Albert Marena dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rhasta Vecilla'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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vecilla fails with a takedown attempt.
Vecilla wants to clinch
and Marena counters with a good, hard body kick but Vecilla shrugs it off.
Vecilla is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vecilla misses with a takedown attempt

and Marena counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Vecilla!

Marena stands up and beckons Vecilla to his feet.

Marena looking to score a takedown here. Vecilla is defending well but Marena drives through and ends up in Vecilla's guard.
Marena tries to free his leg and advance position but Vecilla is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vecilla can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Marena controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vecilla takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Marena drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Marena jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Marena sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Marena in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Marena throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vecilla works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marena is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vecilla tries to score a power double leg takedown but Marena sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vecilla somewhat.
Albert Marena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rhasta Vecilla.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marena scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Marena changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vecilla looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Marena tries to advance to mount but can't.
The ground and pound from Marena seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Marena decides to stand up, so the ref orders Vecilla to his feet.

Marena looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marena seems to be working for a kimura but Vecilla defends the submission attempt.

Marena is working for a submission of some sort.
Rhasta Vecilla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Albert Marena is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marena seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vecilla does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Albert Marena showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marena has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:25
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:25
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Albert Marena!