PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thad Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Casper Vanderhose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Ortiz
vs
Vanderhose

201 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thad Ortiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Casper Vanderhose!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Darius Henderson and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortiz looks for the body kick but Vanderhose saw that one coming.
Vanderhose counters with a body kick.

Vanderhose closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ortiz did well to prevent Vanderhose getting side control.
Ortiz wants to get back to his feet.
Ortiz is holding on to half guard well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vanderhose slips a nice elbow through Ortiz's hands, connecting with Ortiz's forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortiz is trying to control but can't.
Vanderhose performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ortiz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vanderhose is thwarting Ortiz's attempts to control the position.
Ortiz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vanderhose.
Vanderhose controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Casper Vanderhose seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ortiz throws a low kick, looking for Vanderhose's leg but Vanderhose calmly moves out of range.
Vanderhose shapes to counter with a head kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Vanderhose bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ortiz is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Vanderhose looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ortiz is avoiding damage well.
Ortiz is trying to get back to half guard.
Ortiz trying to remain calm as Vanderhose controls from the top position.
Vanderhose creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ortiz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Vanderhose just content to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Vanderhose seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ortiz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ortiz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vanderhose uses his free foot to push down on Ortiz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ortiz.
Ortiz is working to get back to half guard.
Ortiz is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanderhose controlling the pace for now.
Vanderhose looking to control but Ortiz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ortiz is trying to stand.
Vanderhose has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ortiz's face.
Vanderhose working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Ortiz slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Vanderhose takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Vanderhose moves nicely into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vanderhose in side control, throwing shots but Ortiz defends.

Vanderhose goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ortiz rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Vanderhose's guard! Nice work there by Ortiz!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casper Vanderhose dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vanderhose scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ortiz sneaks back into half guard.
Ortiz is in trouble now - Vanderhose has advanced to mount!
Ortiz tries to lock up and control but Vanderhose gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vanderhose controlling from mount.
Casper Vanderhose has got the better of the ground game so far.

Vanderhose looking for a guillotine from mount but Ortiz is having none of it.
Vanderhose controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ortiz is trying to stand up.
Ortiz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vanderhose sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vanderhose trying to control but Ortiz is having none of it.
Vanderhose thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Vanderhose controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanderhose throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Vanderhose controlling his opponent.
Ortiz regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz is not content to let Vanderhose control the position.

Ortiz is defending against the submission attempts here by Vanderhose.
Ortiz gets back to full guard.
Vanderhose engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Ortiz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vanderhose is aware though and is defending well.

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.
Ortiz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ortiz being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Vanderhose must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ortiz trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ortiz has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Vanderhose shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ortiz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vanderhose controlling the position.
Ortiz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Vanderhose is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casper Vanderhose showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Vanderhose shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Vanderhose throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vanderhose is controlling the pace.
Ortiz tries to get to full guard but Vanderhose has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortiz wants to control but Vanderhose is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanderhose content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Vanderhose has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ortiz is trying to control but Vanderhose manages to pass to mount!
Vanderhose throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Ortiz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ortiz is squirming around, avoiding Vanderhose's attempts to control the action.
Vanderhose controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Vanderhose has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Vanderhose can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ortiz is looking to escape.
Ortiz regains half guard.
Vanderhose is looking to take a break and control but Ortiz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vanderhose perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ortiz is looking for a sweep. Vanderhose is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz is refusing to be controlled, as Vanderhose sits in half guard.
Ortiz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ortiz wants to get back to full guard but Vanderhose has mounted him!
Vanderhose controlling the pace for now.
Ortiz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Vanderhose content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanderhose tries to control but Ortiz wriggling away.
Vanderhose tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ortiz tries to hold on but Vanderhose pushes him away.
Ortiz holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Vanderhose tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Vanderhose controlling from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vanderhose trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thad Ortiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Casper Vanderhose is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vanderhose scoring with strikes but Ortiz is staying in there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Casper Vanderhose comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vanderhose 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Casper Vanderhose!
A relieved looking Casper Vanderhose thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.