PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Derek Vinyard (ranked 1089 p4p, 58 weight class) and Oskar Friman (ranked 1032 p4p, 56 weight class). Oskar Friman has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Derek Vinyard's chin.

Vinyard
vs
Friman

167 cm
27
145 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

170 cm
29
135 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Vinyard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Oskar Friman!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vinyard closes the distance looking to clinch

and Friman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vinyard's guard.
Friman throws an elbow that misses. Vinyard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Friman's guard. Nice move by Vinyard!

Friman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Friman is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Friman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

Vinyard closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vinyard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vinyard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Friman dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Vinyard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vinyard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Friman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vinyard is keeping busy.
A head punch on the inside from Vinyard fails to land.
Friman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vinyard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vinyard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Vinyard misses with a punch on the inside.
Vinyard swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Friman gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Friman throwing strikes but missing.
Friman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Friman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vinyard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Friman with a nice head shot there.
Friman trying to control the position from guard on top but Vinyard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Friman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Friman with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Friman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Friman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Friman working some strikes from top position.
Friman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
My spies in Secret Lab inform me that Friman has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Friman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Friman wants to control from the top but Vinyard keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Friman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vinyard throws a right and a left that Friman avoids nicely.
And Friman tries to counter it with a takedown but Vinyard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Friman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vinyard.
Friman looks for a takedown but Vinyard sprawls well.
Vinyard was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard throws a lazy body kick

and Friman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Friman throws an elbow that misses. Vinyard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Friman's guard. Nice move by Vinyard!

Friman 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.
Friman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vinyard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Friman 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.
Friman keeping moving, preventing Vinyard from controlling successfully.
Vinyard won't allow Friman to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Derek Vinyard will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vinyard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Friman misses with a takedown attempt
and Vinyard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vinyard misses with a hook
and Friman counters with a stiff right hand.
Friman misses with a few strikes there.
Vinyard throws a right hand that misses

and Friman counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Vinyard manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Friman is trying to stall.
Vinyard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vinyard tries to throw a body punch but Friman avoids it by throwing Vinyard back against the cage.
Vinyard scores with a hook to the body.
Friman blocking some punches.
Friman is looking to take this one to the mat.
Vinyard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Friman.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Friman wants to stall.
Friman is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Vinyard has denied him.
Friman tries for a takedown. No joy.
Derek Vinyard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oskar Friman.
Friman avoiding damage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Oskar Friman.
Friman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vinyard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Friman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vinyard was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Vinyard pivots, looking for a leg kick but Friman is out of range and Vinyard settles back down.
Vinyard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vinyard wants it to stay on the feet.
Derek Vinyard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vinyard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vinyard, right into the meat.
Friman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vinyard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Vinyard finds it's target.
Friman has a takedown stuffed.
Vinyard throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Friman counters with a nice uppercut.
Friman misses with a takedown
and Friman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vinyard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vinyard lands a jab to the head.
Vinyard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Vinyard has Friman up against the cage in a clinch.
Friman is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Friman slowing the pace effectively.
Vinyard misses with some punches.
Vinyard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vinyard working aggressively here.
Vinyard prevents the takedown attempt.
Friman stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Vinyard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Friman can do to turn this around?
Friman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vinyard.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vinyard misses with the head strike.
Friman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vinyard is keeping busy.
Stalling in the clinch from Friman.
Friman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Friman is stalling here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Oskar Friman.
Vinyard scores with a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard throws an off balance right hand
and Friman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vinyard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vinyard wants it to stay on the feet.
Vinyard feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Friman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vinyard throws a jab but it's blocked by Friman.
Friman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vinyard.
The fighters circle momentarily. Vinyard darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vinyard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vinyard lands with a nice body punch.
Vinyard takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A left lands for Friman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Vinyard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Friman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Vinyard throws an overhand right that lands on Friman's shoulder, as Friman tries to avoid the shot.
It seemed like Friman was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Vinyard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Friman.
Friman tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Vinyard on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Vinyard fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Friman has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Friman moves into the clinch.
Friman has a couple of punches blocked by Vinyard.
Vinyard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vinyard prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinyard prevents the takedown attempt.
Vinyard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Vinyard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vinyard blocks a body shot from Friman.
Vinyard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinyard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Friman.
Derek Vinyard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oskar Friman.

Friman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Friman closes the distance and clinches up with Vinyard, looking for a takedown. Friman pushes Vinyard against the cage but Vinyard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Vinyard on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Vinyard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Friman doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Vinyard is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Friman moves out of range of the strikes.
Vinyard throws a body punch but Friman moves out of range.
Friman tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Friman ducks under a wild hook from Vinyard.
Friman now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Friman throws a right and a left that Vinyard avoids nicely.
Vinyard connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Friman's hands.
A slow jab from Vinyard misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman slips a jab from Vinyard.
Vinyard lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vinyard throws a hook to the side of Friman's head but Friman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Friman tries a quick counter leg kick but Vinyard is wise to it.
Vinyard misses with a hook

and Friman counters with a shoot takedown. Vinyard fights it but they end up in guard.

Vinyard wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vinyard throws a looping overhand right but Friman ducks down to avoid it.
And Friman tries to counter it with a takedown but Vinyard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Derek Vinyard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Friman slips a straight right by Vinyard.
Friman is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Friman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice uppercut there from Friman.
Derek Vinyard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Friman takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Friman blocks a jab.
Vinyard throws a left and a right that both miss
and Friman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Derek Vinyard is winning the standup battle so far.
Friman throws an overhand right that lands on Vinyard's shoulder, as Vinyard tries to avoid the shot.
Vinyard throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Friman.
Friman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vinyard moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Vinyard throws the left hand but Friman avoids the punch easily.
Oskar Friman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vinyard connects with a right hand. Friman shakes it off.
Vinyard tries to clinch up.
Vinyard throws a right hand that misses
and Friman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friman takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Friman throws a lazy uppercut
and Vinyard counters with a leg kick.
Vinyard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Friman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vinyard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vinyard throws an off balance right hand
letting Friman counter with a right hand.
Friman misses with a hook. Vinyard ducked under it nicely.
Vinyard staying out of range there.
Vinyard bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Friman's head.
Friman with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vinyard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vinyard's jab looks to have found its range, popping Friman under the eye.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Vinyard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vinyard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Vinyard!
Derek Vinyard seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.