PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Derek Vinyard (ranked 741 p4p, 38 weight class) and Tommy Walcott (ranked 1106 p4p, 74 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vinyard
vs
Walcott

167 cm
28
145 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

170 cm
29
140 lbs
21 - 16 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
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 18 - 10 - 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 21 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tommy Walcott!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vinyard lands the left hand.
Vinyard doesn't manage to clinch there - Walcott circles away.
Walcott slips a straight right by Vinyard.
Walcott wants to clinch up but Vinyard keeps it at a distance.
Walcott checks a leg kick.
Vinyard misses with a low kick as Walcott jumps back.
A head kick misses from Walcott.
Walcott misses with a hook to the body
and Vinyard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Walcott fails to land with a series of punches.
Walcott takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Walcott takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Vinyard tries to keep at a distance but Walcott has taken the fight into the clinch.
Walcott lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Walcott blocks an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Walcott pulls Vinyard into guard.
Vinyard 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinyard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Walcott is keeping the position for now.
Vinyard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walcott controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vinyard looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Walcott misses with a hook. Vinyard ducked under it nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Vinyard on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Vinyard throws a predictable looking body shot
and Walcott counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A swing and a miss from Vinyard.
Walcott bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Vinyard misses the shot to the body.
Walcott displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vinyard throws out the jab.
A shot to the body from Walcott misses
and Vinyard counters with a good low kick that Walcott was not able to check.
Vinyard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Walcott. That did some damage!
Walcott connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard misses with a hook. Walcott ducked under it nicely.
Tommy Walcott seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Walcott has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Walcott there as he acknowledges the shot.
Vinyard misses with a hook
and Walcott counters with a straight right hand.
Vinyard throws a body shot but no joy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Walcott! But no joy.
Walcott jabs at Vinyard's body.
Vinyard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Walcott pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Walcott fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vinyard manages to avoid it.
Walcott lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Walcott shoots in but Vinyard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vinyard's corner calls for a 1-2. Vinyard obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Vinyard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Walcott throws a jab when Vinyard was well out of range.
Walcott uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vinyard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard throws a looping overhand right but Walcott ducks down to avoid it.
Derek Vinyard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vinyard throws a poor cross that misses
letting Walcott counter with a right hand.
A punch combination from Vinyard misses.
Vinyard misses the jab.
Vinyard throws a low kick but it's checked well by Walcott.
Vinyard throws a right hand that misses
and Walcott counters with a slapping leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Walcott.
Vinyard thuds his right hand into Walcott's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Walcott fails with a takedown attempt.
Vinyard throws an off balance right hand
and Vinyard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Walcott uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vinyard.
Walcott does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Walcott slips a jab from Vinyard.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Walcott.
Vinyard is looking to counter punch.
Vinyard cracks Walcott with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
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.

Walcott delivers a nice body kick.
Vinyard will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Walcott lands with a kick to the temple. Vinyard shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Vinyard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Walcott.
Walcott fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Vinyard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Walcott ducks under a wild hook from Vinyard.
Walcott throws out a counter right but Vinyard avoids it with no problem.
Walcott throws a body shot but no joy.
Vinyard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Walcott stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Vinyard throws a right hand that misses
and Walcott counters with a nice uppercut.
Walcott misses with a looping right.
Walcott scores with a body shot.
Vinyard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A low kick from Vinyard misses
and Walcott counters with a nice body kick.
Vinyard thuds his right hand into Walcott's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walcott throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vinyard's waist but Vinyard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Walcott off to one side.
Vinyard lands a lovely overhand right.
Walcott fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Vinyard is out of range.
Derek Vinyard is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walcott throws a head kick that misses.
Vinyard was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A big left from Vinyard misses.
Walcott throws a fast counter high kick but Vinyard manages to duck under it in time.
Vinyard throws a nice inside leg kick.
Vinyard looks to land a left hand but Walcott moved out of range nicely.
Walcott tries a quick counter leg kick but Vinyard is wise to it.
Walcott misses with a right hand
and Vinyard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vinyard throws a jab when Walcott was well out of range.
Vinyard paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Walcott looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vinyard is fending him off so far but Walcott persists. Nope, Vinyard circles away and we're back to standing.
Walcott swings for the body but Vinyard moves out of range.
Walcott buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Vinyard misses with a hook. Walcott ducked under it nicely.
Nice body kick from Vinyard.
Walcott tries to move into range but Vinyard moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Walcott throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vinyard misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vinyard looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Vinyard looks to land a right hand but Walcott moved out of range.
Walcott misses with an uppercut.
Walcott throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Walcott fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vinyard manages to avoid it.
Walcott feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vinyard's calf.
Vinyard connects with a jab.
Vinyard tries to clinch there but Walcott circles away.
Vinyard throws a lazy right hand but Walcott sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Walcott was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Walcott steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vinyard.
Walcott takes one on the button.
A swing and a miss from Vinyard.
Walcott doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Walcott jabs at Vinyard's body.
Vinyard wants to slow Walcott down by chopping away at his legs.
Walcott moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Walcott.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vinyard connects with an inside leg kick.
Vinyard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Walcott fails with the takedown
and Vinyard counters with a stiff right hand.
Derek Vinyard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Walcott.
Vinyard has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Walcott finds it's way round the side to connect with Vinyard's head.
Walcott throws a jab but it's blocked by Vinyard.
Walcott stuns Vinyard with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Vinyard thuds a left hand into Walcott's body.
Vinyard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vinyard throws a shot from downtown. Walcott moves away and avoids it.
Walcott feints the counter takedown.
Vinyard throws a big shot that misses.
Vinyard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Walcott looks to score with a jab to the body but Vinyard is just out of range.
Walcott circles away from the clinch attempt.
It seemed like Walcott was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Walcott shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vinyard as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walcott throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walcott misses with a body shot.
Vinyard throws the left hand but Walcott avoids the punch easily.
Vinyard misses with an uppercut.
Walcott misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vinyard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Walcott.
Vinyard scoring well with a low kick there.
Walcott avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vinyard misses the jab.
Jab, jab by Walcott - just one landing.
Walcott takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vinyard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Walcott.
Walcott misses with a body shot.
Vinyard misses with a low kick.
Walcott takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second 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. This is the final round!

Walcott misses with a kick to the body
and Vinyard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Walcott staying out of range there.
Vinyard looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Vinyard throws the left hand but Walcott avoids the punch easily.
Walcott throws a fast counter high kick but Vinyard manages to duck under it in time.
Walcott misses the shot to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Vinyard on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Walcott staying out of range there.
Walcott is looking to chop away at Vinyard's legs.
Walcott throws a nice inside leg kick.
Vinyard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Walcott manages to avoid it.
Vinyard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Walcott throws an off balance right hand
and Vinyard counters with an inside leg kick.
Walcott's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walcott throws a head kick that misses.
Walcott lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Walcott slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Walcott connects with the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Walcott throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walcott throws a head kick but Vinyard moves out of range.
Walcott lands a high kick!
Walcott uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vinyard.
A big right from Vinyard misses.
Vinyard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Walcott only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Vinyard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vinyard on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Walcott. Walcott obviously looking to wear him down.
Walcott throws a head kick that misses.
Vinyard misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Walcott throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Vinyard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Walcott.
Walcott tries to counter by closing the distance.
A big left from Vinyard misses.
Walcott misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Walcott.
Vinyard swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Vinyard jabs at Walcott's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walcott uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vinyard.
Vinyard wants to land a leg kick but Walcott is out of range.
Walcott just misses with a punch to the body.
Walcott keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vinyard.
Walcott misses with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vinyard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Walcott.
Vinyard throws a good cross that connects.
Walcott blocks the body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vinyard. Walcott does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vinyard has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Walcott.
Walcott looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Walcott fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Walcott tries a head kick but it misses.
Derek Vinyard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Vinyard.
Walcott uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vinyard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard misses with an uppercut. Walcott saw that one coming.
Walcott misses with a hook. Vinyard ducked under it nicely.
Walcott pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vinyard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Walcott.
Vinyard sets himself, and Walcott steps forward looking for the clinch! Vinyard avoids it this time.
Walcott looks to score with a jab to the body but Vinyard is just out of range.
Walcott scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vinyard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Vinyard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Walcott.
Walcott follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Walcott looks to land a body kick but Vinyard moved away.
Walcott misses with a right hand
and Vinyard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Walcott throws a hook but Vinyard avoids it easily.
Walcott lands a nice looking body shot.
Walcott throws a hook to the side of Vinyard's head but Vinyard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Walcott takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Walcott misses with a straight left.
Tommy Walcott has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard throws a big shot that misses.
Walcott throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Walcott takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vinyard looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Vinyard wants to clinch.
Walcott misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice jab there from Vinyard.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vinyard.
Vinyard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Walcott throws out the jab.
Vinyard avoids the body shot from Walcott.
Vinyard chopping away at his opponent's legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tommy Walcott.
I think Vinyard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28

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.