PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Papi Tantor (ranked 88 p4p, 42 weight class) and Mantak Garuda (ranked 16 p4p, 7 weight class). Tantor kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cyan Kicks - Wish You Well. Garuda comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Djiin Djiin kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tantor
vs
Garuda

198 cm
26
205
15 - 2 - 1

190 cm
31
218
23 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT

Shadow Warrior Nutrition
Core Combat

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 15 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Papi Tantor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mantak Garuda!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garuda throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A jab from Garuda misses.
Tantor walks into a jab.
Garuda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tantor.
Garuda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tantor drops his hands momentarily and Garuda takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Garuda has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Tantor's corner calls for a 1-2. Tantor obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tantor shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tantor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Garuda.
Tantor throws a body punch but Garuda moves out of range.
Tantor throws a poor cross that misses
and Garuda finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Tantor throws out a loose jab but Garuda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garuda slips under a jab from Tantor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tantor throws a head kick but Garuda moves out of range.
Tantor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Tantor misses with a hook. Garuda ducked under it nicely.
A left lands for Garuda.
Tantor tries a low kick but Garuda avoids it.
Tantor throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garuda walks into a left hand.
Garuda throws a lazy body kick
and Tantor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Garuda misses with a looping left.
Tantor swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tantor misses with a leg kick.
Garuda is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Tantor with a body shot.
Tantor throws a body punch but Garuda moves out of range.
Garuda looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tantor throws a lazy right hand but Garuda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Garuda connects with a single shot there.
Tantor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Garuda.
Garuda misses with an uppercut.
Tantor misses the jab.
Tantor walks into a straight right hand from Garuda.
Tantor swats away the attempt to clinch by Garuda.
Tantor throws a body shot but no joy.
Tantor has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Garuda.
Garuda throws a jab when Tantor was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garuda is looking to clinch but Tantor is avoiding it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tantor takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Garuda throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tantor counters with a nice kick to the body.
Tantor fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tantor fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tantor throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Garuda counters with a nice uppercut.

Garuda closes the distance and clinches.
Tantor blocks an uppercut.
Tantor lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tantor misses with some punches.
Garuda swings wildly with an uppercut but Tantor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tantor throws a punch but it's blocked by Garuda.
Nice body punch from Garuda - that landed with a thud.
Garuda blocking some punches.
Garuda throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tantor lands with a right to the head.
Tantor swings wildly with an uppercut but Garuda uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garuda lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tantor blocks an uppercut.
Tantor lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Garuda.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Garuda.
Tantor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Garuda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Garuda throws a punch but it's blocked by Tantor.
Tantor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tantor pushes Garuda back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tantor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Garuda lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Tantor manages to break the clinch.
Tantor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Garuda.
Garuda lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tantor's sensitive parts.
Tantor throws a body punch but Garuda moves out of range.
Garuda stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tantor.
Tantor misses with an uppercut.
Garuda steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garuda misses with a body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tantor misses with a body shot.
Garuda lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tantor's sensitive parts.
Garuda scores with a hook to the body. Tantor takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tantor takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Garuda fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A jab from Tantor misses.
Tantor takes a swing at Garuda's ribcage but misses.
Tantor lands a nice shot that snaps Garuda's head back.
Tantor steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Garuda. That one must have hurt.
Tantor misses with a hook. Garuda ducked under it nicely.
Tantor closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tantor tries to score with a low kick but Garuda moves his leg out of the way.
Tantor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Garuda.
Tantor was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Garuda throws a right hand that misses
and Tantor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A big right from Tantor misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mantak Garuda will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tantor chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Garuda can pounce on him.
A low kick lands for Garuda.
Tantor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Garuda throws a big shot that misses.
Tantor throwing a counter right hand but Garuda manages to avoid it.
Tantor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tantor lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Tantor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tantor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Garuda.
Mantak Garuda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Garuda thows a body kick. Tantor tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Garuda takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A looping hook to the body misses from Garuda. Tantor does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tantor throws a shot from downtown. Garuda moves away and avoids it.
Some bone on bone action there as Garuda checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mantak Garuda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garuda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tantor's hands.
Garuda tries to work over Tantor's front leg with a kick but Tantor checks it.
Garuda darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garuda misses with a looping right.
Jab, jab by Garuda - just one landing.
Tantor throws out a loose jab but Garuda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tantor throws a hook to the side of Garuda's head but Garuda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Good leg kick by Garuda.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Tantor - that will leave a mark!
Garuda cracks a nice hook into Tantor's ribs.
Garuda misses with an uppercut
and Tantor makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Garuda is looking to slow Tantor down with leg kicks.
Tantor misses with a low kick.
Garuda throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Tantor moves out of range of the body kick.
Tantor misses with a shot to the body
and Garuda counters with a low kick, right behind Tantor 's knee.
Garuda gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Tantor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garuda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tantor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Some bone on bone action there as Garuda checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Garuda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tantor will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Garuda throws a big shot that misses.
Tantor blocks a jab.
Tantor swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A jab from Tantor misses.
Garuda avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Garuda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tantor.
Garuda goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Garuda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garuda chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tantor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Garuda misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Tantor misses the target.
Garuda walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor throws a front kick aimed at Garuda's knee but Garuda avoids it well.
Garuda dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tantor. That did some damage!
Garuda pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tantor is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Garuda misses with a body shot.
Garuda swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tantor counters with a stiff right hand.
Garuda checks a leg kick.
Tantor throws a jab when Garuda was well out of range.
The fighters circling - Garuda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A leg kick checked by Tantor.
Tantor misses with a lunging right hand
and Garuda counters with a nice body kick.
Tantor throws a shot from downtown. Garuda moves away and avoids it.
Garuda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tantor checks a leg kick nicely.
Garuda misses with a wild body shot.
Garuda throws a low kick but Tantor moves out of range easily.
Garuda swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tantor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Garuda misses.
Tantor pushes Garuda away with a front kick.
Garuda attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tantor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Garuda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Garuda is looking to chop away at Tantor's legs.
Tantor lands a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garuda throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tantor moves out of range of the strikes.
Tantor misses with a lunging right hand
letting Garuda counter with a right hand.
Garuda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Garuda moves into the clinch successfully.
Tantor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tantor prevents a body shot from Garuda.
Garuda stalls.
A bit of stalling here from Garuda.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mantak Garuda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Garuda lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tantor at a distance.
Tantor scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tantor swings for the body but Garuda moves out of range.
It seemed like Garuda was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tantor connects with a nice looking jab.
Garuda just misses with a punch to the body.
Tantor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garuda lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Tantor misses with a hook
and Garuda counters with a straight right hand.
Tantor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garuda was well out of range. Poor timing from Tantor.
Tantor avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tantor looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Garuda throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tantor on the side of the head.
Garuda throws a half hearted mid kick.
Garuda throws a head kick but Tantor moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Tantor on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garuda lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Decent striking displayed by Garuda there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tantor.
Garuda scores with a decent looking hook.
Tantor throws an overhand right that lands on Garuda's shoulder, as Garuda tries to avoid the shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Garuda.
Garuda misses with a body punch
and Tantor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Garuda takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Garuda has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tantor finds it's way round the side to connect with Garuda's head.
Tantor takes a swing at Garuda's ribcage but misses.
Garuda's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tantor under the eye.
Tantor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garuda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tantor was well out of range. Poor timing from Garuda.
Garuda scores with a jab to the head.
Tantor sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garuda tries to clinch up.
Tantor swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Garuda dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Garuda throws a jab when Tantor was well out of range.
Tantor is looking to counter with a body kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Garuda darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tantor misses with a low kick.
Garuda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tantor.
Garuda tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tantor is able to avoid easily.
Garuda missing with a left hand there. Tantor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Garuda pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A little feinted left hand from Tantor on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Garuda misses with a right hand
and Tantor makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Garuda really felt that one!
Garuda throws out a loose jab but Tantor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tantor is looking to score with low kicks.
Tantor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tantor jabs Garuda to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garuda throws a leg kick but Tantor checks it.
Tantor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tantor appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tantor explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Garuda misses with the body kick
and Tantor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tantor misses with a body kick.
Tantor jabs at Garuda's body.
Tantor misses with a left hand
enabling Garuda to counter with a crisp jab.
Garuda throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tantor counters with an inside leg kick.
Garuda moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tantor looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tantor tried to score with a low kick but Garuda checks it.
Garuda doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Tantor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Garuda.
Tantor is looking to counter punch.
A jab from Tantor misses.
Garuda just misses with a punch to the body.
Garuda misses with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garuda throws a big shot that misses.
Garuda scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tantor in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tantor connects with a nice looking jab.
Tantor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Garuda.
Tantor just misses with a punch to the body.
Garuda misses the jab.
Garuda ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tantor takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Garuda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An inside leg kick from Tantor misses.
Garuda lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Tantor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mantak Garuda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Garuda goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And Tantor counters with a quick kick to the body but Garuda blocks it.
Papi Tantor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tantor takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Garuda throws the left hand but Tantor avoids the punch easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mantak Garuda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Garuda has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mantak Garuda!
An out of breath Mantak Garuda thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.