PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Talbain (ranked 24431 p4p, 6111 weight class) and Craig Long Lang (ranked 582 p4p, 567 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.

Talbain
vs
Lang

210 cm
25
287
4 - 6 - 0

183 cm
19
225
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jon Talbain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Long Lang!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lang throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Talbain was covering up waiting for the punch and Lang finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Talbain looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Talbain punching to the body, from the bottom.
Talbain tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Talbain is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Lang gets to his feet - Talbain follows without any prompting.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talbain scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lang doesn't seem bothered though.
Lang looks winded!
Lang throws a head kick but Talbain moves out of range.
Talbain cracks Lang with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talbain shoots in but Lang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lang looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Talbain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lang displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Talbain.

Lang drives through with a takedown into Talbain's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Talbain tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lang prevents Talbain from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lang trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Talbain manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Lang really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Talbain. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lang preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Talbain wants to control from the top but Lang keeps moving.
Talbain looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lang is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Talbain wants to control from the top but Lang keeps moving.
Talbain is really struggling to control Lang but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang trying to keep a closed guard but Talbain is proving a slippery customer.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lang keeping moving, preventing Talbain from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Talbain tries to keep at a distance but Lang has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lang is trying to pull guard but Talbain has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Lang pulls guard successfully.
Talbain trying to control but Lang is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lang has his foot on Talbain's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Talbain works his way back into a safe position though.
Talbain controlling from the top position.
Lang keeping moving, preventing Talbain from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Talbain throws a big elbow that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jon Talbain will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lang fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Talbain to the ground. Lang is now in Talbain's guard.

Talbain escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lang gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Talbain working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lang trying to control the position from guard on top but Talbain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lang won't allow Talbain to sweep him here.
Craig Long Lang has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Talbain working for a triangle but Lang defends it easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Talbain is on top in guard.

Talbain trying to control but Lang is working from the bottom.
Talbain trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talbain with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Talbain throwing strikes but missing.
Talbain trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lang's guard.
Talbain looking to sit in guard and control but Lang gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lang must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lang throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Talbain will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Talbain is on top in guard.

Talbain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Talbain throwing strikes but missing.
Talbain wants to control from the top but Lang keeps moving.

Lang looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lang is breathing heavily.
Talbain trying to control but Lang is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Talbain connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lang's hands.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Talbain closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lang circles away.
Lang looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Talbain shoots in for a takedown but Lang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Talbain shoots in looking for a takedown. Lang tries to sprawl out of it but Talbain keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Talbain dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Talbain closes the distance and clinches up with Lang, looking for a takedown. Talbain pushes Lang against the cage but Lang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Talbain wants to clinch

and Lang counters with a takedown into side control.
Lang tries to move to mount but Talbain blocks the move with his legs.
Talbain sneaks back into half guard.
Lang trying to control the action but Talbain is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talbain is pressing down on Lang's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Talbain is trying to keep Lang in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talbain wants to sweep but no luck.
Talbain is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lang won't allow Talbain to sweep him here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Talbain controls Lang momentarily but Lang frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Talbain closes the distance and clinches up with Lang, looking for a takedown. Talbain pushes Lang against the cage but Lang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Talbain motions for Lang to come forward. Talbain throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Talbain darts in and clinches Lang up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lang pulls guard successfully.
Talbain distracts Lang with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Talbain trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lang working a defensive guard here.
Lang keeping moving, preventing Talbain from controlling successfully.
Lang has a closed guard, preventing Talbain from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talbain loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lang looking for a sweep. Not yet Lang, not yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Talbain feints a jab promting Lang to slip. Talbain then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Lang slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Talbain.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Talbain. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Talbain fails with the takedown.
Talbain goes for a double leg but Lang avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lang continues to drive forward.
Talbain is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Lang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talbain misses with a combination

and Lang counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Talbain jumps guard but Lang turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Stalling in the clinch from Lang.
Lang holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Lang's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Talbain is trying to force a seperation but Lang has the dominant position.
Lang avoiding damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lang prevents the takedown attempt.
Craig Long Lang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jon Talbain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lang lands a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Long Lang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Talbain 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 Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Craig Long Lang!