PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kalib Manozolic (ranked 4703 p4p, 4603 weight class) and Yegor Tamm (ranked 548 p4p, 541 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Manozolic
vs
Tamm

190 cm
25
215
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
21
210
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kalib Manozolic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yegor Tamm!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tamm lands with a good body shot.
Tamm scores with a one two! Manozolic had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Manozolic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tamm appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kalib Manozolic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tamm clinches.

Manozolic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Manozolic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tamm engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Tamm must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Manozolic wants to sweep here but Tamm controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Manozolic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tamm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Manozolic looking for a sweep. Not yet Manozolic, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manozolic is working hard here to advance position.
Manozolic will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Manozolic pulls Tamm in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tamm throws an elbow that misses. Manozolic uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tamm's guard. Nice move by Manozolic!

Tamm pulls Manozolic in close to prevent any damage.
Manozolic throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Manozolic controlling from the top position.
Tamm is striking off his back. Manozolic thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Tamm wants to get back to his feet.

Manozolic decides to stand and escape the position.
A head kick by Manozolic misses
and Tamm counters with a one-two to the body.
Manozolic dives in and grabs Tamm's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tamm pushes down on Manozolic's head and hops out.
Tamm scores with a hook to the body. Manozolic takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A punch combination from Tamm misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamm moves in looking to clinch but Manozolic pushes him off.
Manozolic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tamm as he avoids it easily.
Tamm now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Manozolic leaves Tamm with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tamm connects with the punch.
Manozolic fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalib Manozolic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manozolic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tamm defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manozolic misses with a double jab
and Tamm counters with a left and a right that stings Manozolic.
Manozolic misses with a takedown attempt - Tamm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Manozolic feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Manozolic is breathing heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tamm holds on and takes a little breather.
Tamm keeping moving, preventing Manozolic from controlling successfully.
Tamm is looking to stand up but Manozolic isn't so interested in that idea.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yegor Tamm dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice body punch from Tamm.
Tamm wants to slow Manozolic down by chopping away at his legs.
Horrible takedown attempt by Manozolic or perhaps it was just good defense by Tamm, which made it look bad.
Manozolic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tamm swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tamm misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamm stuffs the takedown.
Tamm throws a series of punches but Manozolic moves out of range.
Manozolic takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tamm misses with a body shot.
Tamm has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manozolic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tamm is fending him off so far but Manozolic persists. Nope, Tamm circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalib Manozolic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manozolic tries to clinch up.
Manozolic wants to clinch up but Tamm keeps it at a distance.
Left hook, right uppercut from Tamm.
A right-left combo lands from Tamm.
A slow jab from Manozolic misses its intended target.
Manozolic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tamm.
Manozolic is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tamm.
Kalib Manozolic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Manozolic scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Tamm bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manozolic throws a push kick but Tamm slaps the foot to one side.
Manozolic misses with a body shot
enabling Tamm to counter with a crisp jab.
Manozolic has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Manozolic there as he acknowledges the shot.
Tamm looks to land a combination but Manozolic avoids it well.
Tamm fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tamm throws a series of strikes that have Manozolic backpedaling.
Manozolic shoots in for a double leg but Tamm sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Manozolic scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tamm tries to buck Manozolic off but Manozolic is having none of it.
Tamm is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manozolic decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tamm to his feet.
Manozolic tries to clinch up but Tamm circles away and keeps his distance.
Tamm is looking for the big counter here.
Manozolic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tamm paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Manozolic closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tamm to the mat! Tamm manages to get full guard.
Manozolic distracts Tamm with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Manozolic stands up and waves to Tamm to follow him.
Tamm doesn't manage to clinch there - Manozolic circles away.
Manozolic moves out of range as Tamm throws a body kick.
Manozolic looks for the body kick but Tamm saw that one coming.
Tamm is looking for the big counter here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamm tries to bum rush Manozolic with a series of wild strikes but Manozolic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tamm scores with a hook to the body. Manozolic takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Tamm has Manozolic up against the cage in a clinch.
Manozolic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Manozolic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tamm smiles and moves away.
Tamm throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tamm tests Manozolic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tamm lands with a nice body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yegor Tamm showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Manozolic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tamm tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manozolic was well out of range. Poor timing from Tamm.
Manozolic wants to clinch
and Tamm counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Manozolic doesn't manage to clinch there - Tamm circles away.
Tamm is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Manozolic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tamm but Tamm pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Manozolic wants to clinch up but Tamm keeps it at a distance.
Tamm misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamm swinging wildly here.
Manozolic drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tamm sprawls and moves away.
Danga de danga de dang - Tamm scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manozolic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tamm is trying to stand.
Tamm is looking to improve his position.
Tamm missing with punches from the bottom.
Tamm avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Manozolic.
Tamm is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Tamm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manozolic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tamm doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Manozolic.
Manozolic is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Tamm tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manozolic content just to control the position here.
Manozolic manages to capitalize on a mistake by Tamm to take his back!
Tamm looking very determined here, making life difficult for Manozolic.

Manozolic working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Tamm is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Manozolic has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Tamm taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kalib Manozolic!