PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zdeno Chara (ranked 3336 p4p, 3481 weight class) and Klaus Tannenbaum (ranked 437 p4p, 446 weight class). Tannenbaum has chosen Andrea Bocelli: O Tannenbaum as his entrance music. 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.

Chara
vs
Tannenbaum

206 cm
23
257
6 - 6 - 0

193 cm
23
245
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Zdeno Chara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Klaus Tannenbaum!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chara tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tannenbaum counters with a two punch combo.

Chara closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tannenbaum's guard.
Chara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tannenbaum trying to control the position here.
Tannenbaum preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Chara wants to control from the top but Tannenbaum keeps moving.
Tannenbaum looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chara is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chara is in close to Tannenbaum's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Chara missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chara throwing strikes but missing.
Chara throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tannenbaum is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Chara in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tannenbaum holds on and takes a little breather.
Chara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chara trying to control but Tannenbaum is working from the bottom.
Chara looking to sit in guard and control but Tannenbaum gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Chara looking for a sweep. Not yet Chara, not yet.
Tannenbaum trying to control the position from guard on top but Chara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chara throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Chara bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tannenbaum's guard.

Tannenbaum is trying to keep Chara in close.
Chara is in close to Tannenbaum's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Chara scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chara accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chara stopping the sweep attempt from Tannenbaum.
Chara working some strikes from top position.
Chara working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tannenbaum's head.
Tannenbaum tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tannenbaum working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chara.
Chara definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Tannenbaum working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tannenbaum throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Chara postures up and lands a big shot to Tannenbaum's brow.
Chara postures up.
Chara throws a big elbow that misses.
Tannenbaum managing to control the position.
Chara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chara preventing the sweep.
Chara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tannenbaum controls Chara momentarily but Chara frees himself.
Chara wants to control from the top but Tannenbaum keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Chara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Chara's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Chara throwing strikes from guard but Tannenbaum blocks nicely.
Chara throwing strikes from guard but Tannenbaum blocks nicely.
Chara trying to control the position from guard on top but Tannenbaum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chara lands a couple of digs.
Tannenbaum keeping moving, preventing Chara from controlling successfully.
Chara cracks Tannenbaum with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chara throwing strikes from guard but Tannenbaum blocks nicely.
Tannenbaum looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zdeno Chara dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Chara has his takedown stuffed
and Tannenbaum counters with a nice uppercut.
Tannenbaum slaps away a takedown attempt from Chara, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Chara moves into the clinch.
Tannenbaum wants to break free but Chara has control.
Chara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tannenbaum.

Tannenbaum's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Chara shoots and misses
and Tannenbaum connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zdeno Chara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tannenbaum throws a head kick but Chara moves out of range.

Chara gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tannenbaum lands a hook to the side of the head.
Chara is looking to take this one to the mat.

Chara has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tannenbaum regains guard immediately.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Tannenbaum manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tannenbaum breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chara has a takedown stuffed.
Tannenbaum throws a head kick but Chara moves out of range.
Chara tries for a takedown but Tannenbaum circles away easily
and Tannenbaum counters with a leg kick.
Tannenbaum lands with a shot to the body.
Tannenbaum moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tannenbaum lands with a good body shot.
Chara fails in his attempt to clinch.
Chara on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Chara throws a right and a left that Tannenbaum avoids nicely.
Klaus Tannenbaum seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Chara tries to clinch there but Tannenbaum circles away.
Chara on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tannenbaum lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tannenbaum keeps the fight on the outside.
Tannenbaum lands with a shot to the body.
Tannenbaum throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tannenbaum darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Chara wants to clinch up but Tannenbaum keeps it at a distance.
Zdeno Chara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danga de danga de dang - Tannenbaum scores with a four punch combination!
Chara fails with a takedown attempt.
Tannenbaum has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Chara is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Chara fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tannenbaum chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice sprawl there from Tannenbaum as Chara shoots in.
Chara doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Tannenbaum.
Tannenbaum has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tannenbaum listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Chara tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tannenbaum defends well and Chara ends up having to push Tannenbaum into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Chara throws a knee to the head but misses.

Tannenbaum pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tannenbaum uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tannenbaum keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tannenbaum with a nice cross.
Tannenbaum ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chara moves away.
Tannenbaum dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Chara gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chara drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Chara misses with a knee strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tannenbaum.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Tannenbaum has had enough of the clinch but Chara keeps him there for the moment.
Chara scores a nice knee to the body.
Tannenbaum is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chara using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tannenbaum has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tannenbaum wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tannenbaum blocks an elbow strike.
Tannenbaum dodges an elbow strike from Chara.
Tannenbaum drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Chara gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tannenbaum tries to break the clinch but Chara is controlling the position.

Tannenbaum's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tannenbaum fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Chara on the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Klaus Tannenbaum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Chara tries to clinch there but Tannenbaum circles away.
Chara shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tannenbaum is looking for the big counter here.
Tannenbaum lands with a nice body punch.
Tannenbaum scores with a hook to the body. Chara takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tannenbaum lands with an overhand left.
Chara takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Chara tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tannenbaum counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tannenbaum is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Chara rather than just go for the knockout.

Chara has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chara with a knee to the head.
Tannenbaum takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tannenbaum is trying to break the clinch but Chara is controlling him.

Tannenbaum manages to break the clinch.

Chara shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tannenbaum is trying to defend but Chara finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chara not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tannenbaum is positioning himself well to prevent Chara advancing to mount.
Chara throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tannenbaum to regain full guard.
Zdeno Chara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chara throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tannenbaum works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chara will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Chara trying to control the position from guard on top but Tannenbaum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tannenbaum is trying to control the position but Chara postures up.
Chara trying to control the position from guard on top but Tannenbaum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chara throws a big elbow that misses.
Chara trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tannenbaum manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tannenbaum slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Chara 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.
Chara lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Chara working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tannenbaum wants to sweep here but Chara controlling him for the moment.
Tannenbaum is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tannenbaum working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chara.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Chara's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Chara missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Tannenbaum pushes Chara off and gets back to his feet.
Chara slips a jab and a cross from Tannenbaum.
Tannenbaum looks to score with a jab to the body but Chara is just out of range.

Chara bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tannenbaum is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Chara tries to score with some ground and pound. Tannenbaum controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chara working away.
Chara is chipping away with strikes.
Chara scores with punches from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tannenbaum on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tannenbaum is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Tannenbaum's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Chara fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Chara misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Chara creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Tannenbaum takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Chara in side control lands a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zdeno Chara.
I think Chara 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Zdeno Chara!
Zdeno Chara very nearly forgot to thank Arcticus University: London amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
Klaus Tannenbaum spoke after the fight, saying 'Scheisse!'.