PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nata Lie (ranked 3618 p4p, 16689 weight class) and Vladimir Tarlac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tarlac is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Nobody Knows- The Tony RIch Project. 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.

Lie
vs
Tarlac

188 cm
25
195
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
43
195
25 - 23 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nata Lie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Tarlac!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lie swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tarlac takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lie works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lie avoids the body shot from Tarlac.

Lie clinches.
Lie lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lie tries a body shot but Tarlac blocks it.
Lie prevents a body shot from Tarlac.
A head punch on the inside from Tarlac fails to land.
Lie blocking some punches.
Lie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tarlac's elbow.
Lie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lie lands a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarlac working aggressively here.
Lie throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tarlacs head.
Lie definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Lie lands a shoulder strike.
Tarlac pushes Lie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tarlac blocks an uppercut.
Lie lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tarlac backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlac misses with the head strike.
Lie prevents a body shot from Tarlac.
Lie tries a body shot but Tarlac blocks it.
Lie misses with a body punch.
Lie misses with a punch on the inside.
A short left from Lie.
Tarlac tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tarlac blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Lie fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Tarlac fails to land.
Tarlac misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lie misses with a punch on the inside.

Lie jumps guard and drags Tarlac to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Lie being controlled here, momentarily.
Lie working a defensive guard but Tarlac passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarlac prevents Lie from improving his position.
Tarlac slows the pace down in half guard.
Tarlac passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarlac takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Tarlac controlling the pace for now.
Lie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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.
Tarlac controlling from mount.
Lie tries to lock up and control but Tarlac gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lie swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Lie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tarlac sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lie working to try and regain half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nata Lie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lie on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lie.
Lie moves to clinch but Tarlac breaks away
and Tarlac counters with a slapping leg kick.
Tarlac throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lie is looking to counter the offense by Tarlac and move into the clinch.
Tarlac misses with the combination.

Lie gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tarlac wants to get back to striking at distance but Lie won't allow it.
Tarlac throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tarlac to keep the fight standing.
Lie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tarlac tries a body shot but Lie blocks it.
Lie tries to stall but Tarlac uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lie tries to throw a body punch but Tarlac avoids it by throwing Lie back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlac throws a punch but it's blocked by Lie.
Tarlac working aggressively here.

Tarlac breaks the clinch.

Tarlac has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tarlac lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lie backwards.
Tarlac scores with a hook to the body.
Tarlac misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Lie.
Tarlac misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lie.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tarlac creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Lie scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tarlac fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Tarlac.
Lie misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lie.
Tarlac lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
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!
Tarlac blocking some punches.
Lie misses with the head strike.
Lie working aggressively here.
Lie misses with some punches.
Lie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tarlac is stalling here.
Tarlac blocking some punches.
Tarlac lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lie.
Lie struggles to land a body shot inside as Tarlac controls his hands.
Tarlac misses with a body punch.
Lie lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tarlac backwards.
Lie struggles to land a body shot inside as Tarlac controls his hands.
Lie lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tarlac backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lie can't find room to land a body shot as Tarlac controls the action.
Lie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lie blocking some punches.
Lie can't find room to land a body shot as Tarlac controls the action.
Tarlac dodges an elbow strike from Lie.
Tarlac blocks a body shot from Lie.
A right hand to the body from Lie.
Tarlac lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nata Lie has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lie digs a right hand underneath Tarlac's ribcage. Tarlac let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Tarlac fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Lie manages to break the clinch.
Lie tries to clinch up but Tarlac circles away and keeps his distance.
Tarlac misses with a few strikes there.
Vladimir Tarlac is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lie tries to clinch up.
Lie lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lie scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Tarlac throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
An attempted straight right counter from Lie misses the target.
Tarlac is breathing heavily.
A big left from Tarlac misses.

Lie moves into the clinch successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lie.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lie.
Tarlac blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A hook to the body from Tarlac.
Tarlac is working Lie over against the cage.
Tarlac misses with a body punch.
Lie lands a shoulder strike.
Tarlac working aggressively here.
Tarlac tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lie's elbow.
Lie tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tarlac misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tarlac is trying to break the clinch but Lie has him pressed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nata Lie will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tarlac avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vladimir Tarlac seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tarlac pivots, looking for a leg kick but Lie is out of range and Tarlac settles back down.
Lie moves in looking to clinch but Tarlac pushes him off.

Lie closes the distance and pushes Tarlac back into the cage.

Lie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tarlac closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lie misses with a punch on the inside.
Tarlac misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tarlac prevents a body shot from Lie.

Lie manages to break the clinch.
Lie tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarlac is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lie.

Tarlac moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lie.
Tarlac lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lie backwards.
Tarlac blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tarlac misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlac lands a left hand.
Lie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tarlac blocks a body shot from Lie.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lie creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lie throws a punch but it's blocked by Tarlac.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tarlac.
Tarlac lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lie backwards.
Lie has a couple of punches blocked by Tarlac.
Tarlac tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lie is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Tarlac escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vladimir Tarlac is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lie wants to clinch.
Tarlac will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Lie rushes Tarlac and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lie lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lie misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lie.
Tarlac lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lie lands with a light punch inside.
Lie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vladimir Tarlac has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right hook to the body lands for Tarlac.
Lie throws a punch but it's blocked by Tarlac.
Tarlac scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tarlac.
Lie lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lie lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tarlac blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarlac scores with a shot to the side of Lie's head.
Tarlac working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Tarlac.
Tarlac stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tarlac lands a nice shot to the body.
Lie tries to break the clinch but Tarlac is controlling the position.
Lie is trying to push Tarlac away but Tarlac has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nata Lie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tarlac has a couple of punches blocked by Lie.
Tarlac swings wildly with an uppercut but Lie uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tarlac escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Tarlac does no damage.

Tarlac gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tarlac pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lie tries to clinch up but Tarlac circles away and keeps his distance.
Tarlac fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lie tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tarlac manages to circle out of the way.
Tarlac throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lie.
Lie lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lie doesn't manage to clinch there - Tarlac circles away.
A punch combination from Tarlac misses.
Tarlac throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tarlac drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tarlac scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lie doesn't seem bothered though.
Lie takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Lie moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Tarlac comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lie 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vladimir Tarlac!
After winning the bout, Vladimir Tarlac thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.