PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Uriel Tartarus (ranked 3062 p4p, 2496 weight class) and Akira Kaburagi (ranked 381 p4p, 327 weight class). Uriel Tartarus has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tartarus
vs
Kaburagi

181 cm
17
160
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
20
165
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Uriel Tartarus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Akira Kaburagi!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tartarus throws a nice looking combination but Kaburagi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kaburagi! But no joy.
Kaburagi misses with a right hand
and Tartarus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tartarus's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kaburagi under the eye.
Tartarus scores with a punch to the head.
Tartarus misses with a wild body shot.
And Kaburagi tries to counter it with a takedown but Tartarus pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kaburagi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kaburagi is defended easily by Tartarus.
Tartarus is looking for a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tartarus scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kaburagi doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaburagi connects with a crisp jab.
Kaburagi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tartarus.
Uriel Tartarus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kaburagi throws a body kick that misses.
Kaburagi 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.
Tartarus misses with a leg kick

and Kaburagi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tartarus!

Kaburagi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tartarus has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kaburagi tries to move to mount but Tartarus blocks the move with his legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The strikes coming from Kaburagi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tartarus is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Tartarus is not content to let Kaburagi control the position.
Kaburagi throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Tartarus works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Tartarus knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kaburagi on the ground.
Kaburagi not doing much here.
Kaburagi prevents Tartarus from standing back up.
Kaburagi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tartarus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
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.

Kaburagi wants to work for an arm triangle but Tartarus is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tartarus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kaburagi is working away from the top position though.
Tartarus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kaburagi trying to mount his opponent but Tartarus defends it.
Tartarus is positioning himself well to prevent Kaburagi advancing to mount.
Kaburagi trying to control the action but Tartarus is working from the bottom.
Tartarus is trying to stand up here but Kaburagi is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kaburagi wants to take a breather but Tartarus is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tartarus takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tartarus doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kaburagi swats away the attempt to clinch by Tartarus.
Tartarus throws a hook but Kaburagi blocks it.
Kaburagi misses with a hook.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tartarus throws a sloppy body shot

and Kaburagi counters with a single leg into guard. Tartarus didn't expect that.
Kaburagi tries to free his leg and advance position but Tartarus is retaining full guard.
Tartarus can't keep his opponent in guard - Kaburagi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
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 Uriel Tartarus will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tartarus ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kaburagi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tartarus circles away quickly and effectively.
Kaburagi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tartarus. Kaburagi shrugs it off though.
Decent striking displayed by Kaburagi there.
Kaburagi darts in looking for a takedown but Tartarus gets double underhooks and turns Kaburagi into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaburagi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tartarus can pounce on him.
Tartarus moves out of range as Kaburagi strikes.
Tartarus lands a jab to Kaburagi's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tartarus scores with a jab to the jaw.
Tartarus is looking to clinch but Kaburagi is avoiding it.
Tartarus misses with a wild body shot.
Kaburagi tries to counter with a clinch but Tartarus shakes him off and moves away.
Donk. Tartarus catches Kaburagi right on the button with a cross.
Tartarus lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Tartarus looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaburagi is just out of range.
Kaburagi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tartarus thows a leg kick but Kaburagi checks it

so Kaburagi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Tartarus pushes Kaburagi off and scrambles back to his feet.
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!
Kaburagi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tartarus to score with a decent uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaburagi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Tartarus manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Kaburagi keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Tartarus lands with a short shot to the head.
Tartarus lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kaburagi has Tartarus pressed against the cage, preventing Tartarus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tartarus misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tartarus struggles to land a body shot inside as Kaburagi controls his hands.
Tartarus has a couple of punches blocked by Kaburagi.
Kaburagi wants a takedown.
Tartarus tries to work over Kaburagi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kaburagi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tartarus fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Uriel Tartarus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Kaburagi.
Tartarus cracks Kaburagi with a good jab.
Tartarus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kaburagi can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tartarus misses with a kick to the body.
Tartarus misses with a body punch

and Kaburagi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kaburagi.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kaburagi as Tartarus tries to tie him up.

Kaburagi has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Tartarus is trying to keep an underhook but Kaburagi manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Tartarus is staying active underneath Kaburagi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tartarus wants to get back to his feet.
Kaburagi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tartarus on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tartarus tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tartarus is staying active underneath Kaburagi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tartarus wants to improve his position but Kaburagi is controlling well.
Kaburagi controlling the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kaburagi swings for the body but Tartarus moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Uriel Tartarus dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kaburagi moves in looking to clinch but Tartarus pushes him off.
A little feinted left hand from Tartarus on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kaburagi avoids the body shot from Tartarus.
Kaburagi has his takedown stuffed
and Tartarus counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kaburagi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tartarus.
Tartarus scores with a hook to the body. Kaburagi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tartarus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kaburagi manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tartarus lands a jab to the nose.
Tartarus looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaburagi is just out of range.
Kaburagi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tartarus counters with a low kick, right behind Kaburagi 's knee.
Tartarus is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaburagi misses with a hook
and Tartarus counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kaburagi misses with a leg kick
and Tartarus counters with a nice leg kick.
Tartarus is looking to wear down Kaburagi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kaburagi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Uriel Tartarus is winning the standup battle so far.
Kaburagi keeps the fight on the outside.
Kaburagi catches Tartarus with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tartarus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tartarus misses with a wild body shot.
Kaburagi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tartarus defends it well.
Tartarus lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kaburagi backs up against the cage.
Tartarus walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kaburagi misses with a takedown attempt
letting Tartarus counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tartarus throws a lazy uppercut

and Kaburagi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tartarus!
Tartarus is trying to escape the position but Kaburagi is controlling the position.
Kaburagi working away.
Tartarus sneaks back into half guard.
Tartarus won't allow Kaburagi to pass to mount.
Tartarus is staying active underneath Kaburagi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kaburagi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tartarus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kaburagi trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaburagi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tartarus trying to control from the bottom.
Tartarus tries to kick Kaburagi off but Kaburagi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Uriel Tartarus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kaburagi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tartarus is looking to control Kaburagi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tartarus avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kaburagi defending well as Tartarus loads up on a big left hand.
Tartarus looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Akira Kaburagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tartarus throws a body punch but Kaburagi moves out of range.
Kaburagi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kaburagi cracks Tartarus with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kaburagi lands a jab to the nose.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tartarus.
Kaburagi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tartarus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheers as Kaburagi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tartarus doesn't seem phased though.
It looks like Tartarus has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Tartarus defending well as Kaburagi loads up on a big left hand.
Kaburagi misses with a jab to the body
and Tartarus counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Tartarus moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tartarus throws a leg kick which misses Kaburagi's front leg but catches the back leg as Kaburagi tries to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uriel Tartarus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tartarus, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:28

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