PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manny Tavares (ranked 702 p4p, 1668 weight class) and Salyn Sarethi (ranked 97 p4p, 216 weight class). Sarethi has chosen Blue Ice as his entrance music. Salyn Sarethi told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Tavares
vs
Sarethi

183 cm
32
185
22 - 12 - 0

187 cm
35
190
24 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Brooklyn Apothecary
NARCOS

NARCOS
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manny Tavares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Salyn Sarethi!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavares looks to throw the jab but Sarethi is out of range.
A big right from Tavares misses.
Sarethi cracks Tavares with an open hand slap.

It looks like Manny Tavares has been cut.
Sarethi throws a big shot that misses.
Tavares misses with a hook
and Sarethi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sarethi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tavares looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sarethi throws the kick towards the body but Tavares avoids it.
Sarethi connects with a solid leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Tavares misses the target.
Sarethi throws a lazy uppercut
and Tavares counters with a stiff right hand.
Sarethi avoids a kick to the body.
Tavares gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Tavares misses with a hook. Sarethi ducked under it nicely.
Tavares ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
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!
Sarethi throws a shot to the body.
A low kick from Tavares misses
and Sarethi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares looks to land a left hand but Sarethi moved out of range nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sarethi! But no joy.
Tavares connects with a nice looking jab.
Sarethi stuns Tavares with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tavares dodges the punch combination from Sarethi.
Sarethi checks a low kick from Tavares.
Sarethi throws a lazy uppercut
and Tavares counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tavares jabs Sarethi right on the nose. Sarethi blinks but takes it well.
Sarethi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sarethi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sarethi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sarethi misses with a hook. Tavares ducked under it nicely.
Sarethi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tavares works over Sarethi's head and body with a nice combination.
Tavares bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sarethi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarethi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tavares throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Sarethi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sarethi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
Manny Tavares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sarethi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavares.
Sarethi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tavares swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As Tavares backs off Sarethi throws a huge counter combo but Tavares manages to avoid it all.
A big left from Sarethi misses.
Sarethi misses with a wild body shot.
Tavares misses with a looping right.
Sarethi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sarethi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sarethi works the jab nicely.
A left lands for Tavares.
Sarethi misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares looks to land a right hand but Sarethi moved out of range.
Sarethi throws a body punch but Tavares moves out of range.
Tavares swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sarethi scores with a jab.
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
A little jabbing left from Sarethi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sarethi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tavares throws an off balance right hand
and Sarethi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sarethi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tavares displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sarethi throws out the jab.
A low kick from Tavares misses
and Sarethi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tavares throws a leg kick which misses Sarethi's front leg but catches the back leg as Sarethi tries to avoid it.
Tavares scores with a leg kick.
Tavares loads up on a big right hand but Sarethi slips the punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sarethi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sarethi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares throws a sloppy body shot
and Sarethi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sarethi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tavares.
Sarethi throws out a powerful jab.
Sarethi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tavares is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sarethi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tavares.
Sarethi moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Tavares misses the target.
Tavares throws a body punch but Sarethi moves out of range.
Sarethi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tavares. Tavares circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Tavares scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavares swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sarethi throws a lazy uppercut
and Tavares connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tavares misses with a hook. Sarethi ducked under it nicely.
Tavares connects with a solid leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Salyn Sarethi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Manny Tavares's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tavares uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sarethi has time to react.
Tavares misses with a looping left.
Sarethi connects with a crisp jab.
Tavares throws an off balance right hand
and Sarethi counters with a body kick that stops Tavares in his tracks momentarily.
Tavares lands a glancing blow to the side of Sarethi's head.
Tavares takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Tavares swings for the body but Sarethi moves out of range.
A low kick from Tavares is predictable there
and Sarethi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sarethi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sarethi misses with an uppercut
and Tavares counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sarethi misses with an uppercut
and Sarethi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A big left from Sarethi misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tavares lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sarethi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sarethi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tavares misses with an uppercut
and Sarethi counters with a left to the body.
Good leg kick by Tavares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares lands a leg kick that knocks Sarethi off balance momentarily.
Sarethi misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Tavares misses the target.
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
Sarethi throws out a counter right but Tavares avoids it with no problem.
Tavares moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sarethi connects with a body shot.
Sarethi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tavares counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tavares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tavares looks to land a left hand but Sarethi moved out of range nicely.
Sarethi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sarethi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sarethi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sarethi lands a nice shot that snaps Tavares's head back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sarethi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tavares.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarethi throws a hook but Tavares blocks it.
Sarethi misses with a lunging right hand
and Sarethi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A big left from Tavares misses.
Sarethi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sarethi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tavares moves away.
Sarethi misses with a looping left.
Sarethi missing with a left hand there. Tavares was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A telegraphed right hand from Sarethi misses the target.
Manny Tavares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tavares throws a series of punches but Sarethi avoids them all with ease.
Tavares misses with a hook.
Nice uppercut there from Sarethi.

Manny Tavares's cut is getting worse.
Tavares misses with a looping left.
Sarethi shapes to counter with a head kick.
Sarethi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sarethi misses with a leg kick
and Tavares counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tavares moves out of range of the strikes.
Tavares misses with an uppercut. Sarethi saw that one coming.
Sarethi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tavares.
Sarethi with a nice cross.
The fighters circling - Tavares throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sarethi lands a head shot.
Jab from Tavares.
Sarethi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tavares fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sarethi.
Tavares swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Sarethi misses the target.
Sarethi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Salyn Sarethi has been cut.
Tavares throws a poor cross that misses
and Sarethi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sarethi connects with a nice looking jab.
Sarethi misses with an uppercut.
Tavares looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tavares keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Sarethi is rocked!
Tavares cracks a nice hook into Sarethi's ribs.
Sarethi is still on wobbly legs! Can Tavares finish him?
Tavares looks to score with a jab to the body but Sarethi is just out of range.
Tavares jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sarethi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sarethi slips under a jab.
Sarethi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tavares scores with a counter punch that sends Sarethi to the canvas! Tavares smells blood - he's punishing Sarethi with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Sarethi has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Manny Tavares!
A victorious Manny Tavares thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.