PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roger Tivits (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitri Tarasov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Tivits
vs
Tarasov

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 Sydney, Roger Tivits!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dmitri Tarasov!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Tivits with that takedown attempt.
Tarasov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tivits moves in looking to clinch but Tarasov pushes him off.
Tivits defending well as Tarasov loads up on a big left hand.
Tarasov has a takedown stuffed.
Tivits shoots and misses

so Tarasov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Tivits. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tivits wants to sweep but no luck.
Tivits trying to control the position.
Tarasov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tivits is keeping the position for now.
Tivits working a defensive guard here.
Tarasov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tivits not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tarasov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tivits is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tarasov looks gassed!

Tivits looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tarasov passes into side control.
Tarasov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Tarasov grinds an elbow into Tivits's temple.
Tivits is looking to reverse the position.
Tarasov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tivits is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tarasov cracks Tivits with an elbow. That is naaassty.
You can see the frustration on Tivits's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tarasov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Tivits is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Tivits's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Danga de danga de dang - Tivits scores with a four punch combination!
Tivits fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tarasov shoots in looking for a takedown. Tivits tries to sprawl out of it but Tarasov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tivits manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Tarasov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tarasov lands some shots froms side control.
Tarasov working the ground and pound.
Tarasov tries to advance to mount but can't.
Tarasov grinds an elbow into Tivits's temple.
Tivits defending against the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tivits prevents Tarasov from improving position.
Tarasov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Tivits is trying to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Tivits. No joy for Tarasov on that attempt.
Tivits tries to clinch but Tarasov moves out of range.
Tarasov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tivits lands a two punch combo.
Tivits tries to clinch up.
Tivits is looking to clinch but Tarasov is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tivits shoots in looking for a takedown. Tarasov tries to sprawl out of it but Tivits keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tarasov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Tivits moves into the clinch successfully.
Tivits stops a takedown attempt from Tarasov.

Tivits pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tivits fails to land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from Tarasov.
Tarasov misses with a takedown
and Tivits counters with a three punch combo that has Tarasov backing up. Tarasov nods at Tivits to acknowledge the strikes.
Tivits doesn't manage to clinch there - Tarasov circles away.
Tarasov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tivits cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tarasov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tivits counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Roger Tivits has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitri Tarasov.
Tivits lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tivits lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Tarasov backs up against the cage.
Tarasov throws a shot from downtown. Tivits moves away and avoids it.
Tivits fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarasov swats away the attempt to clinch by Tivits.
A lazy left from Tivits finds it's target.
Tarasov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tivits counters with a three punch combo that has Tarasov backing up. Tarasov nods at Tivits to acknowledge the strikes.
Tarasov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tivits sprawls well. Tivits wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tarasov gets slowly back to his feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Tarasov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Roger Tivits is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tivits gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tarasov counters with a single leg into guard. Tivits didn't expect that.
Tarasov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tarasov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tarasov prevents Tivits from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tarasov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov throwing strikes but missing.
Tarasov postures up.
Tarasov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tivits is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tarasov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tivits fails to land with a series of punches.
Tivits with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tarasov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tivits!
Tivits can't escape the position.
BOOM! Tarasov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tarasov raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tivits taking shots to the head.
Tarasov working the ground and pound effectively.
Tivits can't escape the position.
Tarasov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Tivits hang on?
A nice elbow there by Tarasov.
Tarasov working the ground and pound effectively.
Tivits taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tarasov breaks from Tivits's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tarasov with the ground and pound from mount.
Tarasov landing strikes from the mount and Tivits is in trouble!
Tarasov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tivits really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tarasov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Tivits is looking to improve his position but Tarasov isn't that keen on the idea.
Tivits is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tarasov landing strikes from the mount.
Tarasov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitri Tarasov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tivits swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dmitri Tarasov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tarasov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tarasov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tivits manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tarasov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tarasov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tarasov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tivits knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tarasov on the ground.
Tarasov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tivits bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tarasov's guard.
Tivits wants to control from the top but Tarasov keeps moving.
Tarasov trying to control the position.
Dmitri Tarasov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarasov lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tarasov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tivits trying to control but Tarasov is working from the bottom.
Tivits preventing the sweep.
Tivits trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tarasov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tarasov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tivits as he jumps to the side.
Tivits's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Tivits duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tarasov closes the distance and clinches up with Tivits, looking for a takedown. Tarasov pushes Tivits against the cage but Tivits circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tivits slaps away a takedown attempt from Tarasov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Roger Tivits has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitri Tarasov.
Tivits throws a sloppy head kick and Tarasov moves out of range easily.
Tarasov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tivits tries for a takedown but Tarasov circles away easily

and Tarasov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tarasov connects with a nice short shot to Tivits's temple.
Tivits on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tivits tries to get out of the position.
Tarasov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tarasov lands strikes from half guard.
Tarasov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tivits is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tarasov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tivits tries to kick Tarasov off but Tarasov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tarasov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tivits defending well though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tivits tries to clinch up but Tarasov circles away and keeps his distance.
Tivits throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tivits attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tarasov fails with the takedown.
Tivits scores with a three punch combo!
Tivits finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tarasov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tivits displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tivits closes the distance and clinches up with Tarasov, looking for a takedown. Tivits pushes Tarasov against the cage but Tarasov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Tivits shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov lands some strikes from the bottom.
Tarasov wants to sweep here but Tivits controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tarasov is on top in guard.
Tarasov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tivits avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tarasov lands a couple of elbows.
Tivits working a defensive guard here.
Tarasov is working Tivits over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitri Tarasov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tarasov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitri Tarasov!