PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bas Tard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sven Verdek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bas Tard has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tard
vs
Verdek

179 cm
22
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
162 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Bushido Clothing

Nutrition 101
Nutrition 101

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bas Tard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sven Verdek!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verdek attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Verdek throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tard moves out of range as Verdek throws a body kick.
Tard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tard doesn't manage to clinch there - Verdek circles away.
Verdek shoots in but Tard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Verdek wants to land a leg kick but Tard is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tard blocks a leg kick.
Tard throws a big shot that misses.
Verdek throws a sloppy head kick and Tard moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tard takes a swing at Verdek's ribcage but misses.
Verdek slips under a jab from Tard.
Tard throws a jab when Verdek was well out of range.
Verdek tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tard is able to avoid easily.
Tard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tard throws a right hand that Verdek ducks under and follows up with a left that Verdek also avoids with ease.

Verdek bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tard defending against the ground and pound.

Verdek tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Verdek has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Verdek swings around for an armbar but Tard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Verdek's guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tard trying to control the position from guard on top but Verdek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tard throwing strikes but missing.

Verdek had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tard is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Verdek Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tard's back instead.
Tard holding both Verdek 's hands and preventing any damage.
Verdek missing with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tard wants to escape the position.
Verdek tries to keep control of the position but Tard is staying busy.
Tard is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Verdek tightening his grip on Tard, looking for the choke.

Tard defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tard preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Verdek.
Tard covering up well and avoiding damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Verdek is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Well, with Verdek on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Tard is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tard tries to escape but Verdek has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tard tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Verdek motions for Tard to come forward. Verdek throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tard avoids a punch combination nicely.

Verdek shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Verdek wants to control the pace but Tard is squirming around nicely.
Tard tries to buck Verdek off but he can't manage it.

Verdek swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Tard is now in Verdek's guard. A big mistake from Verdek there, giving up the dominant position!
Tard postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdek wants to sweep here but Tard controlling him for the moment.
Verdek looking to control.
Tard looking to pass the guard.
Tard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Verdek on the ground.
Verdek can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tard controls the pace.
Verdek is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Verdek lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tard!
Tard holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Verdek tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tard holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Verdek tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Tard manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Tard, under a barage of strikes from Verdek.
Verdek tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Verdek is working for a submission of some sort.
Verdek wants to take a breather but Tard is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Verdek swats away the attempt to clinch by Tard.
Tard misses with a two punch combination.
Tard lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tard stalks Verdek and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Verdek's face. Verdek staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verdek moves out of range of the body kick.

Verdek gets the takedown into side control.
Verdek misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Tard defending against the ground and pound.
Verdek looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tard is avoiding damage well.

Verdek is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Verdek working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Verdek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tard tries to clinch up but Verdek circles away and keeps his distance.
Verdek shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tard defends it nicely.
Tard misses with a wild body shot.
Verdek closes the distance and clinches up with Tard, looking for a takedown. Verdek pushes Tard against the ropes but Tard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verdek pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tard is out of range and Verdek settles back down.
Bas Tard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Verdek swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tard has his takedown stuffed

and Verdek decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tard's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tard keeping moving, preventing Verdek from controlling successfully.

Verdek drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tard!
You can see the frustration on Verdek's face as Tard controls the position.
Verdek tries to bench press Tard off him but Tard keeps the position.
Verdek struggling a bit here.
Verdek has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sven Verdek has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tard working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two 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.
Verdek tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Verdek is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Verdek.

Verdek darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tard is trying to stand up here but Verdek is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verdek tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Verdek is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Verdek is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tard defends it well.
Sven Verdek is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Verdek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tard tries to kick Verdek off but Verdek keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Verdek wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tard keeps working.
Bas Tard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Verdek tried to score with a low kick but Tard checks it.
Verdek shoots for a double leg takedown but Tard sprawls well. He's pushed Verdek's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bas Tard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sven Verdek.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Verdek looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Verdek misses with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sven Verdek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Verdek 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Verdek!