PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexi Taiga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Mitchell (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.

Taiga
vs
Mitchell

201 cm
20
266 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexi Taiga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jason Mitchell!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taiga has Mitchell up against the cage in a clinch.
Mitchell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Taiga gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mitchell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taiga fights it off and pushes away nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Taiga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taiga moves in looking to clinch but Mitchell pushes him off.
Mitchell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taiga as he jumps to the side.
Alexi Taiga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Mitchell.
Taiga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mitchell closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Taiga is trying to improve his position.
Taiga struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taiga is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchell is looking to take a break and control but Taiga is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taiga is trying to control Mitchell's posture but Mitchell avoids it.
Mitchell sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Taiga is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taiga throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mitchell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Taiga gets the takedown into side control.
Mitchell should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Taiga in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Mitchell looks to move to half guard but instead Taiga has passed into mount! Damn!
Mitchell regains half guard.
Mitchell wants to get back to his feet.
Mitchell looks gassed!
Mitchell wants to control the action here but instead Taiga manages to pass to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell tries to reverse the position but Taiga maintains control.
Mitchell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taiga avoids the attempt from Mitchell to control.
Taiga content just to control the position here.
Mitchell taking shots to the head.
Taiga controlling from mount.
Taiga knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mitchell on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mitchell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Taiga controlling from the full mount.
Mitchell can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexi Taiga dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mitchell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Taiga but Taiga pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mitchell shoots in but Taiga avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mitchell slips a straight right by Taiga.

Mitchell tries to keep at a distance but Taiga has taken the fight into the clinch.
Taiga lands a body punch in the clinch.
Taiga lands a right hand.
A short uppercut from Taiga.
Taiga lands a shot to the body.
Mitchell tries to pull guard but Taiga won't allow it.
Alexi Taiga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Mitchell.

Taiga breaks from the clinch.

Taiga clinches.
Taiga works on Mitchell's body with a couple of short punches.

Taiga manages to break the clinch.
Mitchell shoots in but Taiga avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taiga lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Jason Mitchell has been cut.
Danga de danga de dang - Mitchell scores with a four punch combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taiga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alexi Taiga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mitchell misses with a takedown

and Taiga counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taiga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taiga lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mitchell backwards.

Mitchell gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Taiga seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Taiga will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mitchell preventing the sweep.
Taiga has control of Mitchell's left arm, preventing Mitchell from doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mitchell thows a big elbow that misses.
Mitchell postures up in Taiga's guard and throws a big left but Taiga blocks it.
Taiga is looking to stand up but Mitchell isn't so interested in that idea.
Mitchell won't allow Taiga to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taiga is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taiga lands an overhand right.
Mitchell keeps the fight on the outside.

Taiga clinches.
Mitchell drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taiga pulls his leg out and moves away.

Taiga forces Mitchell back against the cage and clinches.
Taiga stalls.
Mitchell tries to pull guard but Taiga won't allow it.

Mitchell manages to pull guard.
Mitchell keeping moving, preventing Taiga from controlling successfully.
Mitchell trying to keep a closed guard but Taiga is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taiga content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Taiga controlling from the top position.
Mitchell looking to control.
Mitchell looking for a sweep. Not yet Mitchell, not yet.
Mitchell is trying to control the position but Taiga postures up.
Taiga has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mitchell takes one on the button.
Taiga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taiga wants to clinch

and Mitchell counters with a takedown into side control.
Mitchell has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taiga sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Mitchell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mitchell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mitchell prevents Taiga from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexi Taiga dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jason Mitchell's cut.
That's time! Taiga's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mitchell looks to land a combination but Taiga avoids it well.
Taiga tries to clinch but Mitchell is having none of it.
Mitchell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taiga's waist but Mitchell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mitchell off to one side.
Mitchell tries to land a front kick but Taiga steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mitchell.
Taiga can't do much from the bottom here.
Taiga taking punishment in the form of punches.
Mitchell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mitchell tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taiga is looking for a sweep.

Mitchell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taiga is trying to get back to half guard.

Mitchell tries for a kimura but Taiga is defending well.
Taiga is trying to get back to half guard.

Mitchell is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Taiga has escaped the position, nice work there.

Mitchell stands up and we're back to a striking position.

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.
Mitchell doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Taiga connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mitchell avoids the body shot from Taiga.
Alexi Taiga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mitchell has Taiga pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Taiga manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Alexi Taiga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Mitchell.
Mitchell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taiga fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mitchell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Taiga counters with a left and a right that stings Mitchell.
Taiga wants to clinch up but Mitchell keeps it at a distance.

Mitchell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mitchell showed some decent athleticism there.
Taiga is refusing to be controlled, as Mitchell sits in half guard.
Mitchell throwing shots but Taiga is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taiga is trying to control but can't.
Taiga works his way to full guard. Good work.

Mitchell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Taiga is trying to keep Mitchell in close.
Mitchell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taiga is keeping the position for now.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mitchell swats away the attempt to clinch by Taiga.
Taiga works the jab nicely.
Mitchell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taiga swivels and escapes.
Taiga throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mitchell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mitchell misses with a kick to the body.

Taiga has Mitchell up against the cage in a clinch.

Taiga manages to break the clinch.
Mitchell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Taiga counters with a three punch combo that has Mitchell backing up. Mitchell nods at Taiga to acknowledge the strikes.
Mitchell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taiga is fending him off so far but Mitchell persists. Nope, Taiga circles away and we're back to standing.
Mitchell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Taiga shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mitchell tries to get to full guard but Taiga has control of the leg.
Jason Mitchell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mitchell throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexi Taiga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taiga, 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexi Taiga!