PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shane Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shane Tanner had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Shane Tanner looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Tanner
vs
Araujo

171 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Boondock Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shane Tanner!
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, Gustavo Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Araujo with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Araujo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tanner forces his way into half guard.
Tanner is keen to just control but Araujo is a slippery customer.
Tanner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tanner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tanner tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Araujo.
Tanner is stalling here. Araujo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Tanner seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Araujo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Tanner looks to move to half guard but instead Araujo has passed into mount! Damn!
Araujo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Araujo tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Araujo wants to finish this one by submission but Tanner is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Araujo.
Tanner tries to hold on but Araujo postures up.
Tanner is breathing heavily.
Tanner keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tanner is working hard here to advance position.

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.
Tanner gets back to half guard.

Araujo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Araujo prevents Tanner from improving his position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

Tanner is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Araujo pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Tanner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tanner moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Tanner working for a triangle but Araujo defends it easily.

That's four 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.
Tanner wants to improve his position but instead Araujo has moved into half guard.
Araujo is looking to pass Tanner's guard but actually Tanner recovers to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tanner is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Tanner 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.

Tanner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Araujo as he jumps to the side.
Tanner is looking to clinch.
Tanner tries to clinch but Araujo is having none of it.
Tanner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Araujo but Araujo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tanner misses with a straight left.
Tanner shoots in but Araujo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Tanner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Araujo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner wants to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Araujo lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Araujo swivels and escapes.
Araujo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tanner pinned against the cage. Tanner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Tanner shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Tanner fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Araujo has given up his back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Tanner controlling the positon.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Tanner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo is taking damage to the body and head.
You can see the frustration on Araujo's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Araujo tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Tanner is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Araujo is in real trouble.
Araujo looking very determined here, making life difficult for Tanner.
Araujo is trapped and Tanner is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Tanner is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Tanner gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Tanner gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Tanner apologises and we restart here on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanner looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tanner looking to sit in guard and control but Araujo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Araujo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Araujo pushes down on Tanner's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Tanner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner works his way to full guard. Good work.
Araujo passes into half guard.
Tanner is trying to get back to full guard.

Araujo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tanner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Tanner dominated that second round.
That's time! Tanner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tanner with a lazy takedown attempt

and Araujo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tanner!
Tanner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tanner is in all sorts of trouble here.
Tanner tries to hold on but Araujo postures up.

Araujo working for a submission but Tanner is keeping him at bay.

Araujo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Tanner turns into him and now he's in Araujo's guard.
Araujo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tanner landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Araujo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tanner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tanner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tanner throws a strike but Araujo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Araujo preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tanner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Araujo manages to get himself to full guard.
Tanner wants to pass the guard but Araujo is keeping the position.
Araujo trying to control the position.
Tanner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tanner wants to pass the guard but Araujo is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Araujo wants to stand and escape but Tanner is having none of it.

Tanner gets to his feet. Araujo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tanner takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Araujo with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tanner counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tanner is stalling here.
Araujo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tanner pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Tanner is trying to trip Araujo. He has hold of a leg but Araujo is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Tanner persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Gustavo Araujo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Araujo is looking for a triangle but Tanner pushes his legs off easily.
Tanner passes Araujo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner tries to stand but can't do so whilst Araujo controls his leg.
Tanner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
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. Tanner connects with a nice short shot to Araujo's temple.
Tanner working over Araujo with some ground and pound. Araujo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tanner thows a huge punch but Araujo dodges it nicely.
Tanner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Araujo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Tanner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tanner, 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Tanner!