PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bel Max (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tavares
vs
Max

185 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Tavares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bel Max!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Max tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Max wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Max looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Tavares closes the distance and clinches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Max - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Max takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Bel Max has been cut.
Tavares lands with a short shot to the head.
Tavares blocks an uppercut.
Max stalling against the cage.
Tavares leaning his opponent against the cage.
Max lands a body shot.
Tavares lands a knee to the body.

Tavares escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tavares is looking to clinch.
Tavares scores with a three punch combo!
Max darts in trying to clinch
and Tavares counters with a big head kick but Max shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tavares counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Max is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Tavares circles away from the clinch attempt

and Tavares moves into the clinch.
Tavares stalling the fight.
Max slowing the pace effectively.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The referee calls for Tavares to work.

Tavares breaks the clinch.
Max tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tavares counters with a left and a right that stings Max.
Bel Max seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Max tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tavares counters with a good, hard body kick but Max shrugs it off.
Max looks gassed!

Max pushes Tavares up against the cage in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tavares.
Max lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tavares backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tavares lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tavares lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Max in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tavares with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tavares connects with a nasty looking knee right to Max's face.

Tavares pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Tavares closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Max is trying to stall.

Tavares breaks the clinch.

Tavares gets a clinch.
Max tries to work over Tavares's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Max trying to control the position but instead, Tavares has worked for underhooks and has pushed Max into the cage.
Tavares landing knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Max fails to land.
Max stalling in the clinch but Tavares improves position.
Tavares lands a knee to the head.

Tavares breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tavares closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tavares breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tavares connects with a nasty looking knee right to Max's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tavares breaks the clinch.

Tavares has Max up against the cage in a clinch.
Max misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tavares tries to stall but Max uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A shot in the inside from Max.
Max scores with a nice hook to the head.
Max scores with a shoulder strike.

Tavares breaks the clinch.

Max moves into range and clinches up with Tavares.
Max lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tavares tries to land a knee to the head but Max blocks with his arms.
Max tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Max misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tavares working aggressively here.
Tavares tries to stall but Max uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Max scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Max creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Max takes a shot to the head.
Max misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Max on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Max blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Max lands a nice uppercut.
Max stalling in the clinch.
Tavares taking a breather.
Tavares lands a body shot in the clinch.
Tavares blocks an uppercut.
Max lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tavares tries to land a knee to the head but Max blocks with his arms.
Max works on Tavares's body with a couple of short punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee calls for Max to work.
Tavares blocking some punches.
Max lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tavares backwards.
Tavares blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Max misses with the head strike.
Tavares throws an elbow that misses.
Max misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tavares unloads a knee to the mid-section. Max lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Max misses with the head strike.
Max misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Max.
Max is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Tavares dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bel Max's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tavares fails with an attempt to clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Max crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Tavares - the referee stops the clock and Max gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Tavares. Max manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Max takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Max tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tavares paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tavares gets a clinch.
Max misses with the head strike.
Max swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tavares lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Max backwards.
Tavares blocks an uppercut.
Max lands a hook to the side of the head.
Max takes an elbow to the temple.
Max tries to work over Tavares's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Max lands a hook that snaps the head of Tavares backwards.
Tavares landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Max manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A head punch on the inside from Max fails to land.
Max misses with a hook from the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Max throws a head punch that misses.
Tavares lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Max pressing his opponent against the cage.

Tavares escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tavares swats away the attempt to clinch by Max.
Max throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Max tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tavares counters with a body kick that stops Max in his tracks momentarily.
Tavares scores with a nice body kick.
Tavares wants to clinch.

Tavares clinches up with Max and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares connects with a knee to the head.

Tavares breaks from the clinch.
Tavares connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Max tries to clinch but Tavares moves away
and Tavares counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Max clinches but Tavares breaks the clinch

and Tavares moves into the clinch.

Tavares escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Max tries to clinch up

and Tavares moves into the clinch.
Tavares connects with a nasty looking knee right to Max's face.
Tavares using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Max has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Max doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A shot in the inside from Max.
Max lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tavares backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Max tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tavares's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Max scores with a shot to the side of Tavares's head.
Tavares stalling.
Max doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Tavares escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Max wants to clinch but Tavares slips to the side

and Tavares counters by clinching up.
Max misses with a short punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Max tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hand to the body from Max.
Max working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Still in the clinch, Max scores with a nice short uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Tavares utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Max scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tavares is trying to force a seperation but Max has the dominant position.
Tavares lands a damaging elbow.
Max lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tavares's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Max.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Max working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Max.
A shot in the inside from Max.
Max fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Max doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Max throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tavaress head.
Tavares tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A shot in the inside from Max.
Max tries to stall but Tavares uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Max manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Max misses with some punches.
Max misses with a short punch on the inside.

Tavares's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Max tries to clinch up.
Tavares fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tavares clinches but Max breaks the clinch
and Max cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Max tries to clinch but Tavares is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Tavares dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bel Max's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tavares circles away from the clinch attempt

and Tavares counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Tavares breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tavares throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Max's head.

Max clinches.
Max has a couple of punches blocked by Tavares.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tavares is working Max over against the cage.
Max works on Tavares's body with a couple of short punches.
Max pushes Tavares back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Max scores with a nice hook to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Max.

Tavares escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tavares keeps the fight on the outside.
Max Tavares is winning the standup battle so far.
Tavares circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tavares counters with a slapping leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Max throws a good cross that connects.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tavares clinches up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Max fails to land.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tavares as Max tries to tie him up.
Max lands with a short shot to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Tavares blocks an uppercut.

Tavares breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Max closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Max Tavares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Max circles away from the clinch attempt
and Max counters with a series of strikes. Tavares will be more careful next time no doubt.

Max clinches.
Max working aggressively here.
Max lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tavares blocks an uppercut.
Max is trying to stall.
Max swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Tavares escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Max's hands.
Max closes the distance but Tavares moves to the side
and Tavares counters with a nice body kick.
Tavares takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tavares feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Max's calf.
Tavares takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Tavares clinches up with Max and pushes him back against the cage.
Tavares blocking some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Max throws a head punch that misses.
Tavares tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Max avoids it.

Tavares breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Max closes the distance looking to clinch

and Tavares counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tavares.
Max Tavares has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Max misses with some punches.
Max holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Max lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares scores with a knee to the head.
Max throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short uppercut from Max.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tavares's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A body shot lands from Max.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Max.
Tavares tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Max makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tavares connects with a nasty looking knee right to Max's face.
Max Tavares is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tavares scores a nice knee to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Max.
Max doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Max tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tavares tries to break the clinch but Max is controlling the position.
Tavares misses with a knee to the head.
Max lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tavares blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Max.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Tavares escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Max tries to clinch up.
Tavares tries to close the distance and clinch but Max swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Max gets a clinch.
Max fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tavares blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Max scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Max.
Max is trying to maintain a safe position but Tavares gets an underhook and turns Max into the cage.
A knee to the head by Tavares.
A short right from Max on the inside.
Bel Max has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Max throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bel Max comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tavares has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Tavares!