PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pepito Tshabalala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and taj usman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tshabalala
vs
usman

200 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pepito Tshabalala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, taj usman!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

usman gets a takedown into half guard.
Tshabalala is trying to control but can't.

Tshabalala looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tshabalala wants to control but usman is keeping busy.

Tshabalala is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but usman pulls his head out easily.
usman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tshabalala punching from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
usman prevents Tshabalala from improving his position.
usman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tshabalala does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

usman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tshabalala to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
usman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tshabalala trying to control the position from guard on top but usman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
usman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Tshabalala 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.

usman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tshabalala doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tshabalala manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
usman is trying to control the position but Tshabalala postures up.
Tshabalala passes usman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
usman is trying to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Tshabalala closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tshabalala is breathing heavily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tshabalala lands a nice short elbow.
Tshabalala lands strikes from half guard.
Tshabalala prevents usman from improving his position.
usman tries to kick Tshabalala off but Tshabalala keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tshabalala really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Tshabalala is working for a kimura but usman is defending it quite comfortably.

Tshabalala is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
usman is trying to stand back up but Tshabalala is controlling him
Tshabalala wants to lay and pray for a moment but usman keeps working.
usman is looking to control Tshabalala's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can usman avoid being mounted?

Tshabalala maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! usman could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Tshabalala has cracked it and usman is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Tshabalala!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Pepito Tshabalala!