PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nathaniel Tabares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tabares's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, your a jerk. Nathaniel Tabares has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tabares
vs
Tucker

180 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
19
161 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathaniel Tabares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tom Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Steve Montenegro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tabares dodges the punch combination from Tucker.
Tucker takes a swing at Tabares's ribcage but misses.
Tucker's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Tucker duly obliges.
Tucker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tabares.

Tabares shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tucker manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tucker holds on and takes a little breather.
Tabares would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tucker keeping full guard, as Tabares tries to pass.
Tucker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tabares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabares in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tucker wants to sweep but no luck.
Tabares trying to move into half guard but instead Tucker has managed to sweep!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tucker stands and steps away. Tabares gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tabares takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tucker jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Nathaniel Tabares has been cut.
Tucker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tabares wants to clinch up but Tucker keeps it at a distance.
Tom Tucker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tabares shoots in for a takedown but Tucker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tabares is breathing heavily.
Tabares shoots in looking for a takedown. Tucker tries to sprawl out of it but Tabares keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tucker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker throws a nice looking combination but Tabares bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tucker misses with a double jab.
Tabares shoots in for a takedown but Tucker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathaniel Tabares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tabares's head backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A cross from Tucker lands.
Tucker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tucker throws a right hand that Tabares ducks under and follows up with a left that Tabares also avoids with ease.
Tucker lands a head shot.
Tucker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tucker swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tucker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tucker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tabares moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tabares shoots in and drives through. Tucker sprawls well.
Tucker closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tucker moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tucker swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tabares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tucker cracks Tabares with a right hand to the side of the head.
Tucker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Tabares moves into the clinch.
Tucker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tabares has him pressed against the cage.

Tabares pulls guard effortlessly.

Tucker decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tabares, up you get!
Tabares shoots in for a takedown but Tucker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tucker closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tabares doesn't manage to clinch there - Tucker circles away.
Tucker throws a right hand that Tabares ducks under and follows up with a left that Tabares also avoids with ease.
Tucker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tabares looks for a takedown but Tucker sprawls well.
Tabares takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tucker is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Tabares had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Tucker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tabares shoots in for a double leg but Tucker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tucker throws a series of punches but Tabares avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Tabares.
Tucker moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Tucker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tucker misses with a double jab.

Tabares bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tucker manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tabares's best efforts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tabares trying to mount his opponent but Tucker defends it.
Tabares slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Tucker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nathaniel Tabares's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tabares avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tucker lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Tabares shoots for a double leg takedown but Tucker sprawls well. He's pushed Tabares's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nathaniel Tabares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tucker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch combination from Tucker misses.
Tucker falls off balance throwing a combination

and Tabares counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tucker won't be happy with that.
Tucker tries to buck Tabares off but Tabares is having none of it.
Tucker gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Tabares decides to stand and escape the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker scores with a one two! Tabares had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Tucker scores with a nice strike.
Tabares slips a jab and a cross from Tucker.
Tucker misses with a few strikes there.
Tabares doesn't manage to clinch there - Tucker circles away.
Tucker throws an overhand right that lands on Tabares's shoulder, as Tabares tries to avoid the shot.
Tabares throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Tucker throws a combination that misses
and Tabares counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tucker's knee momentarily.
Tucker throws a nice looking combination but Tabares bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A nice combination there by Tucker.
Tucker misses with a combination

and Tabares moves into the clinch.

Tabares successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker wants to get up but he can't break Tabares's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Tucker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Tucker misses with a combination
and Tabares cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tucker misses with a double jab

and Tabares counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tabares wants to control from the top but Tucker keeps moving.
Tabares preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker has a closed guard, preventing Tabares from standing up.
Tabares postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tabares trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tucker pulls Tabares in close to his closed guard and prevents Tabares from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tucker wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four 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.
Tucker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tucker lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Tucker swinging wildly here.
Tabares walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tucker throws a nice looking combination but Tabares bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tucker misses with a combination
and Tabares counters with a big head kick but Tucker shrugs it off.
Tucker falls off balance throwing a combination

and Tabares counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tucker won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Tabares dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nathaniel Tabares's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tabares avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Tucker.
Tucker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Tabares fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tucker sprawls well initially but Tabares persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tucker is looking for a sweep. Tabares is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tabares stalling.
Tabares is trying to control. Tucker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tabares has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Tucker works to full guard.
Tucker is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Tabares is looking to work some ground and pound but Tucker has wrist control.

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.
Tucker keeping moving, preventing Tabares from controlling successfully.
Nathaniel Tabares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tabares looking to pass the guard.
Tucker manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tucker controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tucker is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Tucker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Tabares counters by moving into the clinch.
Tucker is trying to break the clinch but Tabares has him pressed against the cage.
A short right from Tucker.
Tabares keeps control of Tucker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tabares tries to score a body lock takedown but Tucker shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tucker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tucker works on Tabares's body with a couple of short punches.
Tucker is trying to break the clinch but Tabares has him pressed against the cage.
Tucker throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tabaress head.

Tucker breaks from the clinch.
Tabares takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Tucker misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tabares closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tucker struggling a bit here.
Tucker is not content to let Tabares control the position.
The ground and pound from Tabares seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nathaniel Tabares.
I think Tabares has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathaniel Tabares!