PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Tankard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Twist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Twist has chosen Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Anthony Twist told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Tankard
vs
Twist

193 cm
24
260 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
267 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Broken Halo Pride Nutrition
Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adam Tankard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Twist!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Twist throws a big shot that misses.
Twist tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tankard was well out of range. Poor timing from Twist.
Twist throws a lazy right hand but Tankard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Twist swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Anthony Twist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Twist misses with a double jab.
Twist keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Twist.
Twist misses with a straight right.
Twist pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Twist misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tankard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Twist ducks under a wild hook from Tankard.
Twist loads up on a big right hand but Tankard slips the punch.
Twist pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tankard moves away from the strike by Twist.
Tankard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Twist throws a big shot that misses.
Twist takes one to the chin there.
Twist stuffs the takedown attempt from Tankard. Tankard gets slowly back to his feet.
Tankard takes a swing at Twist's ribcage but misses.
Tankard throws a series of punches but Twist moves out of range.
Twist is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tankard.
Tankard jabs at Twist's body.
Tankard scores with a body shot.
Tankard scores with a nice right hand.

It looks like Anthony Twist has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jab from Tankard.
Twist misses with the combination.
Tankard tries to clinch there but Twist circles away.
Twist looks to land a left hand but Tankard moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tankard lands a nice looking body shot.
Twist throws a body punch but Tankard moves out of range.
Tankard takes a swing at Twist's ribcage but misses.
Twist looks to land a right hand but Tankard moved out of range.
Twist waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tankard.
Twist throws a combination that misses
and Tankard counters with a stiff right hand.
Tankard fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Tankard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Tankard.
Twist is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tankard is chipping away with strikes.
Tankard wants to control but Twist is keeping him busy.
The strikes coming from Tankard are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tankard controlling the position from side mount.
Tankard has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tankard sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Tankard looking to ground and pound but Twist is blocking nicely.
Twist is working to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Tankard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Twist takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Tankard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Twist's cut.
That's time! Tankard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Twist shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tankard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Twist thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tankard wants to clinch.

Tankard closes the distance and pushes Twist back into the cage.
Tankard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Twist has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Twist can't break the clinch.
Tankard lands with a short shot to the head.
Tankard pushes Twist back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Twist lands with a light punch inside.
Twist misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tankard lands a nice uppercut.
Tankard pushes Twist back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Twist is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tankard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tankard lands a shoulder strike.
Tankard lands with a left to the head.

That has opened up Anthony Twist's cut even more.
Tankard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tankard lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Tankard.
A body shot lands from Tankard.
Tankard lands a body punch.
Tankard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Twist backwards.
Tankard digs a right hand into Twist's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Twist's gas tank.
Tankard lands a body shot in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tankard cracks Twist with a nice body shot.
Tankard tries to score a body lock takedown but Twist shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A right hand to the body from Tankard.
Tankard scores with a shot to the side of Twist's head.
Twist's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Tankard on the inside.
Twist being controlled against the cage.
Tankard lands with a light punch inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Tankard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Twists head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tankard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Twist wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Tankard.
A right hook to the body lands for Tankard.
Tankard lands a body shot.
Tankard lands a shot to the body.
Tankard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Twist can do to turn this around?
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tankard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tankard stalling the fight.
A short right from Tankard.
Tankard stalling in the clinch.
Tankard tries to score a body lock takedown but Twist shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A hook to the body from Tankard.
A short right from Tankard.
Twist wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A body shot lands from Tankard.
Tankard is leaning against Twist and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A right hand to the body from Tankard.
A nice left hand lands by Tankard.
Tankard lands a nice shot to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tankard.
A hook to the body from Tankard.

Tankard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Twist tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tankard is able to avoid easily.
Tankard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tankard wants to clinch.
Twist with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tankard counters with a left to the body.

Tankard gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tankard is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Twist's shoulder. That is not cool.
Twist is trying to control Tankard's posture but Tankard avoids it.
Tankard wants to control but Twist is keeping him busy.

Tankard goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Twist has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tankard but great work by Twist.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
An elbow from Twist crashes against the mat.
Tankard tries to escape but Twist is in control.
Twist throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Twist throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Twist tries to score with some ground and pound. Tankard controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Twist cracks Tankard with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Twist throws a jab when Tankard was well out of range.
Twist moves into range and connects with a jab.

Tankard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tankard lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tankard trying to control but Twist is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Tankard dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Twist's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tankard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Twist.
Twist closes the distance and clinches up with Tankard, looking for a takedown. Twist pushes Tankard against the cage but Tankard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Twist finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Twist connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Twist misses with a double jab
and Tankard counters with a right hand to the body.
Twist misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tankard.
Tankard ducks under a wild hook from Twist.
Twist takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Twist throws a series of punches but Tankard moves out of range.
Tankard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Twist.
Twist throws a combination that misses

and Tankard counters with a single leg into guard. Twist didn't expect that.
Tankard is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tankard advances to half guard.
Tankard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Twist trying to hold on to Tankard's head to control him but Tankard postures up.
Tankard looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tankard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Twist defends it well.
Tankard winds up and cracks Twist with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tankard trying to control from half guard but Twist is working away.
Tankard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Tankard is looking for a kimura but Twist is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tankard to get the leverage.
Adam Tankard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tankard misses with a head shot. Twist uses the momentum to regain guard.
Tankard looking to sit in guard and control but Twist gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Twist is in close to Tankard's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tankard is trying to control the position but Twist postures up.
Tankard is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Twist preventing the sweep.
Tankard is trying to keep Twist in close.
Twist trying to control the position from guard on top but Tankard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tankard pulls Twist in close to prevent any damage.
Twist trying to control the position from guard on top but Tankard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Tankard clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Twist's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Twist fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Twist misses with a shot to the body

and Tankard counters by moving into the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Tankard.
Twist is trying to break the clinch but Tankard is controlling him.

Tankard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tankard lands a nice hook to Twist's body. Twist takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Twist throws a shot from downtown. Tankard moves away and avoids it.
Twist lands with a nice combination. Tankard backs away looking to recover.
Twist lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tankard circles away quickly and effectively.
Tankard lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Twist thuds a left hand into Tankard's body.
Twist is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Twist jabbing away but nothing is landing.
No luck for Tankard with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Twist misses with a jab, cross combination.

Tankard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Twist, pushing him back against the cage.
Tankard pushes Twist back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Tankard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Twist misses the jab.
Tankard throws a series of strikes that have Twist backpedaling.
Twist just misses with a punch to the body.
Twist misses with a body punch

and Tankard moves into the clinch.
Twist is trying to break the clinch but Tankard has him pressed against the cage.
Twist lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tankard or not.

Tankard breaks from the clinch.

Tankard gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tankard has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Twist stands and throws Tankard's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Twist trying to control the action but Tankard is working from the bottom.
Tankard is trying to get back to half guard.
Twist is looking to take a break and control but Tankard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Twist tries for a kimura but Tankard is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Twist misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Tankard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tankard tries to get out of the position.
Tankard is looking for a sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Twist tries for a takedown but Tankard circles away easily
and Tankard counters with a stiff right hand.
Twist throws a left and a right that both miss

and Tankard counters with a shoot takedown. Twist fights it but they end up in guard.
Tankard wants to control from the top but Twist keeps moving.
Twist working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tankard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tankard looking to pass the guard.

Tankard 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.
Tankard looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Tankard had his way with Anthony Twist in that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Twist's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tankard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Twist swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Twist throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tankard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Twist tries to avoid it but Tankard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Twist to the ground. Twist escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Twist throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tankard counters with a nice uppercut.
Tankard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Twist throws out the jab.
Twist fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tankard manages to avoid it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Twist darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tankard avoids the body shot from Twist.
Tankard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Twist paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tankard moves out of range as Twist strikes.
Twist swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tankard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tankard staying out of range there.
Tankard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A jab from Tankard misses.
Twist misses with a straight right.
Tankard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Twist.
A jab lands there for Twist.
A looping hook to the body misses from Twist. Tankard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Twist throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Twist scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Twist throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Twist shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tankard as he avoids it easily.
Twist misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tankard clinches up against the cage.
Twist working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tankard pushes Twist back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tankard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Twist is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Tankard breaks the clinch.
Twist misses with a combination
and Tankard counters with a nice uppercut.
Twist throws a jab when Tankard was well out of range.
Tankard lands a nice shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tankard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Twist takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tankard slips a jab from Twist.
Twist throws out a loose jab but Tankard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Twist wants to land a leg kick but Tankard is out of range.
Tankard misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Twist needs to keep his hands up - Tankard had a free shot at his head there.
Twist throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tankard uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Twist has time to react.

Tankard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tankard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Tankard trying to pass the guard but Twist defending well.
Anthony Twist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tankard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Adam Tankard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tankard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Twist knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tankard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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 Adam Tankard.
Well Tankard 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 50:45
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adam Tankard!
Adam Tankard retains his heavyweight title!