PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jim Jim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Tavaras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Jim
vs
Tavaras

185 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
23
187 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jim Jim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Tavaras!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavaras slips a jab from Jim.
Tavaras has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Jim finds it's way round the side to connect with Tavaras's head.

Tavaras shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tavaras prevents Jim from improving his position.

Tavaras is looking for a kimura but Jim is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tavaras to get the leverage.
Jim knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tavaras on the ground.

Tavaras is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Jim has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tavaras is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jim fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tavaras manages to avoid it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tavaras.
Tavaras fails with a takedown attempt.
Jim Jim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Tavaras.
Tavaras fails with a takedown attempt.
Jim missing with a left hand there. Tavaras was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jim stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jim wants it to stay on the feet.
Jim lands a jab.
Jim stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jim wants it to stay on the feet.
Jim fails to land with a series of punches.
Jon Tavaras seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavaras misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Tavaras scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
What's Jim going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Jim can't do much from the bottom here.

Tavaras goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Jim has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tavaras but great work by Jim.
Jim moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Tavaras takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Tavaras's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jim throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Tavaras works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Well, if Jim is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jim is stalling here. Tavaras is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Jim seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Tavaras has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Tavaras is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jim has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Tavaras is trying to get an arm triangle but Jim is defending well.

Tavaras is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jim has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tavaras looks gassed!
Jim tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tavaras wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Tavaras wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Jim, who protects the arm well.

Tavaras is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jim knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jon Tavaras will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jim ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Tavaras avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jim lands a head shot.
Some wild striking there from Jim.
Tavaras shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jim as he avoids it easily.
Jim throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Jim misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tavaras.
Tavaras shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jim as he avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Jim. No joy for Tavaras on that attempt.
Jim Jim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Tavaras.
Jim throws a series of punches but Tavaras moves out of range.
Jim leaves Tavaras with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tavaras is breathing heavily.
Jim stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jim wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jim throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tavaras.

Tavaras darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jim is controlling Tavaras's trapped leg to prevent Tavaras from advancing to side control.
Jim on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jim tries to get out of the position.
Jim wants to control but Tavaras is keeping busy.

Tavaras looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Tavaras is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tavaras is looking for a kimura here.
Jim moves into full guard.

Tavaras has gone for a leg lock! Jim slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tavaras's guard.
Jim postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tavaras swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jim looking to pass the guard.
Tavaras controls Jim momentarily but Jim frees himself.
Tavaras keeping moving, preventing Jim from controlling successfully.
Jim trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tavaras manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

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.

Tavaras 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.
Tavaras pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jim is keeping the position for now.
Jim will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jim misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tavaras slips a jab and a cross from Jim.
Tavaras shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jim pinned against the cage. Jim gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jim missing with a left hand there. Tavaras was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Jim dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Jim throws a right hand that Tavaras ducks under and follows up with a left that Tavaras also avoids with ease.
Jim defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tavaras.
Jim is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Tavaras fails with a takedown attempt.
Jim Jim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jim thows a body shot but no joy.
Tavaras tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jim swivels and escapes.
Jim Jim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Tavaras.

Tavaras shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Tavaras is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jim is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jim has escaped and now he's on top!
Jim throwing strikes from guard but Tavaras blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jim throws and elbow that misses. Tavaras uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jim's guard. Nice move by Tavaras!

Tavaras drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Jim manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tavaras has Jim in his guard.
Tavaras keeping moving, preventing Jim from controlling successfully.
Jim throws a strike but Tavaras rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Tavaras has gone for a leg lock! Jim slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tavaras's guard.
Jim is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tavaras looking to control.
Jim looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Tavaras preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tavaras has Jim pulled in close to control his posture.
Tavaras is trying to control the position but Jim postures up.
Jim has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jim trying to control the position from guard on top but Tavaras is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tavaras dives in and grabs Jim's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jim pushes down on Tavaras's head and hops out.

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.
Jim throws a series of punches but Tavaras moves out of range.

Tavaras decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Tavaras is working for a submission of some sort.
Tavaras working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Jim's thigh. Jim counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Jim is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tavaras pushing down on Jim's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jon Tavaras.
I think Tavaras has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jon Tavaras!