PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andres Iniesta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tayeb Taheri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tayeb Taheri is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Iniesta
vs
Taheri

160 cm
18
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andres Iniesta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tayeb Taheri!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taheri ducks under a wild hook from Iniesta.
Some wild striking there from Iniesta.

Taheri has managed to clinch.

Iniesta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Iniesta misses with a double jab.

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

Taheri makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Taheri with a lazy takedown attempt

and Iniesta counters with a takedown into side control.
Taheri is trying to improve his position.
Iniesta really is a fat lump.
A lull in the action here.
Taheri is looking to regain half guard here but Iniesta keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iniesta is looking to take a break and control but Taheri is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taheri stops Iniesta from passing to mount.
Iniesta remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taheri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Iniesta throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Taheri scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Taheri scoring with punches and elbows.

Taheri decides to stand up, so the ref orders Iniesta to his feet.
Taheri misses with a takedown
letting Iniesta counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iniesta fails to land with a series of punches.
Taheri tries for a takedown but Iniesta circles away easily

and Iniesta counters by moving into the clinch.
Andres Iniesta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tayeb Taheri.
Taheri wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Iniesta has him pressed against the cage.
Taheri missing with knees to the body.

Iniesta gets control of Taheri's arms and successfully pulls guard. Iniesta will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Taheri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taheri prevents Iniesta from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taheri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Iniesta kicks Taheri off and gets to his feet.
Iniesta is breathing heavily.
Iniesta tries to bum rush Taheri with a series of wild strikes but Taheri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Iniesta shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Taheri holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Taheri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taheri looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taheri with a poor takedown

and Iniesta counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Iniesta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taheri is keeping the position for now.
Taheri working a defensive guard here.
Iniesta trying to control the position from guard on top but Taheri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taheri bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Iniesta's guard.

Iniesta pushes Taheri off and gets back to his feet.

Iniesta gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Iniesta wants to stand but Taheri is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taheri looking to pass the guard.
Iniesta might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Iniesta can't keep his opponent in guard - Taheri advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Taheri is trying to control the action in half guard but Iniesta is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Iniesta is trying to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Taheri is trying to work for a kimura but Iniesta is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taheri wants to control but Iniesta is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andres Iniesta dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taheri looks for the body kick but Iniesta saw that one coming.
A head kick misses from Taheri.
Iniesta loads up on a big right hand but Taheri slips the punch.
Iniesta stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Iniesta wants it to stay on the feet.

Taheri gets a clinch.
Taheri is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Iniesta is keeping busy.

Iniesta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taheri fails with the takedown
and Iniesta counters with a left and a right that stings Taheri.
Nice takedown defense from Iniesta. No joy for Taheri on that attempt.
Andres Iniesta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tayeb Taheri.

Iniesta shoots in and bounces Taheri off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Iniesta pushing down on Taheri's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Iniesta is taking a breather. Taheri says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iniesta has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Iniesta tries to control but Taheri wriggling away.
Taheri is in all sorts of trouble here.
Taheri sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Iniesta seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Taheri is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Iniesta tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Taheri gets back to full guard.
Iniesta has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taheri trying to control the position.
Taheri lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Iniesta!
Taheri won't let Iniesta get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Taheri looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Iniesta is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Taheri has hold of Iniesta's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Iniesta manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Iniesta wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taheri lands a big shot there that rocks Iniesta but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Taheri wants to control the action but instead Iniesta gets a body lock and reverses into Taheri's guard! Nice work!
Iniesta wants to control from the top but Taheri keeps moving.
Iniesta knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taheri on the ground.
Taheri controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taheri is working an open guard so Iniesta takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Taheri with a poor takedown

and Iniesta counters by moving into the clinch.
Taheri is trying to drag Iniesta to the mat but Iniesta just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Iniesta breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taheri shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Iniesta's guard.
Taheri controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Iniesta is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Taheri trying to control the position from guard on top but Iniesta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taheri pushing down on Iniesta's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Taheri is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Iniesta has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Andres Iniesta will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Taheri swats away the attempt to clinch by Iniesta.

Iniesta shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taheri moves into full guard.
Taheri wants to sweep here but Iniesta controlling him for the moment.
Iniesta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taheri is keeping the position for now.
Iniesta wants to control from the top but Taheri keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taheri is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taheri pushes Iniesta off and scrambles back to his feet.
Taheri clinches but Iniesta breaks the clinch

and Iniesta counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Iniesta.
Iniesta tries to circle away but Taheri has him pinned against the cage.
Iniesta tries to break free but Taheri pushes him back against the cage.

Iniesta breaks from the clinch.
Taheri misses with a takedown
and Iniesta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taheri tries to clinch but Iniesta is having none of it.
Taheri shoots and misses

and Iniesta counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Taheri is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Iniesta gets to his feet. Taheri looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Iniesta throws the left hand but Taheri avoids the punch easily.
Taheri shoots in for a takedown but Iniesta shows good takedown defense.
Andres Iniesta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tayeb Taheri.

Iniesta moves into the clinch.

Iniesta breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Iniesta circles away from the clinch attempt.
Iniesta misses with a double jab

and Taheri counters with a single leg into guard. Iniesta didn't expect that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Taheri decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Iniesta, up you get!
Taheri slips a jab and a cross from Iniesta.

Taheri drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Taheri passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Iniesta!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iniesta taking shots to the head.

Taheri is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Iniesta is surviving well by controlling Taheri's body position as best he can.
Iniesta wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Taheri.
Iniesta wants to try and get back to his feet.

Taheri has isolated one of Iniesta's arms. Iniesta looking to fight him off but Taheri twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tayeb Taheri!