PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Murilo Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Tavares's choice of entrance music: Swedish House Mafia - One. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Ninja
vs
Tavares

182 cm
23
201 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Ninja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Tavares!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ninja throws and low kick but Tavares moves out of range easily.
Tavares tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ninja swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ninja shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tavares is looking to clinch.
Tavares blocks a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tavares looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tavares moves in looking to clinch but Ninja pushes him off.
Ninja fails with a takedown attempt.
Tavares tries to clinch up but Ninja circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares checks a leg kick nicely.
Ninja tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tavares swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Murilo Ninja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tavares fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tavares.
A combination from Tavares does no damage.
Ninja throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tavares counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ninja moves in looking to clinch but Tavares pushes him off.
Tavares keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tavares doesn't manage to clinch there - Ninja circles away.
Tavares wants to clinch.

Ninja closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tavares did well to prevent Ninja getting side control.

Ninja is working for a submission of some sort.
Ninja is breathing heavily.
Tavares wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninja is looking to advance position but Tavares won't allow it.
Ninja is working hard here to advance position.
Tavares is looking to escape.
Tavares avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ninja.
Ninja is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tavares is trying to stand up here but Ninja is controlling him well.
Tavares is not content to let Ninja control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ninja shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tavares as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares tries to clinch up but Ninja circles away and keeps his distance.
Ninja shoots for a takedown but Tavares saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tavares tries to clinch there but Ninja circles away.
Tavares tries to clinch up but Ninja circles away and keeps his distance.
Max Tavares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tavares tries to clinch there but Ninja circles away.
Tavares tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ninja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tavares wants to clinch but Ninja slips to the side
and Ninja counters with a stiff right hand.
Ninja closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tavares circles away.
Ninja clobbers Tavares with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ninja is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tavares sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tavares rushes Ninja and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Tavares tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tavares blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tavares with a knee to the head.

It looks like Murilo Ninja has been cut.
Tavares stalling in the clinch but Ninja improves position.
Ninja has had enough of the clinch but Tavares keeps him there for the moment.
Ninja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tavares landing knees to the head.
Tavares tries to break free but Ninja pushes him back against the ropes.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ninja is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ninja takes an elbow to the temple.
Tavares wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tavares is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Tavares tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tavares can't break the clinch.
Ninja keeps control of Tavares as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tavares wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ninja is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tavares pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tavares works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Tavares tries to break the clinch but Ninja is controlling the position.
Tavares working hard to break the clinch.
Tavares throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ninjas head.
Ninja is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ninja has Tavares pressed against the ropes, preventing Tavares from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Tavares dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Murilo Ninja's cut.
That's time! Ninja's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Danga de danga de dang - Tavares scores with a four punch combination!
A head kick misses from Tavares.
Tavares swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ninja counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ninja.
Tavares wants to get back to striking at distance but Ninja won't allow it.
Tavares looking to stall.
Ninja has Tavares pressed against the ropes, preventing Tavares from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tavares is trying to break free.
Tavares creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ninja's defenses.
Ninja tries to score a body lock takedown but Tavares shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tavares keeps control of Ninja as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ninja is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tavares is keeping busy.
Tavares tries to circle away but Ninja has him pinned against the ropes.
Ninja wants a takedown.
Tavares throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ninja blocks it with crossed arms.
Tavares comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ninja can't find room to land a body shot as Tavares controls the action.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tavares is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ninja goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tavares pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Murilo Ninja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tavares lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tavares misses with an elbow strike.
A short left from Tavares.
Tavares can't break the clinch.
Ninja looking for a takedown.
Tavares with a knee to the head.
Tavares works on Ninja's body with a couple of short punches.
Tavares unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ninja lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tavares throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tavares scores a nice knee to the body.
Tavares wants to get back to striking at distance but Ninja won't allow it.
Tavares looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ninja takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tavares working hard to break the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Tavares looking to throw knees to the head but Ninja is blocking nicely.
Tavares wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tavares scores with a knee to the head.
Tavares throws an elbow that misses.
Ninja wants a takedown but no success here.
Tavares tries to break the clinch but Ninja is controlling the position.
Ninja trying to stall but Tavares improves his position.
Ninja misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ninja takes a knee right on the jaw!

Ninja manages to break the clinch.
Tavares tries to clinch but Ninja moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninja throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Tavares connects with a high kick.
Murilo Ninja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice uppercut lands for Ninja. That snapped Tavares's head back.

Ninja scores a takedown into full mount!
Tavares is squirming around, avoiding Ninja's attempts to control the action.

Ninja has hold of Tavares's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tavares manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ninja tries to control but Tavares wriggling away.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja landing shots from mount.
Ninja trying to control but Tavares is having none of it.
Tavares really wants to buck Ninja off and get back to his feet.
Ninja with a couple of short strikes.

Ninja is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Tavares can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Ninja thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Ninja looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four 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.
Tavares wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ninja.
Tavares is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Tavares really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ninja. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ninja trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tavares's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Ninja has control of Tavares's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tavares regains control of the situation pretty easily.
You get the feeling that Tavares really doesn't like being in this position too much.
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 Murilo Ninja will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Murilo Ninja's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tavares wants to clinch up but Ninja keeps it at a distance.
Ninja throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tavares counters with a head kick. That will keep Ninja thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ninja throws a leg kick which misses Tavares's front leg but catches the back leg as Tavares tries to avoid it.
Tavares swats away the attempt to clinch by Ninja.
Tavares lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ninja will feel that in the morning.
Ninja swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tavares on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ninja tries to bum rush Tavares with a series of wild strikes but Tavares uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tavares tries to clinch up but Ninja circles away and keeps his distance.
Tavares works over Ninja's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares doesn't manage to clinch there - Ninja circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tavares looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ninja looks to land a right hand but Tavares moved out of range.
Tavares tries to clinch there but Ninja circles away.
Ninja blocks a head kick by Tavares.
The fighters circling - Tavares throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A head kick by Ninja misses
and Tavares counters with a good low kick that Ninja was not able to check.
Ninja misses with a low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tavares.

That's two 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.
Tavares tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ninja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tavares closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ninja counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ninja 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.
Tavares is looking to stand up but Ninja isn't so interested in that idea.
Ninja not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ninja in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ninja slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tavares is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares stops Ninja from passing to mount.
Tavares is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ninja asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ninja wants to control but Tavares is keeping him busy.
Tavares wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ninja tries for a takedown but Tavares circles away easily
and Tavares counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Tavares fails with an attempt to clinch.

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.
Tavares throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ninja counters with a nice uppercut.
Tavares throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Ninja finds it's way through Tavares's defenses.
Ninja looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Ninja shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ninja misses with a head shot.
Tavares squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Ninja scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Tavares?

And that's the end of the fight!
Murilo Ninja showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ninja 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Murilo Ninja!
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Murilo Ninja!

Murilo Ninja wins by majority decision!