PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Tallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Booker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tallo comes into the arena with DJ Distance-Mistral blaring out of the sound system. Booker has chosen Dont go for the one - Gaelic Storm as his entrance music. Manuel Tallo has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tallo
vs
Booker

178 cm
21
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Manuel Tallo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, David Booker!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Booker wants to clinch.
Booker tries to close the distance and clinch but Tallo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tallo misses with a takedown attempt - Booker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Booker doesn't manage to clinch there - Tallo circles away.
Tallo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
David Booker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Booker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Booker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Tallo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tallo throws a low kick but Booker moves out of range easily.
Booker doesn't manage to clinch there - Tallo circles away.
Tallo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tallo throws the kick towards the body but Booker avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker misses with a takedown attempt

and Tallo counters with a single leg into guard. Booker didn't expect that.

Tallo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Booker is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tallo, into his guard.

Booker drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Booker jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Tallo has his foot on Booker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Booker works his way back into a safe position though.
Booker wants to get up but he can't break Tallo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Booker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Tallo working for submissions but it's allowed Booker to get to half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Tallo wants to get back to full guard.
Booker is trying to control the action in half guard but Tallo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Tallo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Booker controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tallo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Booker stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Booker rushes Tallo and presses him up against the ropes.
Booker lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tallo can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Booker throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tallo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manuel Tallo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Booker stalls.
Tallo tries to pull guard but Booker won't allow it.
Tallo takes a shot to the head.
Booker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Booker looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Booker dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.

Booker tightens his grip and picks Tallo up, before dumping him to the ground. Tallo manages to land in guard.

Booker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Tallo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tallo is breathing heavily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Booker slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker advances to half guard.
Tallo regains full guard. Nicely done.
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.

Booker thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Tallo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tallo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Booker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Booker sitting in guard here, content to control.
Booker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Booker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tallo's guard.
Tallo looking for a sweep. Not yet Tallo, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Booker dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tallo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Booker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tallo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Booker moves in looking to clinch but Tallo pushes him off.
Tallo just misses with a punch to the body.
Tallo throws a front kick aimed at Booker's knee but Booker avoids it well.
Booker tries to clinch
and Tallo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Booker with a poor takedown
and Tallo counters with an inside leg kick.
Booker misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tallo counters with a low kick, right behind Booker 's knee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tallo keeps the fight on the outside.
Tallo keeps the fight on the outside.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tallo crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Booker - the referee stops the clock and Tallo gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Booker. Tallo manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Booker gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Tallo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker is trying to stand.

Booker kicks Tallo off and gets back to his feet.
Tallo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Booker.
Manuel Tallo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Booker closes the distance but Tallo moves to the side
and Tallo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Booker has his takedown stuffed
and Tallo counters with a one-two to the body.
Manuel Tallo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Booker.
Tallo tries for a takedown but Booker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tallo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tallo with a lazy takedown attempt

and Booker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Booker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tallo is working an open guard so Booker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Tallo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Booker to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Tallo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Booker uses it to pass to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Booker grinds an elbow into Tallo's temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Booker wants to control but Tallo is keeping him busy.
David Booker has got the better of the ground game so far.

Booker thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tallo is looking to regain half guard here but Booker keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tallo is working hard here to advance position.

Booker is trying to get an arm triangle but Tallo is defending well.
Booker is staying tight to Tallo's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Booker decides to stand back up. Booker steps back and let's Tallo get back to his feet.
Booker misses with a takedown attempt

and Tallo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Booker!

Tallo looking to secure an arm triangle but Booker defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tallo won't let Booker get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Tallo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Booker is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Booker and Tallo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Tallo stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but David Booker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Booker misses with a double jab
and Tallo counters with an outside leg kick.
Booker tries to clinch but Tallo is having none of it.
Tallo blocks a head kick by Booker.

Tallo tries to sprawl but Booker drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Tallo is trying to get back to full guard.
Tallo gets full guard.

Tallo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tallo has a closed guard, preventing Booker from standing up.

Booker stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tallo shoots in for a takedown but Booker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Booker throws a head kick but Tallo moves out of range.
Tallo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Booker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tallo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Booker misses with a straight left.
Booker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tallo avoids it really well and circles away.
Booker is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tallo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Booker.
Booker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Booker looks to land a combination but Tallo avoids it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Booker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Booker doesn't manage to clinch there - Tallo circles away.
Tallo misses with a takedown attempt

and Booker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Booker missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tallo is staying active underneath Booker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tallo is pressing down on Booker's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Booker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tallo is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tallo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Booker defends well.

Tallo is working an open guard so Booker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Manuel Tallo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Booker doesn't manage to clinch there - Tallo circles away.
Booker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tallo circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tallo counters with a solid body kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Booker.
Tallo tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tallo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Booker thows a huge punch but Tallo dodges it nicely.
Tallo is looking to improve his position.
Tallo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tallo.
Booker forces his way into half guard.
Booker stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Booker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Booker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Booker!