PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stanislav Tarasenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Louis Winthorpe III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tarasenko
vs
Winthorpe III

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stanislav Tarasenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Louis Winthorpe III!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tarasenko throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Winthorpe III tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tarasenko is in Winthorpe III's guard.
Winthorpe III is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tarasenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Winthorpe III is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Winthorpe III manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Winthorpe III misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Winthorpe III tries to control but Tarasenko wriggling away.
Winthorpe III breaks from Tarasenko's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Winthorpe III tries to control but Tarasenko wriggling away.
Tarasenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winthorpe III tries to control but Tarasenko wriggling away.
Tarasenko is looking to get to half guard.
Winthorpe III can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tarasenko is looking to escape.
Tarasenko is looking to improve his position but Winthorpe III isn't that keen on the idea.
Winthorpe III looking to control but Tarasenko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tarasenko tries to lock up and control but Winthorpe III gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tarasenko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Winthorpe III tries to control but Tarasenko wriggling away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Winthorpe III sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Winthorpe III's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Winthorpe III trying to control but Tarasenko is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Louis Winthorpe III.
Winthorpe III doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tarasenko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Winthorpe III won't be happy with that.
Tarasenko lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winthorpe III is looking for a sweep.
Tarasenko throws an elbow but Winthorpe III slips to the side and avoids it well.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tarasenko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Winthorpe III is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tarasenko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Tarasenko is looking to pass Winthorpe III's guard but actually Winthorpe III recovers to full guard.
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.
Winthorpe III wants to stand up but Tarasenko is controlling him.
Winthorpe III looks gassed!

Winthorpe III uses the ropes to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tarasenko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Winthorpe III lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tarasenko!
Winthorpe III tries to push Tarasenko's head away but Tarasenko is holding on tight.
Tarasenko is squirming around, avoiding Winthorpe III's attempts to control the action.
Tarasenko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tarasenko tries to get out of the position.
Tarasenko is looking to improve his position but Winthorpe III isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanislav Tarasenko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

A shot to the liver by Tarasenko. Beautiful body shot.
Louis Winthorpe III seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Winthorpe III lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tarasenko circles away quickly and effectively.
Winthorpe III displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tarasenko.
Tarasenko tries to clinch up but Winthorpe III circles away and keeps his distance.
No joy there for Winthorpe III, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A head kick misses from Winthorpe III.
Tarasenko tries to clinch up but Winthorpe III circles away and keeps his distance.

Tarasenko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Winthorpe III kicks Tarasenko off and gets back to his feet.
Tarasenko lands a really nice looking cross but Winthorpe III seems unphased.

Tarasenko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Winthorpe III wants to stand up but Tarasenko is controlling him.
Winthorpe III working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarasenko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Winthorpe III wants to stand and escape but Tarasenko is having none of it.
Tarasenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tarasenko looking to pass the guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tarasenko wants to control from the top but Winthorpe III keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Stanislav Tarasenko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Winthorpe III scores with a head kick.

Winthorpe III gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winthorpe III wants to stand and escape but Tarasenko is having none of it.
Stanislav Tarasenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Winthorpe III trying to control the position.
Tarasenko sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stanislav Tarasenko just wasn't active enough.
Winthorpe III with a poor takedown

and Tarasenko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Winthorpe III's guard.
Winthorpe III keeping moving, preventing Tarasenko from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winthorpe III is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tarasenko looking to sit in guard and control but Winthorpe III gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Tarasenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Winthorpe III is pushing down on Tarasenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tarasenko is fighting to maintain full guard but Winthorpe III has managed to sneak the leg through.
Winthorpe III throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tarasenko is staying active underneath Winthorpe III, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tarasenko is looking for a sweep. Winthorpe III is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Winthorpe III works his way into full mount!
Winthorpe III trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tarasenko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Winthorpe III lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanislav Tarasenko dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tarasenko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tarasenko lands in his opponent's guard.
Winthorpe III wants to stand up but Tarasenko is controlling him.
Winthorpe III controlling Tarasenko's posture.
Tarasenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Winthorpe III is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tarasenko prevents Winthorpe III from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tarasenko wants to stand but Winthorpe III has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Winthorpe III scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Tarasenko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tarasenko has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Winthorpe III works to full guard.
Tarasenko stopping the sweep attempt from Winthorpe III.
Tarasenko controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarasenko wants to get up but he can't break Winthorpe III's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tarasenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Winthorpe III looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Winthorpe III wants to stand but Tarasenko is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stanislav Tarasenko wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Tarasenko shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Tarasenko is thwarting Winthorpe III's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Winthorpe III makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Tarasenko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Winthorpe III scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tarasenko gets back to full guard.
Tarasenko keeping moving, preventing Winthorpe III from controlling successfully.
Winthorpe III throwing strikes from guard but Tarasenko blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winthorpe III passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Winthorpe III trying to control the position but Tarasenko is working away.
Tarasenko is trying to control Winthorpe III's posture but Winthorpe III avoids it.
Louis Winthorpe III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tarasenko tries to buck Winthorpe III off but Winthorpe III is having none of it.
Winthorpe III is looking to take a break and control but Tarasenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tarasenko wants to control but Winthorpe III postures up.

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 Stanislav Tarasenko.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tarasenko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stanislav Tarasenko!