PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drederick Tatum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Borges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Drederick Tatum has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tatum
vs
Borges

188 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Drederick Tatum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matheus Borges!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tatum shoots and misses
and Borges counters with a stiff right hand.
Borges is looking to score with low kicks.
Borges throws a sloppy head kick and Tatum moves out of range easily.
Tatum has his takedown stuffed

and Borges counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tatum trying to keep a closed guard but Borges is proving a slippery customer.
Borges in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tatum is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Borges must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Borges loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tatum seems keen to control Borges's posture.
Tatum wants to sweep but no luck.

We're going to have a standup here because Drederick Tatum wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Borges shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tatum's guard.
Borges really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tatum. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borges chips away with some ground and pound.
Borges throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tatum works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tatum looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Borges is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Borges cracks Tatum with a solid left hand.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Borges postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Borges postures up in Tatum's guard and throws a big left but Tatum blocks it.
Borges throwing strikes from guard but Tatum blocks nicely.
Tatum is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tatum is breathing heavily.
Borges stopping the sweep attempt from Tatum.
Tatum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tatum avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Borges wants to control from the top but Tatum keeps moving.
Borges chips away with some ground and pound.
Borges stands up over Tatum, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tatum is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Borges gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Tatum stuffs the takedown.
Borges moves to clinch but Tatum breaks away
and Tatum makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Borges lands a head kick. Tatum smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Borges ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tatum moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatum misses with a jab to the body
and Borges counters with a straight right hand.
Borges jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Tatum drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tatum stands up over Borges, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tatum trying to control but Borges is working from the bottom.
Tatum won't allow Borges to get back to his feet.
Tatum wants to control from the top but Borges keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tatum stands and steps away. Borges gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Borges tries to clinch up.
Borges misses with a double jab.
Tatum tries for a takedown but Borges circles away easily

and Borges counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drederick Tatum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tatum trying to control but Borges postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Borges gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Borges fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tatum sprawls well initially but Borges persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Borges dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tatum shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Borges counters with a takedown into side control.

Borges decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tatum to his feet.
Borges shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tatum as he avoids it easily.
Tatum shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Borges pinned against the cage. Borges gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Borges, right into the meat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Borges darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatum gets full guard.
Borges scoring with some ground and pound.
Tatum trying to control the position.
Tatum keeping moving, preventing Borges from controlling successfully.
Tatum looking for a sweep. Not yet Tatum, not yet.
Tatum keeping moving, preventing Borges from controlling successfully.
Borges keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tatum's head.
Matheus Borges has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tatum has his feet on Borges's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Borges dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borges moves in looking to clinch but Tatum pushes him off.
Borges fails with a takedown attempt.
Borges tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tatum swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tatum fails with the takedown

and Borges counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tatum won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drederick Tatum. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Borges crashes against the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Borges prevents Tatum from escaping the position.
Borges scoring with punches and elbows.
Tatum is looking for a sweep.
Borges scoring with punches from side control.
Tatum gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nice strikes from Borges there.
Tatum trying to hold on to Borges's head to control him but Borges postures up.
Borges landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tatum blocking the ground and pound attempt from Borges.
Tatum is staying active underneath Borges, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Borges stops Tatum from getting back to his feet.
Tatum blocking the ground and pound attempt from Borges.

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.
Borges lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tatum is concentrating on defense, preventing Borges from advancing position.
Tatum wants to control but Borges is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Borges takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tatum has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Borges is working away from the top position though.

Borges stands up from half guard.
Borges tries for a takedown but Tatum circles away easily

and Tatum decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Borges's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borges controlling the position.
Tatum trying to control the position from guard on top but Borges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Borges showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Borges shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tatum but Tatum pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tatum doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Borges counters with a leg kick.
Borges fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tatum is defended easily by Borges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Borges there.
Borges working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Tatum's thigh. Tatum counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Borges won't allow Tatum to get back to his feet.
Tatum working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Borges.
Borges is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tatum 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.
Borges lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Borges wanted to stand there but Tatum had control of the position.
Tatum wants to stand up but Borges is controlling him.
Matheus Borges is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Tatum is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Borges manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Drederick Tatum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice inside leg kick there by Borges. That's going to slow Tatum down.
Borges fails with the takedown.
Drederick Tatum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matheus Borges.
Tatum tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Borges paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Drederick Tatum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Borges misses with a left hand

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatum is fighting to break Borges's control of his arms but Borges is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Tatum stops Borges from standing up.
Tatum preventing the sweep.
Borges is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Borges keeping moving, preventing Tatum from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tatum won't allow Borges to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Borges moves in looking to clinch but Tatum pushes him off.
Tatum fails with the takedown

and Borges counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Borges content to stall in guard here.
Borges tries to stand but Tatum is controlling from the bottom.
Tatum is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tatum keeping moving, preventing Borges from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matheus Borges.
I've got Borges 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matheus Borges!