PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Tassen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Isaiah Maxwell had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Maxwell
vs
Tassen

174 cm
25
155 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

175 cm
29
150 lbs
17 - 10 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Maxwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Tassen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tassen throws the kick towards the body but Maxwell avoids it.
Maxwell tries for a takedown but Tassen circles away easily
enabling Tassen to counter with a crisp jab.
Maxwell tries for a takedown but Tassen circles away easily
and Tassen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tassen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maxwell with a poor takedown
and Tassen counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaiah Maxwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tassen misses with a leg kick
and Maxwell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A slow jab from Tassen misses its intended target.
Tassen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slow jab from Tassen misses its intended target.
Tassen just misses with a punch to the body.
Maxwell with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tassen counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Maxwell has his takedown stuffed
and Tassen counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Maxwell throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tassen counters with a nice uppercut.
Maxwell looks to score with a jab to the body but Tassen is just out of range.
Maxwell doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tassen counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell misses with a takedown
letting Tassen counter with a right hand.
Maxwell misses with a shot to the body
and Tassen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lee Tassen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tassen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Maxwell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tassen's guard now.
Tassen working a defensive guard here.
Maxwell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tassen is keeping the position for now.

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

Maxwell drops back looking for a leg! Tassen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tassen manages to kick Maxwell off! Maxwell jumps back into Tassen's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maxwell looking to sit in guard and control but Tassen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maxwell working for submissions but it's allowed Tassen to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tassen throws a head kick that misses

and Maxwell decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tassen's guard.
Maxwell works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Maxwell passes to full mount!

Maxwell goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Tassen is on top in guard.

Maxwell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maxwell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tassen manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell trying to control but Tassen is working from the bottom.
Tassen wants to sweep but no luck.
Maxwell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maxwell wants to control from the top but Tassen keeps moving.
Maxwell slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two 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.
Tassen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Maxwell.
Tassen defending against the ground and pound.
Tassen is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Maxwell is controlling him well.
Tassen stops Maxwell from passing to mount.
Maxwell wants to control but Tassen is keeping him busy.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Maxwell with the ground and pound but Tassen regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell trying to pass the guard but Tassen defending well.
Maxwell is trying to control. Tassen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Maxwell frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Maxwell with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Maxwell trying to control but Tassen is having none of it.
Tassen has given up his back.

That's four 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.

Tassen is in a bad position with Maxwell working for a choke. Tassen manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Maxwell is trying to keep Tassen in close.
Tassen tries to stand but Maxwell is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaiah Maxwell dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Maxwell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tassen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Maxwell's knee momentarily.
Maxwell tries for a takedown but Tassen circles away easily
and Maxwell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tassen looks to score with a jab to the body but Maxwell is just out of range.
Maxwell ducks under a wild hook from Tassen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tassen throws a jab but it's blocked by Maxwell.
Some bone on bone action there as Maxwell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Maxwell shoots and misses
and Tassen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaiah Maxwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maxwell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tassen counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A shot to the body from Maxwell misses
enabling Tassen to counter with a crisp jab.
Tassen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maxwell.
Maxwell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tassen misses with a hook. Maxwell ducked under it nicely.
Maxwell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tassen counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell misses with a takedown
and Tassen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tassen throws a lazy head kick

and Maxwell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Maxwell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maxwell trying to move into half guard but instead Tassen has managed to sweep!
Tassen postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maxwell is looking for a triangle but Tassen pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maxwell trying to control the position.
Maxwell looking for a sweep. Not yet Maxwell, not yet.
Maxwell controls Tassen momentarily but Tassen frees himself.
Maxwell 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maxwell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tassen manages to get himself to full guard.

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 Isaiah Maxwell.
I think Maxwell 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!