PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Tachia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Badr Ramsay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramsay has chosen Protect Ya Neck by Wu Tang Clan as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tachia
vs
Ramsay

186 cm
29
217 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

182 cm
24
219 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lyoto Tachia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Badr Ramsay!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ramsay shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tachia manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tachia is looking to stand up but Ramsay isn't so interested in that idea.
Ramsay controlling from the top position.
Ramsay slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ramsay working the head with strikes.
Tachia is trying to get back to his feet.
Ramsay throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The strikes coming from Ramsay are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tachia avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ramsay.

Ramsay decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tachia to his feet.
Tachia lunges at Ramsay with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ramsay's hand.
Ramsay fails with a takedown attempt.
Tachia throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ramsay sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Ramsay gets a clinch.
Tachia wants to get back to striking at distance but Ramsay won't allow it.
Ramsay misses with some punches.
Tachia is trying to force a seperation but Ramsay has the dominant position.
Tachia managing to block the knees to the body from Ramsay.
Tachia gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ramsay.
Tachia wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tachia blocks the elbow strike.
Tachia is trying to break the clinch but Ramsay is controlling him.

Ramsay manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ramsay wants to stand up but Tachia is controlling him.
Tachia wants to get up but he can't break Ramsay's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ramsay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lyoto Tachia wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Tachia tries to clinch but Ramsay moves away
and Ramsay counters with a nice kick to the body.

Ramsay scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Tachia makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ramsay misses with a few strikes there.
Ramsay throws a nice looking combination but Tachia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ramsay circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ramsay counters with a shoot takedown. Tachia fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tachia wants to get back to his feet but Ramsay is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tachia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ramsay has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ramsay controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramsay throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ramsay trying to control but Tachia is working from the bottom.
Ramsay content to stall in guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Badr Ramsay has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Ramsay takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ramsay is working for takedown but Tachia is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Ramsay dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tachia tries to clinch

and Ramsay counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ramsay wants to pass the guard but Tachia is keeping the position.
Tachia wants to stand and escape but Ramsay is having none of it.
Ramsay trying to control the position from guard on top but Tachia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ramsay loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ramsay throwing strikes from guard but Tachia blocks nicely.
Ramsay wants to control from the top but Tachia keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ramsay stops Tachia from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramsay landing with the ground and pound.
Ramsay postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ramsay won't allow Tachia to get back to his feet.
Ramsay throws and elbow that misses. Tachia uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ramsay's guard. Nice move by Tachia!
Ramsay seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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.

We're going to have a standup here because Lyoto Tachia wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Tachia tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ramsay counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tachia!
Ramsay can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tachia is looking to escape.
Badr Ramsay has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tachia avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ramsay.
Tachia takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Tachia squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Ramsay sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramsay throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Tachia is squirming around, avoiding Ramsay's attempts to control the action.
Ramsay lands with some strikes.
Ramsay tries to control but Tachia wriggling away.
The referee warns Tachia that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ramsay looking to finish with strikes here!
Ramsay looking to finish with strikes here!
Ramsay wants to control the pace but Tachia is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramsay punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ramsay trying to control but Tachia is having none of it.
Tachia is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Ramsay raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ramsay cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Ramsay showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ramsay blocks a head kick by Tachia.

Ramsay manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tachia on his heels. He'll look to pass Tachia's guard now, I'm sure.
Ramsay controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Tachia has his feet on Ramsay's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Tachia tries to clinch but Ramsay moves away

and Ramsay counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tachia being controlled against the cage.
Tachia stops a takedown attempt from Ramsay.
Tachia blocks the elbow strike.
Tachia is trying to break free.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ramsay wants a takedown.
Tachia takes an elbow to the temple.
Ramsay tries to pull guard but Tachia holds him up against the cage and eventually Ramsay drops back down to his feet.
Lyoto Tachia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Badr Ramsay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tachia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ramsay drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ramsay throws an elbow but it misses.
Ramsay pushes off an throws an elbow but Tachia leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Tachia has Ramsay pressed against the cage.
Ramsay tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tachia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ramsay keeps control of Tachia as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ramsay has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tachia avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ramsay wants a takedown.
Tachia gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ramsay.
Ramsay takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tachia gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ramsay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tachia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ramsay tries to pull guard but Tachia holds him up against the cage and eventually Ramsay drops back down to his feet.
Ramsay is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Tachia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ramsay is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tachia sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tachia tries to clinch there but Ramsay circles away.
Tachia closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ramsay counters by clinching up.
Tachia stops a takedown attempt from Ramsay.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tachia.
Tachia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ramsay breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tachia is looking to clinch but Ramsay is avoiding it.
Ramsay shoots in for a double leg but Tachia sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Tachia instigates a clinch.
Ramsay tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ramsay creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tachia is pressed up against the cage. Ramsay has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tachia down to the mat. Tachia avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Tachia moves into the clinch successfully.

Tachia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Badr Ramsay is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ramsay circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tachia doesn't manage to clinch there - Ramsay circles away.
Tachia throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ramsay sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tachia closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ramsay counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tachia wants to get back to his feet.

Tachia kicks Ramsay off and gets back to his feet.

Ramsay closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tachia quickly recovers to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ramsay seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tachia does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lyoto Tachia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ramsay is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ramsay prevents Tachia from standing back up.

Tachia has one foot on Ramsay's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Tachia moves in looking to clinch but Ramsay pushes him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Badr Ramsay.
I've got Ramsay 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Badr Ramsay!