PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gordon Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tendai Mtarawira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gordon Freeman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Freeman
vs
Mtarawira

190 cm
21
220 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
248 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gordon Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tendai Mtarawira!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mtarawira has closed the distance and engaged Freeman in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Freeman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mtarawira has Freeman pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Freeman manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mtarawira can't find room to land a body shot as Freeman controls the action.
Freeman prevents a takedown attempt there.

Freeman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mtarawira is defended easily by Freeman.
Gordon Freeman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tendai Mtarawira.
Mtarawira is looking to clinch.
Mtarawira wants to clinch.
Mtarawira closes this distance looking for a takedown but Freeman circles away.
Mtarawira looks to clinch
and Freeman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mtarawira misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Freeman.
Gordon Freeman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Mtarawira shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mtarawira controlling the action here.
Mtarawira trying to advance position but Freeman counters by regaining guard.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Mtarawira from controlling successfully.
Mtarawira seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tendai Mtarawira hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Mtarawira scores with a takedown into Freeman's guard.
Freeman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Freeman tries to get out of the position.

Freeman scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Mtarawira fails with a takedown attempt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Freeman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mtarawira closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mtarawira controls the position.
Freeman is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mtarawira asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Mtarawira's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Freeman is not content to let Mtarawira control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tendai Mtarawira dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Freeman swats away the attempt to clinch by Mtarawira.
Mtarawira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Freeman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Freeman swings and misses with a hook to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Freeman wants to stall.
The referee calls for Mtarawira to work.
Freeman stalling in the clinch but Mtarawira improves position.
Freeman stalling in the clinch.
Freeman is trying to break free.
Mtarawira's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mtarawira controlling the action here for a moment.

Mtarawira has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Freeman clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Mtarawira biding his time, looking for the opening.
Mtarawira trying to control momentarily.
Mtarawira biding his time, controlling Freeman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mtarawira looking to hold on to the position here but Freeman rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Freeman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mtarawira controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tendai Mtarawira was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Freeman keeps the fight on the outside.

Mtarawira rushes Freeman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mtarawira holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Mtarawira's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Freeman trying to stall but Mtarawira improves his position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mtarawira lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mtarawira stalling away here and it's allowed Freeman to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Freeman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mtarawira.
Mtarawira seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mtarawira wants to control from the top but Freeman keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mtarawira must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Tendai Mtarawira has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Mtarawira has closed the distance and engaged Freeman in a clinch.
Mtarawira displaying some good clinch control by pressing Freeman up against the cage.
Freeman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Freeman looking to stall.
Freeman prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mtarawira tries for a takedown. No joy.
Freeman leaning against his opponent.
Freeman is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Freeman wants to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tendai Mtarawira 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. This is the final round!

Mtarawira tries to clinch but Freeman moves out of range.
Freeman swats away the attempt to clinch by Mtarawira.
Tendai Mtarawira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freeman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Freeman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Mtarawira closes the distance and clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mtarawira is stalling here.
Freeman can't break the clinch.
Freeman tries to stall but Mtarawira uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Freeman can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gordon Freeman.

Mtarawira closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mtarawira lands in his opponent's guard.

Freeman manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Mtarawira decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mtarawira connects with a nice short shot to Freeman's temple.
Mtarawira is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Mtarawira wants to control from the top but Freeman keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mtarawira postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mtarawira trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.
Mtarawira tries to free his leg and advance position but Freeman is retaining full guard.
Mtarawira is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mtarawira trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tendai Mtarawira hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Mtarawira closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mtarawira stalling in the clinch.
Mtarawira tries to score a body lock takedown but Freeman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tendai Mtarawira seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Mtarawira gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Mtarawira seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mtarawira trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mtarawira trying to move into half guard but instead Freeman has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mtarawira has his feet on Freeman's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Gordon Freeman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Freeman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mtarawira has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Freeman regains guard immediately.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mtarawira is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tendai Mtarawira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mtarawira trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.
Tendai Mtarawira is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mtarawira is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tendai Mtarawira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mtarawira has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tendai Mtarawira!