PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephan Anton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tayeb Taheri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Anton
vs
Taheri

174 cm
28
181 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

185 cm
22
180 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephan Anton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Tayeb Taheri!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Anton. That snapped Taheri's head back.
Anton swats away the attempt to clinch by Taheri.
Taheri has his takedown stuffed
and Anton counters with a nice low kick that buckles Taheri's knee momentarily.
Anton stuffs the takedown.
Taheri misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stephan Anton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tayeb Taheri.
Anton misses with a head kick.
Anton misses with a hook
and Taheri connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Anton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taheri moves forwards but Anton connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Anton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Anton lands the left hand.
Taheri tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taheri tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taheri shoots in and drives through. Anton sprawls well.
Anton misses with a two punch combination.
Anton throws a right hand that Taheri ducks under and follows up with a left that Taheri also avoids with ease.
Anton swings away with a body shot that misses

and Taheri counters with a shoot takedown. Anton fights it but they end up in guard.
Taheri working some strikes from top position.
Taheri trying to control the position from guard on top but Anton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taheri looking to pass the guard.
Taheri in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Anton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taheri.
Taheri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anton is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Anton tries to circle away but Taheri has him pinned against the cage.

Anton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anton throws a nice looking combination but Taheri bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taheri checks the leg kick nicely there.
Anton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taheri throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Anton's waist but Anton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taheri off to one side.
Taheri shoots in for a takedown but Anton shows good takedown defense.
Taheri blocks a head kick by Anton.
Taheri fails with an attempt to clinch.
Anton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Taheri.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stephan Anton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Taheri takes the fight into the clinch.
Anton is looking to break free of the clinch but Taheri has double underhooks.
Taheri misses with a knee to the head.
Anton can't break the clinch.
Taheri has Anton pressed against the cage, preventing Anton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Anton's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taheri fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Taheri has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Anton is trying to keep an underhook but Taheri manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Taheri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Taheri is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Anton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taheri.
Anton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anton is not content to let Taheri control the position.

Taheri is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Anton is just riding it out for now. Taheri eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anton wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Anton is defending against the submission attempts here by Taheri.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tayeb Taheri dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Taheri fails to land the takedown.
Taheri with a lazy takedown attempt
and Anton counters with a left to the body.
Anton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taheri.
Stephan Anton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tayeb Taheri.
Anton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taheri manages to avoid it.
Stephan Anton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anton swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Taheri counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Anton's guard now.
Anton wants to get back to his feet but Taheri is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Taheri wants to control from the top but Anton keeps moving.

Taheri postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Anton is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Taheri, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anton stands up and waves to Taheri to follow him.
Anton fails to land with a series of punches.
Taheri avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taheri shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taheri tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taheri misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stephan Anton is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taheri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Anton.
Anton tries to score with a low kick but Taheri moves his leg out of the way.
Taheri is trying hard to land a takedown here. Anton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Anton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Anton wants it to stay on the feet.
Taheri is breathing heavily.
Anton tries to land a front kick but Taheri steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Anton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taheri keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Anton.
Anton stalks Taheri and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taheri's face. Taheri staggers backwards, shaken.
Anton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch combination from Anton misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Anton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Taheri or perhaps it was just good defense by Anton which made him look bad.
Anton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taheri tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Anton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taheri fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Anton.
Anton jabs at Taheri's body.
Taheri shoots in for a double leg but Anton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Anton dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Taheri. That did some damage!
Anton pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Anton misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anton throws a head kick but Taheri moves out of range.
Anton swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Taheri misses with a takedown attempt - Anton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Anton throws a head kick but Taheri moves out of range.
Anton tries to bum rush Taheri with a series of wild strikes but Taheri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taheri tries to close the distance and clinch but Anton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anton looks to land a combination but Taheri avoids it well.
Taheri fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taheri shoots for a takedown but Anton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephan Anton dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Anton falls off balance throwing a combination

and Taheri holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Anton is pressed up against the cage. Taheri has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Anton down to the mat. Anton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stephan Anton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Anton throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Taheri has his takedown stuffed
and Anton counters with a left and a right that stings Taheri.
Taheri dives in and grabs Anton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Anton pushes down on Taheri's head and hops out.
Stephan Anton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tayeb Taheri.
Anton slaps away a takedown attempt from Taheri, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Taheri tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Anton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taheri takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A chopping leg kick lands by Anton.
Taheri showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Anton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taheri has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Anton.
Taheri dodges the punch combination from Anton.
Anton misses with a two punch combination.
Taheri defending well as Anton loads up on a big left hand.
Taheri shoots in and drives through. Anton sprawls well.
Anton lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Tayeb Taheri has been cut.
Anton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taheri.
Anton lands a body shot.
Anton fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Taheri checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anton scores with a punch to the head.
Anton connects with a leg kick. Taheri looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anton tries to bum rush Taheri with a series of wild strikes but Taheri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Anton lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Taheri shoots in looking for a takedown. Anton tries to sprawl out of it but Taheri keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Anton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taheri avoids a punch combination nicely.
Anton throws a head kick but Taheri moves out of range.
Taheri fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Taheri or perhaps it was just good defense by Anton which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anton throws a nice head kick!
Taheri tries for a takedown but Anton sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taheri.
Anton misses with the combination.
Anton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Anton misses with a looping left.
Anton misses with a hook to the body

and Taheri moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anton prevents Taheri from breaking the clinch.

Anton breaks the clinch.
Taheri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Anton.
Anton lands with a good body shot.
Anton lands the left hand.
No joy there for Anton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Anton. Taheri does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anton lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Anton misses with a looping right.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anton misses with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taheri has a takedown stuffed.
Taheri tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Anton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephan Anton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Anton 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephan Anton!