PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Clark Channel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephan Tasker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Channel
vs
Tasker

190 cm
18
191 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Advantage XXX nutrition
Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Clark Channel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stephan Tasker!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Skip Squint and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Channel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Channel tries a head kick but it misses.
Tasker shoots in but Channel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Channel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tasker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Channel.
Channel doesn't manage to clinch there - Tasker circles away.
Channel is looking to clinch but Tasker is avoiding it.
Tasker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Channel is looking to clinch but Tasker is avoiding it.

Tasker feints and as Channel raises his hands in defense, Tasker changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Channel wants to get back to his feet but Tasker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tasker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Channel is wriggling around but Tasker manages to pass to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Channel pushes Tasker off looking to stand but Tasker dives back in and keeps control.
Tasker trying to control from half guard but Channel is working away.
Channel tries to kick Tasker off but Tasker keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Tasker or perhaps it was just good defense by Channel which made him look bad.
Good exchange - Channel coming out on top.
Clark Channel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A choreographed right hand from Channel misses the target.

Tasker feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Channel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Channel tries to get out of the position.
Tasker wants to pass the guard but Channel is keeping the position.
Tasker is standing up over Channel. Channel looks to escape but Tasker dives into side control.
Channel is pushing Tasker's head away, looking to escape. Tasker manages to hold on to the position though.
Channel is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasker wants to control but Channel is keeping him busy.
Tasker might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Channel kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Channel wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Tasker shoots in for a double leg but Channel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Clark Channel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephan Tasker.
Channel tries to clinch but Tasker moves out of range.
Channel tries to clinch but Tasker is having none of it.
Channel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tasker swats away the attempt to clinch by Channel.
Channel is looking to clinch but Tasker is avoiding it.
Tasker blocks a head kick by Channel.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Channel is looking to clinch but Tasker is avoiding it.
Tasker shoots in for a takedown but Channel shows good takedown defense.
Tasker ducks under a wild hook from Channel.
Channel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tasker swats away the attempt to clinch by Channel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephan Tasker dominated that round.
That's time! Channel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tasker swats away the attempt to clinch by Channel.
Stephan Tasker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Channel has closed the distance and engaged Tasker in a clinch.

Channel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Channel loads up on a big right hand but Tasker slips the punch.
Channel moves in looking to clinch but Tasker pushes him off.
A combination from Tasker does no damage.
Channel throws a jab when Tasker was well out of range.
Tasker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Channel falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tasker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Channel tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tasker counters with a series of strikes. Channel will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tasker circles away from the clinch attempt

so Tasker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tasker is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Channel has his feet on Tasker's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Channel darts in trying to clinch
and Tasker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tasker circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tasker counters with a series of strikes. Channel will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tasker swats away the attempt to clinch by Channel.
Channel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Tasker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Channel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Channel throws a combination that misses
and Tasker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Clark Channel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Channel looks to clinch
and Tasker counters with a left and a right that stings Channel.
Channel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tasker counters with a left to the body.
Channel wants to clinch.
Tasker swats away the attempt to clinch by Channel.
Tasker throws a head kick but Channel moves out of range.
Channel swings away with a body shot that misses
and Tasker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Channel tries to clinch but Tasker moves away

and Tasker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Channel's guard now.
Tasker is standing up over Channel. Channel looks to escape but Tasker dives into side control.
Tasker working the strikes but Channel uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Channel is trying to stand up here but Tasker is controlling him well.

Tasker seems to be working for a kimura but Channel defends the submission attempt.

Channel manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Tasker shoots in but Channel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Channel throws a poor cross that misses
and Tasker counters with a nice uppercut.
Channel looks to clinch
letting Tasker counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Channel tries to clinch up.
Channel misses with a hook
and Tasker counters with a three punch combo that has Channel backing up. Channel nods at Tasker to acknowledge the strikes.
Tasker circles away from the clinch attempt.
Channel misses with a body shot

and Tasker counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Channel is trying to stand.
Tasker is trying to control the action in half guard but Channel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Channel is trying to stand.

Tasker looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tasker stops Channel from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephan Tasker 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!

Channel tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Tasker counters with a takedown into side control.
Tasker wants to stand but Channel is controlling his arm.
Channel is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Tasker has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Tasker tries to stand but Channel is controlling his head.
Channel is trying to buck Tasker off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tasker working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tasker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Channel is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tasker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tasker listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Channel moves in looking to clinch but Tasker pushes him off.
Channel tries to clinch but Tasker moves away

and Tasker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Channel is looking to stand up but Tasker isn't so interested in that idea.
Tasker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Channel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Channel wants to stand and escape but Tasker is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Channel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tasker stops Channel from standing up.
Channel is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Tasker dives into side control.
Channel wants to get back to his feet but Tasker drags him back down.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Channel moves in looking to clinch but Tasker pushes him off.

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.

Channel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tasker fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Channel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Channel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tasker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Channel tries to clinch but Tasker is having none of it.

Channel takes the fight into the clinch.
Clark Channel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Channel breaks from the clinch.
Channel closes the distance but Tasker moves to the side
and Tasker counters with a left and a right that stings Channel.
Channel swings widly with a right hand
letting Tasker counter with a right hand.

Tasker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Tasker drops back looking for a leg! Channel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Channel manages to kick Tasker off! Tasker jumps back into Channel's guard.

Channel working for a triangle but Tasker defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephan Tasker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tasker 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

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