PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Richie Strath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Tabor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strath's entrance music is Parallel Universe. A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Strath
vs
Tabor

195 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Richie Strath!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tony Tabor!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tabor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strath avoids it really well and circles away.
Strath tries for a takedown but Tabor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Tabor gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tabor pulls Strath into guard.
Strath working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Strath wants to control from the top but Tabor keeps moving.
Strath missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tabor keeping moving, preventing Strath from controlling successfully.
Tabor wants to sweep but no luck.
Strath trying to control but Tabor is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Richie Strath wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Tabor shoots in and drives through. Strath sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strath keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Richie Strath has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Tabor.
Strath tries to clinch up but Tabor circles away and keeps his distance.

Tabor closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Strath's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Strath tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tabor has Strath pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Strath manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tabor has Strath pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Strath manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Strath misses with a punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Strath's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tabor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Tabor breaks from the clinch.
Strath shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tabor sprawls well. Tabor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Strath gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strath stuffs the takedown attempt from Tabor. Tabor gets slowly back to his feet.

Tabor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tabor taking a breather.

Tabor decides to pull guard.
Tabor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Strath!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strath is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tabor lands a big shot there that rocks Strath but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Tabor controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tabor misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Strath keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tabor controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Tabor dominated that round.
That's time! Strath's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tabor slaps away a takedown attempt from Strath, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Strath tries to clinch there but Tabor circles away.

Tabor forces Strath back against the cage and clinches.
Tabor wants a takedown but no success here.
Strath fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A body shot lands from Tabor.
Tabor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tabor with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Tabor manages to break the clinch.

Tabor has closed the distance and engaged Strath in a clinch.

Tabor breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tabor closes the distance and pushes Strath back into the cage.
Tabor prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richie Strath. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tabor ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tabor no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Strath preventing the sweep.
Strath wants to control from the top but Tabor keeps moving.
Strath throwing strikes from guard but Tabor blocks nicely.
Strath tries to free his leg and advance position but Tabor is retaining full guard.
Strath throws and elbow that misses. Tabor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Strath's guard. Nice move by Tabor!
Tabor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strath wants to stand but Tabor is controlling the position.
Tabor postures up in Strath's guard and throws a big left but Strath blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabor controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tony Tabor.

Tabor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tabor breaks the clinch.
Strath wants to clinch.
Tabor stuffs the takedown attempt from Strath. Strath gets slowly back to his feet.
Tabor shoots in and drives through. Strath sprawls well.
Strath really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Strath stuffs the takedown attempt from Tabor. Tabor gets slowly back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tabor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strath scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Tabor is breathing heavily.

Tabor moves into range and clinches up with Strath.
Tabor jumps guard but Strath stands there with Tabor around his waist. Tabor gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tabor prevents a body shot from Strath.

Tabor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strath darts in trying to clinch

and Tabor counters by moving into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tabor pulls guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Tabor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Strath fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tabor avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Strath.
Tabor misses with a few strikes there.
Strath misses with a takedown attempt - Tabor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tabor throws a head kick that misses.
Strath fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tabor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strath sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tabor somewhat.
Tabor fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strath wants to clinch but Tabor slips to the side

and Tabor moves into the clinch.

Tabor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Strath uses from the top position.
Tabor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strath wanted to stand there but Tabor had control of the position.
Strath is fighting to break Tabor's control of his arms but Tabor is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Strath will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Strath throwing strikes from guard but Tabor blocks nicely.
Tabor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Strath trying to control the position from guard on top but Tabor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strath loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strath sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Richie Strath has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Strath throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tabor counters with a straight right hand.
Strath throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Tabor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Strath taking a breather.

Tabor ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tabor no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Strath trying to control but Tabor is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tabor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Strath wants to control from the top but Tabor keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Richie Strath.
Horrible takedown by Tabor or perhaps it was just good defense by Strath which made him look bad.
Richie Strath has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Tabor.
Strath shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tabor but Tabor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tabor fails to land the takedown.
Strath misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Strath blocks a head kick by Tabor.
Strath shoots for a takedown but Tabor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tabor closes the distance and clinches up with Strath, looking for a takedown. Tabor pushes Strath against the cage but Strath circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tabor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Strath sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tabor slaps away a takedown attempt from Strath, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Strath is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Strath tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tabor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Strath somewhat.
Richie Strath is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tabor closes the distance and clinches up with Strath, looking for a takedown. Tabor pushes Strath against the cage but Strath circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tabor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Strath does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Richie Strath has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tony Tabor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tabor shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tony Tabor.
I've got Tabor 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Tabor!