PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renato Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piotr Tarnik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Werdum's entrance music is Sarah Brightman - Time To Say Goodbye. A fine choice. Tarnik has chosen Reduta Ordona as his entrance music. Piotr Tarnik is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Werdum
vs
Tarnik

185 cm
26
235 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

204 cm
19
270 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Renato Werdum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Piotr Tarnik!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarnik scores with a jab. Werdum acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Werdum stuns Tarnik with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tarnik avoids the body shot from Werdum.
Werdum throws a low kick but Tarnik avoids it.
Werdum throws a right hand that misses
and Tarnik counters with a series of strikes. Werdum will be more careful next time no doubt.
Horrible takedown by Tarnik or perhaps it was just good defense by Werdum which made him look bad.
Tarnik connects with a right hand. Werdum shakes it off.
Werdum fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Werdum takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Werdum tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tarnik sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Werdum somewhat.
Werdum looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Werdum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tarnik keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Werdum thows a body shot but no joy.
Werdum throws a body punch but Tarnik moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarnik misses with an uppercut. Werdum saw that one coming.
Tarnik keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Werdum shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tarnik pinned against the cage. Tarnik gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tarnik takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice uppercut there from Tarnik.
Werdum misses with a hook
and Tarnik counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tarnik tries for a takedown but Werdum sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum swings away with a body shot that misses
and Werdum takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tarnik throws a nice looking combination but Werdum bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Werdum throws a leg kick but Tarnik moved away.
Tarnik throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Werdum shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Tarnik counter with a right hand.
Werdum throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tarnik has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tarnik tries to land a leg kick but Werdum saw it coming and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum looks to land a right hand but Tarnik moved out of range.
Tarnik lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Werdum keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Tarnik avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tarnik just misses with a punch to the body.
Werdum throws a low kick but Tarnik moves out of range easily.
Werdum misses with a looping left.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tarnik tries a head kick but it misses.
Tarnik scores with a nice head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Tarnik dominated that round.
That's time! Werdum's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tarnik takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tarnik throws a sloppy head kick and Werdum moves out of range easily.
Donk. Tarnik catches Werdum right on the button with a cross.
Tarnik is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Werdum shoots in for a takedown but Tarnik shows good takedown defense.
Werdum walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Some wild striking there from Werdum.
Tarnik uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Werdum.

Werdum closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tarnik to the mat! Tarnik manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarnik looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Werdum trying to control the position from guard on top but Tarnik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Werdum is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tarnik preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Werdum is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Werdum 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.
Tarnik really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Werdum. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Werdum tries to free his leg and advance position but Tarnik is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tarnik tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Werdum postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tarnik trying to keep a closed guard but Werdum is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Werdum scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Werdum swings around for an armbar but Tarnik sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Werdum's guard.
Tarnik scoring with punches to the head and body.
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!

Tarnik got a little sloppy there for a moment and Werdum has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tarnik has managed to get both his arms back between Werdum's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarnik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Werdum is keeping the position for now.
Werdum might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tarnik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Werdum working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tarnik doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tarnik manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tarnik got a little sloppy there for a moment and Werdum has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tarnik has managed to get both his arms back between Werdum's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Werdum tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tarnik trying to control the position from guard on top but Werdum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Werdum looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Werdum wants to sweep but no luck.
Werdum controls Tarnik momentarily but Tarnik frees himself.

Werdum has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tarnik can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tarnik postures up in Werdum's guard and throws a big left but Werdum blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Werdum looking for a guillotine here but Tarnik defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Werdum dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Werdum just misses with a punch to the body.
Tarnik displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Werdum.
A telegraphed right hand from Werdum misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarnik misses with a head kick.
Werdum uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tarnik.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarnik closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Werdum to the mat! Werdum manages to get full guard.
Tarnik wants to control from the top but Werdum keeps moving.

Werdum is looking for a triangle but Tarnik pushes his legs off easily.

Werdum is looking for a triangle but Tarnik pushes his legs off easily.
Werdum tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Werdum keeping moving, preventing Tarnik from controlling successfully.
Werdum is trying to control the position but Tarnik postures up.
Tarnik must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarnik chips away with some ground and pound.

Werdum is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tarnik is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Werdum wants to improve his position but instead Tarnik has moved into half guard.
Werdum preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Werdum slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Werdum keeping full guard, as Tarnik tries to pass.
Werdum trying to keep a closed guard but Tarnik is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarnik looking to sit in guard and control but Werdum gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Werdum stops Tarnik from standing up.
Werdum wants to control from the top but Tarnik keeps moving.

Werdum is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tarnik is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tarnik has escaped and now he's on top!

Werdum working for a triangle but Tarnik defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarnik postures up.

Werdum has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tarnik can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Werdum wants to sweep here but Tarnik controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tarnik trying to control the position from guard on top but Werdum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tarnik scoring with punches to the head and body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Werdum showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Werdum 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Werdum!
Renato Werdum thanked the fans post fight for their support.