PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Modric (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Taj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Modric
vs
Taj

215 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 Rio de Janeiro, Juan Modric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johny Taj!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Modric takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Modric scores with a leg kick.
Modric ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Modric moves into the clinch successfully.
Modric looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Modric is looking for a takedown.

Taj manages to break the clinch.
Modric moves out of range of the strikes.
Taj is looking to clinch but Modric is avoiding it.

Taj fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Modric, pushing him back against the cage.

Modric breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Modric tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taj fails with an attempt to clinch.
Modric throws a series of punches but Taj avoids them all with ease.
Taj changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Modric scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Taj doesn't seem bothered though.
Johny Taj seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taj stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taj wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taj throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Taj doesn't manage to clinch there - Modric circles away.

Taj closes the distance and pushes Modric back into the cage.
Modric blocks the elbow strike.
Modric gets through Taj's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Taj dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Modric has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Modric wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Modric. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Modric is trying to pull guard but Taj turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Modric wants to get back to striking at distance but Taj won't allow it.
Taj is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Modric is breathing heavily.
Taj stops a takedown attempt from Modric.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taj throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Taj escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Taj closes the distance and clinches.
Taj throws an elbow that misses.
Modric keeps control of Taj as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Taj pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Modric tries to clinch there but Taj circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taj doesn't manage to clinch there - Modric circles away.
Modric staying out of range there.
Taj looks to clinch
and Modric counters with a head kick.
Taj tries to close the distance and clinch but Modric swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taj tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taj scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Taj moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Modric takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Juan Modric has been cut.

Taj breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Modric closes the distance and clinches up with Taj, looking for a takedown. Modric pushes Taj against the cage but Taj circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taj fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taj is looking to clinch.

Taj rushes Modric and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Taj lands an elbow inside that Modric shrugs off.
Taj crunches a lovely knee into Modric's ribcage.
Taj comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Taj lands an elbow inside that Modric shrugs off.
Taj throws an elbow that misses.
Taj throws an elbow but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Modric is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Taj is defending well.
Taj throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Taj breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Taj has closed the distance and engaged Modric in a clinch.
Taj wants to break free but Modric has control.
Modric really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Taj pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Modric walks into a straight right hand from Taj.
Taj wants to clinch.

Taj moves into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Modric takes a knee right on the jaw!

Taj manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Taj dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juan Modric's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Modric avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taj is looking to clinch.
Taj defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Modric.
Taj throws a good cross that connects.
Taj tries to clinch there but Modric circles away.
Taj misses with a looping left.
Taj wants to clinch.
Taj wants to clinch but Modric slips to the side

and Modric holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Modric tries to pull guard but Taj forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Modric avoids a wild elbow strike from Taj.
Taj looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Modric tries to pull guard but Taj forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Modric. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Modric wants to get back to striking at distance but Taj won't allow it.
Modric blocks an elbow strike from Taj.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Modric tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Taj smiles and moves away.
Modric avoids the head kick by Taj.
Taj tries to close the distance and clinch but Modric swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taj tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taj throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Modric sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taj throws the kick towards the body but Modric avoids it.
Johny Taj is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck for Modric with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taj tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taj fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taj loads up on a big right hand but Modric slips the punch.
Taj scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taj slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Juan Modric is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taj tries to clinch there but Modric circles away.
Taj tries to clinch up.
Modric fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taj avoids it really well and circles away.
Modric shoots and misses
and Modric takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A telegraphed right hand from Taj misses the target.

Taj clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Modric wants to break free but Taj has control.
Modric fails to pull guard.
Taj missing with knees to the body.
Taj lands an elbow that stopped Modric in his tracks for a moment.

Taj breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Modric. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Taj is looking to clinch but Modric is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taj wants to slow Modric down by chopping away at his legs.
Taj scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Modric takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Taj has Modric up against the cage in a clinch.
Modric goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taj creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Taj is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Modric is defending well for now.
Taj looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Modric is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Modric blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees to the body from Taj.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taj is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Modric tries for a takedown but Taj manages to get underhooks.
Modric jumps guard but Taj turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Taj looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Taj breaks the clinch.
Taj tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taj looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Taj has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taj can't break the clinch.

Modric pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Taj closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Taj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Juan Modric's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Taj throws a series of punches but Modric moves out of range.
Taj jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Modric tries to clinch there but Taj circles away.
Taj keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Modric avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Modric shoots in for a double leg but Taj sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taj moves in looking to clinch but Modric pushes him off.
Taj tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Modric paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taj throws a hook but Modric avoids it easily.
Modric looks for a takedown but Taj sprawls well.
Taj tries to clinch but Modric moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Taj instigates a clinch.
Taj swings wildly with an uppercut but Modric uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Taj's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taj swings wildly with an uppercut but Modric uses good head movement to avoid it.
Modric avoids the elbow strike from Taj, against the cage.
Modric is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taj is defending well for now.

Modric's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taj is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Modric with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Taj to score with a decent uppercut.
Johny Taj seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Taj gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Taj just misses with a elbow thrown towards Modric's brow.

Taj breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Modric tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taj manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
That kick from Taj tenderised Modric's leg. Modric is trying to keep his angry face on.
Taj throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Taj is looking to clinch.
Taj avoids a kick to the body.
Modric lands with a nice body kick.
Modric ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taj moves away.
Modric uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taj.
Taj moves to clinch but Modric breaks away

and Modric counters by clinching up.
Modric is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Modric. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taj wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Modric has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Taj's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Modric fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Taj lands a nice elbow.
Taj throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Modric is trying to pull guard but Taj turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Taj breaks the clinch.
Modric lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taj circles away quickly and effectively.

Taj fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Modric, pushing him back against the cage.
Taj avoiding damage.
Taj throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Modric looking to slow down the pace here.
Taj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taj is looking to break free of the clinch but Modric has double underhooks.
Johny Taj is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Taj lands a knee to the body.
Taj is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Modric is defending well for now.
Modric wants to get back to striking at distance but Taj won't allow it.
Modric tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Taj escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taj is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taj doesn't manage to clinch there - Modric circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Modric tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Taj counters with a lovely straight right hand!

And that's the end of the fight!
Johny Taj comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taj 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Taj!