PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kalil Fayyad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Tatcher (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.

Fayyad
vs
Tatcher

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 Montreal, Kalil Fayyad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jon Tatcher!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fayyad tries to clinch but Tatcher moves out of range.
Tatcher tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fayyad shoots in but Tatcher avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fayyad pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fayyad fails with a takedown attempt.
Fayyad wants to clinch up but Tatcher keeps it at a distance.
Tatcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Fayyad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tatcher checks a leg kick nicely.
Jon Tatcher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatcher avoids the head kick by Fayyad.
Fayyad will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalil Fayyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fayyad avoids the head kick by Tatcher.
Fayyad closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tatcher circles away.
Tatcher swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Fayyad drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Fayyad sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tatcher is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fayyad is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatcher can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fayyad controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kalil Fayyad just wasn't active enough.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Fayyad.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fayyad wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tatcher, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fayyad controls the position.

Fayyad is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tatcher has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tatcher regains half guard, as Fayyad was trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fayyad performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Fayyad is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalil Fayyad 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.

Fayyad throws a front kick aimed at Tatcher's knee but Tatcher avoids it well.
Fayyad shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tatcher but Tatcher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tatcher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tatcher blocks a head kick by Fayyad.
Fayyad fails with the takedown
and Tatcher counters with a nice uppercut.
Fayyad checks a leg kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fayyad shoots in for a takedown but Tatcher shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalil Fayyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tatcher displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tatcher fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fayyad looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nice sprawl there from Tatcher as Fayyad shoots in.
Fayyad shoots in for a takedown but Tatcher shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tatcher throws a body punch but Fayyad moves out of range.
Tatcher lands a head kick!
A thudding body kick lands there by Tatcher!
Tatcher keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Fayyad or perhaps it was just good defense by Tatcher which made him look bad.
Fayyad tries a head kick but it misses.

Fayyad shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Still in half guard, Fayyad seems content to control.

Fayyad is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tatcher doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fayyad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fayyad lands strikes from half guard.
Fayyad stops Tatcher from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fayyad wants to pass to mount but Tatcher is defending the position.
Fayyad stops Tatcher from getting back to his feet.
Fayyad controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Kalil Fayyad has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Fayyad shoots for a takedown but Tatcher saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kalil Fayyad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fayyad has his takedown stuffed
and Tatcher counters with a head kick. That will keep Fayyad thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jon Tatcher will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fayyad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fayyad throws a head kick that misses
and Tatcher counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tatcher misses with a series of wild punches.
Tatcher listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Fayyad fails in his attempt to clinch.

Fayyad closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tatcher quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kalil Fayyad.
Tatcher lands with a kick to the temple. Fayyad shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Tatcher blocks a head kick by Fayyad.

Fayyad darts in and clinches Tatcher up against the cage.
Tatcher gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Fayyad is trying to drag Tatcher to the mat but Tatcher just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fayyad wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tatcher has him pressed against the cage.
Tatcher tries to land a knee to the head but Fayyad blocks with his arms.
Fayyad tries to stall but Tatcher uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tatcher looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Fayyad goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fayyad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatcher trying to land knees to the body.
Fayyad blocks an elbow strike from Tatcher.
Fayyad goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tatcher crunches a lovely knee into Fayyad's ribcage.
Tatcher tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Fayyad is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tatcher pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tatcher connects with a nasty looking knee right to Fayyad's face.
Tatcher misses with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tatcher blocks the elbow strike.
Tatcher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tatcher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fayyad blocks it with crossed arms.
Tatcher with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tatcher with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fayyad pulls guard effortlessly.
Fayyad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tatcher is one step ahead there.
Fayyad is working hard here to advance position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jon Tatcher.
A swing and a miss from Tatcher.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fayyad looking to score a takedown here. Tatcher is defending well but Fayyad drives through and ends up in Tatcher's guard.
Fayyad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tatcher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tatcher can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fayyad controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kalil Fayyad.
Fayyad shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tatcher as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalil Fayyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fayyad tries for a takedown but Tatcher sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fayyad shoots in for a takedown but Tatcher shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tatcher buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kalil Fayyad.
I think Fayyad 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalil Fayyad!