PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reuben Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tacks Mayfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tanner
vs
Mayfield

179 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

200 cm
24
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Reuben Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tacks Mayfield!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mayfield gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Tanner counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Tacks Mayfield has been cut.
Mayfield thows a body shot but no joy.
Mayfield cracks Tanner with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tanner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mayfield.
Tanner slaps away a takedown attempt from Mayfield, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tanner leaves Mayfield with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tanner could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Mayfield gets tackled into the cage by Tanner. Tanner maintains the clinch.
Mayfield trying to land knees to the body.
Mayfield jumps guard but Tanner turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Reuben Tanner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tacks Mayfield.
Mayfield controlling the action here for a moment.
Mayfield pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mayfield wants to pass the guard but Tanner is keeping the position.
Tanner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mayfield is one step ahead there.
Mayfield looking to sit in guard and control but Tanner gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tanner wants to get up but he can't break Mayfield's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Tanner thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayfield controls Tanner momentarily but Tanner frees himself.
Mayfield wants to sweep here but Tanner controlling him for the moment.

Tanner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mayfield has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tanner has managed to get both his arms back between Mayfield's legs - danger averted.
Mayfield thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Mayfield is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mayfield trying to keep a closed guard but Tanner is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayfield wants to sweep here but Tanner controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mayfield is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mayfield looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tanner is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mayfield is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayfield wants to stand but Tanner is controlling his posture from full guard.

Tanner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mayfield gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mayfield tries to stand but Tanner is controlling from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanner trying to control the position.
Mayfield trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tacks Mayfield dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tacks Mayfield's cut.
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.

Tanner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mayfield is fending him off so far but Tanner persists. Nope, Mayfield circles away and we're back to standing.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch but Mayfield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tanner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mayfield as he avoids it easily.
Tanner shoots for a takedown but Mayfield saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reuben Tanner. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mayfield shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tanner manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Mayfield drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tanner dives on top into guard.
Tanner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mayfield pulls Tanner in close to prevent any damage.
Mayfield utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayfield being controlled here, momentarily.
Tanner won't allow Mayfield to sweep him here.
Tanner being controlled here momentarily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mayfield has a closed guard, preventing Tanner from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tacks Mayfield was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mayfield tries for a takedown but Tanner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Mayfield tries to keep at a distance but Tanner has taken the fight into the clinch.

Tanner gets control of Mayfield's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tanner will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayfield trying to control but Tanner is working from the bottom.
Tanner keeping full guard, as Mayfield tries to pass.
Mayfield stands and throws Tanner's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Mayfield goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Tanner rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mayfield's guard! Nice work there by Tanner!
Tanner is standing up over Mayfield. Mayfield looks to escape but Tanner dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanner decides to stand back up.

Mayfield clinches with his opponent.
Mayfield wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mayfield wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Mayfield's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mayfield fails with a takedown attempt.
Tanner shoots in for a takedown but Mayfield shows good takedown defense.
Mayfield misses with a wild body shot.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner looking for a takedown.
Tanner has Mayfield pressed against the cage.

Mayfield pulls guard successfully.

Mayfield looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mayfield keeping moving, preventing Tanner from controlling successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanner advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tacks Mayfield will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tacks Mayfield's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mayfield tries to close the distance and clinch but Tanner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mayfield shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tanner as he avoids it easily.
Tanner shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mayfield eats them both and turns towards Tanner to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mayfield misses with a takedown attempt - Tanner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tanner slaps away a takedown attempt from Mayfield, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reuben Tanner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tacks Mayfield.
Mayfield dives in and grabs Tanner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tanner pushes down on Mayfield's head and hops out.
Mayfield defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tanner.
Mayfield takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mayfield shoots in for a takedown but Tanner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mayfield shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tanner pinned against the cage. Tanner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tanner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mayfield tries to keep at a distance but Tanner has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mayfield tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tanner is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mayfield is defending well for now.
Mayfield has Tanner pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tanner manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tanner tries to pull guard but Mayfield forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tanner is looking to take this one to the mat.

Mayfield jumps guard and drags Tanner to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tanner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mayfield is trying to control the position but Tanner postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanner stands up and waves to Mayfield to follow him.
Tanner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mayfield sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mayfield shoots in but Tanner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Reuben Tanner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanner swings for the body but Mayfield moves out of range.
Tanner throws a head kick that half lands.
Tanner lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
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!
Tanner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mayfield is fending him off so far but Tanner persists. Nope, Mayfield circles away and we're back to standing.

Tanner darts in and clinches Mayfield up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayfield jumps guard but Tanner stands there with Mayfield around his waist. Mayfield gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Tanner manages to break the clinch.
Mayfield moves in looking to clinch but Tanner pushes him off.
Mayfield is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tanner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Tanner gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mayfield is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tanner to keep the fight standing.
Tanner jumps guard but Mayfield stands there with Tanner around his waist. Tanner gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mayfield wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tanner has him pressed against the cage.
Mayfield is trying to break free.
Tanner has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mayfield after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayfield drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tanner gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Tanner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tanner misses with a left hand
and Mayfield counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tanner is defended easily by Mayfield.
Mayfield tries to close the distance and clinch but Tanner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mayfield throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tanner.
Reuben Tanner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tacks Mayfield is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mayfield is defended easily by Tanner.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reuben Tanner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mayfield has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!