PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Tatam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Habil Bictashev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Tatam
vs
Bictashev

160 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tom Tatam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Habil Bictashev!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tatam shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bictashev napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
You can see the frustration on Bictashev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bictashev takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Bictashev prevents Tatam from moving into mount.
Bictashev is looking for a sweep.
Tatam definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bictashev on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tatam controlling the position from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tatam lands some shots froms side control.
Bictashev taking punishment in the form of punches.
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!
Bictashev being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bictashev wants to control but Tatam postures up.
Bictashev takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
A lull in the action here.
Tatam seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bictashev for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatam is working Bictashev over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tatam controlling from side mount.
Tatam's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Tatam prevents Bictashev from escaping the position.
Bictashev tries to buck Tatam off but Tatam is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bictashev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tatam is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Bictashev's shoulder. That is not cool.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tom Tatam.
Bictashev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tatam but Tatam pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatam checks a leg kick.

Tatam feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tatam sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tatam might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bictashev looking for a sweep. Not yet Bictashev, not yet.
Tatam is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tatam won't allow Bictashev to sweep him here.
We've been informed that Bictashev has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tom Tatam just wasn't active enough.
Tatam avoids a kick to the body.
Bictashev wants to clinch.

Tatam dives in and scores a takedown into Bictashev's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bictashev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tatam defends it easily.
Bictashev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tatam controls the pace.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tatam throwing strikes but missing.
Tatam content to stall in guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tatam has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Tatam dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bictashev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bictashev tries to land a leg kick but Tatam saw it coming and moves away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bictashev.
Tatam fails with the takedown
and Bictashev counters with a head kick.

Tatam closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bictashev to the mat! Bictashev manages to get full guard.
Tatam controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tatam won't allow Bictashev to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bictashev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bictashev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tatam.
Habil Bictashev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bictashev with a poor takedown

and Tatam counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tatam works over Bictashev with some ground and pound from guard.
Bictashev wants to sweep here but Tatam controlling him for the moment.
Tatam postures up.
Tatam works over Bictashev with some ground and pound from guard.
Tom Tatam overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tatam is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tatam working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tatam showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bictashev wants to stand up but Tatam is controlling him.
Tatam is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tom Tatam.
Bictashev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bictashev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tatam sprawls well. Tatam wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bictashev gets slowly back to his feet.

Tatam gets a takedown into half guard.
Bictashev wants to control but Tatam is keeping busy.
Tatam seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bictashev is trying to maintain the position but Tatam is very close to passing his half guard.
Tatam controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bictashev is trying to maintain the position but Tatam is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Habil Bictashev was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Tatam fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bictashev sprawls well initially but Tatam persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bictashev is trying to maintain the position but Tatam is very close to passing his half guard.
Tatam has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tatam trying to control the pace.
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.
Ground and pound from Tatam.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Tatam dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tatam drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tatam controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Tatam lands a couple of elbows.
Tatam not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tom Tatam.
Tatam swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tatam is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bictashev can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tatam shoots in and bounces Bictashev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tatam scoring with punches to the head and body.

Bictashev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tatam sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tom Tatam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tom Tatam wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Tatam fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bictashev misses with a straight left.
Tatam tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bictashev swivels and escapes.

Tatam feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
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!
Tatam slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Tom Tatam has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Tatam looks for a takedown but Bictashev sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Tatam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tatam shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bictashev is trying to defend but Tatam finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Bictashev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatam slows the pace down in half guard.
Bictashev is trying to stand back up but Tatam is controlling him
Tatam is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bictashev is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Still in half guard, Tatam seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Tatam showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tatam has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Tatam!