PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Workman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Taslim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taslim has chosen La Coka Nostra - "Mind Your Business" as his entrance music. John Taslim has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Workman
vs
Taslim

217 cm
23
151 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Workman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Taslim!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Workman instigates a clinch.

Workman turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Taslim wants to control but Workman postures up.
Taslim really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Workman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taslim is looking to reverse the position.
Taslim wants to get back to his feet.
Workman throws a strike aimed at the side of Taslim's head but Taslim avoids it well.
Taslim tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Workman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taslim tries to escape but Workman is in control.

Workman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Taslim gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Workman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Taslim keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Workman prevents Taslim from standing back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Taslim tries to clinch there but Workman circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Workman moves in looking to clinch but Taslim pushes him off.
Taslim moves to clinch but Workman breaks away

and Workman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Taslim trying to get back to full guard but Workman takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Taslim holds on, trying desperately to control.
Workman is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Taslim can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Taslim wants to control but Workman is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taslim tries to reverse the position but Workman maintains control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taslim can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taslim wants to control but Workman is having none of it.
Workman manages to capitalize on a mistake by Taslim to take his back!
Taslim trying to control but not successfully.
Workman controlling well, preventing Taslim from escaping the position.
Workman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Taslim just trying to survive but Workman is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Taslim rolls, trying to escape but Workman keeps control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taslim looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Workman punches the canvas rather than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Workman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Workman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Taslim.
Left hook, right uppercut from Taslim.
The fight stays on the outside here - Workman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Taslim instigates a clinch.
Workman wants to break free but Taslim has control.
Workman can't break the clinch.
Taslim tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taslim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taslim is pressed up against the cage. Workman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taslim down to the mat. Taslim avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Taslim has managed to clinch.
Workman tries to pull guard but Taslim forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Taslim breaks from the clinch.
Taslim tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taslim is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Workman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taslim can do to turn this around?
Taslim fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taslim moves in looking to clinch but Workman pushes him off.
Workman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Taslim wants to clinch

and Workman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Taslim goes for a takedown in the clinch but Workman prevents it.
Joe Workman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Taslim.
Workman is trying to pull guard but Taslim has him pressed against the cage.

Taslim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taslim wants to clinch but Workman slips to the side
and Workman counters with a left to the body.
Taslim tries to clinch but Workman is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taslim swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taslim tries to clinch up but Workman circles away and keeps his distance.

Taslim closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Workman wants a takedown but no success here.
Taslim jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Workman walks away with a smile on his face. Taslim gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Taslim closes the distance and pushes Workman back into the cage.
Workman wants to take the fight to the mat but Taslim manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Workman breaks the clinch.
Taslim misses with a wild combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taslim looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Taslim bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taslim cracks Workman with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Taslim scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Workman is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Taslim can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Taslim!
John Taslim thanked the fans post fight for their support.