PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eric Brooks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dashka Tagtov (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.

Brooks
vs
Tagtov

188 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 New York, Eric Brooks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dashka Tagtov!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tagtov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Brooks connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tagtov scrambles back to his feet.
Brooks doesn't manage to clinch there - Tagtov circles away.

Brooks gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tagtov to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Brooks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tagtov controls from within his opponent's guard.

Brooks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tagtov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tagtov sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Tagtov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Let's hope that Tagtov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Brooks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And Tagtov tries to counter it with a takedown but Brooks pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Tagtov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Brooks looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tagtov lands some shots froms side control.
Brooks struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tagtov grinds an elbow into Brooks's temple.

Tagtov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Brooks, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Brooks's face as Tagtov controls the position.
Brooks on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tagtov taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tagtov is working Brooks over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tagtov happy to just control the position for now.
You can see the frustration on Brooks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tagtov is staying tight to Brooks's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Tagtov is continuing to stall.

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.

Tagtov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Brooks has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tagtov slows the pace down.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tagtov grinds an elbow into Brooks's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dashka Tagtov 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.

Brooks gets caught flat footed, as Tagtov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tagtov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tagtov cracks Brooks with a solid left hand.
Brooks trying to keep a closed guard but Tagtov is proving a slippery customer.
Tagtov is pushing down on Brooks's leg trying to pass to half guard. Brooks is fighting to maintain full guard but Tagtov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tagtov slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Tagtov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks is trying to stand back up but Tagtov is controlling him
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Brooks is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tagtov slips a jab and a cross from Brooks.

Tagtov dives in and scores a takedown into Brooks's guard.
Tagtov passes Brooks's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tagtov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Tagtov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Brooks sees it coming and defends easily.
Tagtov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tagtov works his foot free and advances to mount.
Tagtov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Brooks can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Tagtov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dashka Tagtov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yet more stalling tactics from Tagtov.
Brooks in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Tagtov controlling the pace for now.
Brooks can't escape the position.
BOOM! Tagtov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tagtov controlling from the full mount.
Tagtov landing shots from mount.
Tagtov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tagtov landing punches.
Brooks is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tagtov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tagtov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Tagtov controlling from the full mount.
Tagtov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Tagtov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Brooks can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tagtov lands a big shot there that rocks Brooks but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Tagtov controlling from mount.
Brooks throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Brooks is bucking up trying to escape but Tagtov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dashka Tagtov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tagtov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Tagtov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Brooks's half guard.
Tagtov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tagtov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tagtov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tagtov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brooks wants to control but Tagtov is keeping busy.
Tagtov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tagtov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Tagtov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Brooks with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tagtov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The adventures of Tagtov the control monster continue. Boring.
Brooks is looking for a sweep. Tagtov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tagtov slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Brooks lands with a nice combination. Tagtov backs away looking to recover.
Brooks misses with a head kick.
Brooks moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Tagtov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Brooks's guard.
Tagtov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Tagtov stands up over Brooks, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Brooks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tagtov stays in close to Brooks's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tagtov postures up and lands a big shot to Brooks's brow.
Tagtov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tagtov connects with a couple of short punches.
Tagtov is stalling in the full guard.
Tagtov connects with a couple of short punches.
Tagtov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Brooks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Tagtov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Brooks manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tagtov content to stall in guard here.
Brooks wants to control the position but Tagtov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Brooks is trying to maintain the position but Tagtov is very close to passing his half guard.
Tagtov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Eric Brooks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dashka Tagtov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dashka Tagtov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tagtov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 26:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dashka Tagtov!