PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hakuna Matata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Tamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Matata
vs
Tamara

188 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hakuna Matata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Tamara!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Sandra Marshall and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matata forces Tamara back against the cage and clinches.
Matata lands a nice shot to the body.
Tamara is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Tamara tries to pull guard but Matata won't allow it.
Matata taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Matata is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Matata has Tamara pushed against the cage.
Tamara misses with a body punch.
Tamara tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Tamara.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamara throws a head punch that misses.
Tamara trying to stall but Matata improves his position.
Tamara throws a head punch that misses.
Matata crunches a lovely knee into Tamara's ribcage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matata.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamara tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tamara tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hakuna Matata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Tamara.
Matata lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tamara can't break the clinch.
Matata lands an elbow inside that Tamara shrugs off.
Tamara has a couple of punches blocked by Matata.
Matata using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Matata.
Tamara misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matata lands a good knee to the midsection. Tamara won't want to take too many of those.
Tamara tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matata slows down the pace here.
Matata lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tamara wants to get back to striking at distance but Matata won't allow it.
Matata gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matata lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tamara or not.
Matata lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Matata scores with a knee to the head.
Matata landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tamara tries to pull guard but Matata holds him up against the cage and eventually Tamara drops back down to his feet.
Matata with a knee to the head.

It looks like John Tamara has been cut.
Matata is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tamara misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matata.
Matata creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tamara's defenses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A nice right hand lands inside from Matata.
Tamara wants to break free but Matata has control.
Tamara fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Matata.
Matata is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Tamara tries to pull guard but Matata holds him up against the cage and eventually Tamara drops back down to his feet.
Tamara misses with a punch to the body.
Matata lands a body shot in the clinch.
Tamara tries to pull guard but Matata won't allow it.
Matata creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tamara's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matata lands a knee to the head.
Matata lands a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tamara tries to pull guard but Matata holds him up against the cage and eventually Tamara drops back down to his feet.
Tamara fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matata lands an elbow just above Tamara 's eye.
Matata lands a knee to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tamara working aggressively here.
Tamara takes a knee to the side of the body.
Matata goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Come on Matata - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tamara swings wildly with an uppercut but Matata uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuna Matata dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Tamara's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matata clinches with his opponent.
Hakuna Matata has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Matata throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tamara looking to stall.
Matata keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tamara's efforts to push away.

Tamara successfully pulls guard.

Matata decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
John Tamara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Matata closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matata blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matata lands a damaging elbow.
Matata misses with a punch to the body.
Matata is pushing Tamara up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Tamara tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Matata smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matata rushes Tamara and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tamara fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Matata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tamara is trying to pull guard but Matata has him pressed against the cage.
Hakuna Matata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Tamara.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Matata lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tamara backwards.
Matata lands a hook to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Matata - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Matata lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tamara fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matata is leaning against Tamara and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tamara takes an elbow to the temple.
Matata goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Matata.
Matata landing knees to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tamara is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Matata is keeping busy.
Matata creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tamara's defenses.
Tamara fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Matata stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Matata lands a nice elbow.
Matata stalling in the clinch.
Tamara tries to pull guard but Matata won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamara misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matata pushes Tamara back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tamara is trying to break the clinch but Matata has him pressed against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matata.
Matata is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tamara can do to turn this around?
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Matata obliges.
Tamara doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matata tries to land knees in the clinch but Tamara avoids the damage to the body.
Matata stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tamara jumps guard but Matata stands there with Tamara around his waist. Tamara gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tamara trying to stall but Matata improves his position.
Tamara swings wildly with an uppercut but Matata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tamara fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matata lands a good knee to the midsection. Tamara won't want to take too many of those.
Matata lands a nice shot to the body.
Tamara is breathing heavily.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Tamara takes a shot to the head.
Matata lands a body shot.
Nice elbow from Matata.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Matata lands an elbow just above Tamara 's eye.
Matata taking a breather.
Matata with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Matata misses with a knee strike.
Tamara is trying to pull guard but Matata turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuna Matata dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Tamara's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Matata closes the distance and pushes Tamara back into the cage.
Matata has Tamara pressed against the cage.
Matata blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tamara blocks a body shot from Matata.
Nice body punch from Matata - that landed with a thud.
Tamara tries to pull guard but Matata forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Matata lands an elbow inside.
Matata lands a shoulder strike.
Tamara wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matata misses with a knee strike.
Matata is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tamara is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamara takes a shot to the head.
Tamara tries to break free but Matata pushes him back against the cage.
Tamara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matata's elbow.
Matata lands an elbow just above Tamara 's eye.
Tamara jumps guard but Matata turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hakuna Matata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Tamara.
Tamara is trying to force a seperation but Matata has the dominant position.
Nice elbow from Matata.
Tamara wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tamara letting Matata take a breather here.
Matata with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Matata tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matata gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Tamara is rocked!
Tamara tries to break free but Matata pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matata lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tamara is still on wobbly legs! Can Matata finish him?

That has opened up John Tamara's cut even more.
Tamara fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Matata.
Tamara is trying to pull guard but Matata turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tamara is pressed against the cage. Matata pushes back and unleashes a big elbow that really hurts Tamara! Two more big strikes from Matata and Tamara crumples to the mat and taps out furiously due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Hakuna Matata!