PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Viliame Tabau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Durden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyler Durden has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tabau
vs
Durden

191 cm
23
218 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

220 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 14 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Viliame Tabau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyler Durden!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durden pushes Tabau away with a front kick.
Durden fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tabau keeps the fight on the outside.
Tabau shoots and misses
and Durden counters with a nice uppercut.
Durden changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tabau tries to avoid it but Durden manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tabau to the ground. Tabau escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Durden with a jab.
Durden with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tabau moves into the clinch.
Tabau jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Durden walks away with a smile on his face. Tabau gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tabau throws a body shot but no joy.
Durden tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tabau sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Durden somewhat.
Tabau is looking to counter the offense by Durden and move into the clinch.
Viliame Tabau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Durden.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tabau throws a front kick aimed at Durden's knee but Durden avoids it well.
Durden drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tabau defends it well.
Tabau fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durden looks for a takedown but Tabau sprawls well.
Durden tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tabau sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Durden somewhat.
Durden shoots in for a double leg but Tabau sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tabau shoots in for a takedown but Durden shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tabau shoots in but no luck this time.
Durden changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Durden takes the fight into the clinch.

Durden gets control of Tabau's arms and successfully pulls guard. Durden will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Durden has his hands on Tabau's head, controlling the position.
Tabau trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durden trying to control the position.
Tabau trying to control the position from guard on top but Durden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Durden avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Durden controlling the position.
Tabau passes Durden's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tabau missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durden shoots in for a double leg but Tabau sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tabau throws a left and a right that both miss

and Durden counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Durden.

Tabau manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Durden moves into the clinch.
Durden keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tabau's efforts to push away.
Durden just leaning against Tabau, taking a breather.
Tabau wants to break the clinch but can't.
Durden tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tabau is looking to break free of the clinch but Durden has double underhooks.
Tabau is trying to break the clinch but Durden is controlling him.
Tabau is looking to break free of the clinch but Durden has double underhooks.
Durden tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tabau just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Durden breaks the clinch.
Durden fails with an attempt to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Tabau misses the target.
Tabau looks for a takedown but Durden sprawls well.
Tabau misses with a double jab.

Durden bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tabau is trying to get back to half guard.
Tabau might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Durden working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Durden is looking to take a break and control but Tabau is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Durden dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tabau looks to score with a jab to the body but Durden is just out of range.

Durden clinches up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Tabau - that landed with a thud.
Our sources have told us that Tabau has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Tabau tries a body shot but Durden blocks it.
Durden on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Durden lands an elbow just above Tabau 's eye.
Durden keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tabau's efforts to push away.

Durden manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tabau pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Durden is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durden looking to control.
Tabau is looking to pass into half guard but Durden pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Durden is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabau will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Tabau is wriggling around but Durden manages to pass to half guard.
Durden looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Durden stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Tabau to get to his feet.
Tabau shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Durden as he jumps to the side.

Durden clinches with his opponent.
Durden tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tabau just stands there and leans against the cage.

Durden's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durden rushes Tabau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Durden breaks from the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Durden as he connects with a hook.
Tabau misses with a body shot.

Durden moves into the clinch.
Durden gets underhooks to prevent Tabau's takedown attempt.

Tabau's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tabau throws a nice looking combination but Durden bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Durden has closed the distance and engaged Tabau in a clinch.
Durden prevents Tabau from breaking the clinch.
Tabau tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Durden just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viliame Tabau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tabau wants to get back to striking at distance but Durden won't allow it.
Durden gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durden has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tabau avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Durden breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tabau throws a head kick that misses.
Durden shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tabau as he jumps to the side.

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

Durden throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Tabau displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Durden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tabau misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Durden is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tabau displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Durden.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durden is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tabau sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tabau misses with a few strikes there.
Durden looks to land a combination. Tabau sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Durden clinches.
Durden fails to pull guard.
Tyler Durden seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Durden throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Durden landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tabau is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tabau working hard to break the clinch.
Tabau wants a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tabau is trying to break the clinch but Durden has him pressed against the cage.
Durden is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Durden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Durden or perhaps it was just good defense by Tabau, which made it look bad.
Tabau moves into range and connects with a jab.
A good leg kick by Tabau.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tabau lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Durden has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Durden and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Durden tries to clinch up.
Tabau throws a big counter combination but Durden scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Durden blocks a low kick nicely.
Tabau chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Durden can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tabau closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tabau lands in his opponent's guard.

Durden is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabau tries to free his leg and advance position but Durden is retaining full guard.
Durden lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Durden tries to free his leg and advance position but Tabau is retaining full guard.
Tabau keeping moving, preventing Durden from controlling successfully.
Tabau manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Durden manages to get himself to full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Durden has Tabau pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A head kick misses from Durden.

Durden has closed the distance and engaged Tabau in a clinch.
Durden has Tabau pressed against the cage, preventing Tabau from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Durden blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tabau throws a head punch that misses.
Tabau is trying to break free.
Knees to the body from Durden.
Tabau wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Durden has him pressed against the cage.
Tabau wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Durden breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durden ducks under a wild hook from Tabau.
Viliame Tabau is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tabau closes the distance and clinches up with Durden, looking for a takedown. Tabau pushes Durden against the cage but Durden circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Durden on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Durden avoids a punch combination nicely.
Durden wants to counter the offense by Tabau and move into the clinch position.
Durden shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tabau as he avoids it easily.
Durden shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tabau as he avoids it easily.
Tabau feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Viliame Tabau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Durden.

Durden looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Durden postures up in Tabau's guard and throws a big left but Tabau blocks it.
Durden stops Tabau from standing up.
Durden postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durden is pushing down on Tabau's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tabau is fighting to maintain full guard but Durden has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tabau trying to control from the bottom.
Durden is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Tabau wants to get back to his feet.
Tabau is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Durden looking to control but Tabau is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tabau tries to hold on but Durden pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Viliame Tabau.
I think Durden 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Durden!