PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pat Tillman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neymar Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Tillman
vs
Junior

177 cm
22
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
154 lbs
17 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pat Tillman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Neymar Junior!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jonathan Paton and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tillman can pounce on him.

Tillman rushes Junior and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Junior lands a left hand.
Tillman takes an elbow to the temple.
Tillman blocks a body shot from Junior.
Tillman lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Tillman.
Junior gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Tillman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tillman looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Junior buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tillman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Junior.
Tillman lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tillman connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Some bone on bone action there as Junior checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tillman jabs at Junior's body.
Junior throws a series of punches but Tillman moves out of range.
Junior connects with a crisp jab.
Some wild striking there from Tillman.
Junior appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Neymar Junior is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Junior shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tillman getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nice uppercut there from Tillman.
Tillman keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Tillman throws the left hand but Junior avoids the punch easily.
Junior throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Tillman counters with a leg kick.
Junior swings and misses with a hook to the body.
An inside leg kick from Tillman misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tillman, right into the meat.
Tillman throws a looping overhand right but Junior ducks down to avoid it.
Junior feints a jab promting Tillman to slip. Junior then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Tillman slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Junior checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Junior dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tillman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Junior connects with a looping right hand.
Tillman tries a head kick but it misses.
Junior misses with a looping left.
Tillman tries to counter by clinching up but Junior breaks away and moves out of range.
Tillman avoids a kick to the body.
Junior takes one to the chin there.
Junior attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Tillman looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Tillman is looking to clinch.
Junior moves into range and connects with a jab.
Junior throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tillman lands a leg kick that knocks Junior off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillman delivers a nice body kick.

Tillman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tillman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tillman jumps guard but Junior stands there with Tillman around his waist. Tillman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Tillman.
Tillman dodges an elbow strike from Junior.
Tillman struggles to land a body shot inside as Junior controls his hands.
Junior throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tillman avoids a wild elbow strike from Junior.
Knees in the clinch landing for Junior.
Tillman tries to work over Junior's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Junior struggles to land a body shot inside as Tillman controls his hands.
Junior throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Junior tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Junior trying to stall but Tillman improves his position.
Junior misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tillman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tillman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Tillman scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Junior throws a punch but it's blocked by Tillman.
Tillman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tillman misses with some punches.
Junior trying to land knees to the body.
Tillman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Junior trying to land knees to the body.
Junior lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Junior lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tillman.
Tillman tries to pull guard but Junior holds him up against the cage and eventually Tillman drops back down to his feet.
Tillman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tillman working aggressively here.
Junior lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A hook to the body from Tillman.
Junior working aggressively here.
Tillman lands a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pat Tillman will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Junior takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Junior gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Tillman counters with a nice body kick.
Tillman tries to clinch up but Junior circles away and keeps his distance.
Tillman misses with a leg kick.
Tillman darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Junior throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tillman throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Pat Tillman is winning the standup battle so far.
Tillman connects with a solid leg kick.
Tillman keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tillman cracks Junior with a good jab.
Tillman throws a low kick but it's checked well by Junior.
Junior looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tillman sizes up Junior with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Junior throws a low kick but Tillman moves out of range easily.
Tillman feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tillman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Junior.
Junior looks for the body kick but Tillman saw that one coming.
Junior throws a low kick but Tillman avoids it.
Junior tries to score with a low kick but Tillman moves his leg out of the way.
Junior keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Good leg kick by Tillman there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A nice inside leg kick there by Junior. That's going to slow Tillman down.
Tillman throws a predictable looking body shot
and Junior counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tillman.
Tillman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tillman tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Junior throws a big shot that misses.
Tillman misses with a leg kick.
Junior wants to counter the offense by Tillman and move into the clinch position.
Pat Tillman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tillman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Junior.
Junior bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Junior uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tillman.
Junior's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tillman connects with a solid leg kick.
Tillman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Junior uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tillman.
Junior tries a quick counter leg kick but Tillman is wise to it.
Tillman bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Tillman throws a looping overhand right but Junior ducks down to avoid it.
Tillman throws a body punch but Junior moves out of range.
Tillman takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior misses with a body kick.
Junior lands a nice shot to the body.
Junior tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tillman throwing a counter right hand but Junior manages to avoid it.
Tillman moves out of range of the body kick from Junior.
Tillman cracks Junior with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Tillman throws a push kick but Junior slaps the foot to one side.
Tillman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A big left from Tillman misses.
Tillman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Junior swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tillman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tillman throws a leg kick that misses.
Tillman looks for the body kick but Junior saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior checks a leg kick nicely.
Tillman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Junior stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Junior tries to land a front kick but Tillman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tillman looks to land a left hand but Junior moved out of range nicely.
Tillman buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tillman pivots, looking for a leg kick but Junior is out of range and Tillman settles back down.
Tillman misses with a low kick.
Junior looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Junior tries a head kick but it misses.
Tillman takes one to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Junior throws the kick towards the body but Tillman avoids it.
Tillman throws a quick counter kick to the body but Junior avoids it.
Tillman scoring well with a low kick there.
Junior scores with a kick to the midsection.
Junior throws a hook but Tillman blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pat Tillman dominated that second 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.

Junior throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Donk. Junior catches Tillman right on the button with a cross.
Tillman swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice shot by Junior.
Junior throws a leg kick but Tillman sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tillman is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Tillman throws a lazy right hand but Junior sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Junior looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Junior motions for Tillman to come forward. Junior throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Junior looks to score with a jab to the body but Tillman is just out of range.
Junior lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tillman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jab, jab by Tillman - just one landing.
Junior misses with an uppercut

and Tillman counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tillman trying to control the action but Junior is working from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Tillman seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Junior felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Junior sneaks back into half guard.
Junior is doing well to control the position and prevent Tillman from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tillman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tillman scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Junior is trying to get back to full guard.
Tillman sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Junior is refusing to be controlled, as Tillman sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillman is really struggling to control Junior but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Tillman wants to work for an arm triangle but Junior is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Junior wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Junior looks to land a body kick but Tillman moved away.
Junior takes a swing at Tillman's ribcage but misses.
Tillman is looking to score with low kicks.
Junior is looking to chop away at Tillman's legs.
Tillman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Junior is looking to chop away at Tillman's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Junior is looking to land body kicks.
A counter left hand to the body from Tillman misses its target.
Tillman lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Junior fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Tillman checks it well.
Tillman bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Junior's head.

Junior fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tillman, pushing him back against the cage.
Junior blocks a body shot from Tillman.
Tillman stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tillman scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tillman lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Junior throws an elbow that misses.
Tillman scores with a shot to the side of Junior's head.
Tillman lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tillman misses with a punch on the inside.
Tillman misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Pat Tillman did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Junior moves away from the strike by Tillman.
Nice body kick from Tillman.
Junior looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tillman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Junior walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Junior tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tillman was well out of range. Poor timing from Junior.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tillman.
Junior scoring well with a low kick there.
Junior buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior throws out a leg kick but Tillman moves out of range and Junior only half commits.
Tillman is looking to counter with a body kick.
Tillman catches Junior with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tillman paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Tillman bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tillman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tillman swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Junior.
Tillman tries to close the distance and clinch but Junior swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Junior, right into the meat.
Tillman turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Junior lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tillman tries to score with a low kick but Junior moves his leg out of the way.
Nice body kick there by Tillman.
Tillman misses with a low kick.
Junior connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Tillman moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior throws a leg kick but Tillman sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tillman tried to counter with a leg kick but Junior avoided it.
Junior connects with a solid leg kick.

Tillman gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tillman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tillman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tillman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Junior's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tillman.
Junior tries to get to full guard but Tillman has control of the leg.
Junior keeping control of the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tillman works his way into side control.
Tillman sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Junior is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Junior tries to bench press Tillman off him but Tillman keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sloppy strikes there by Tillman.
Tillman scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Junior to see if he's OK.
Tillman lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tillman misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Tillman creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Junior sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Tillman cracks Junior with a big elbow.
Tillman sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Junior is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Tillman trying to control the position but Junior is working away.
Junior manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pat Tillman had his way with Neymar Junior in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Junior throws a head kick that misses.
Junior misses the shot to the body.

Tillman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tillman tries a body shot but Junior blocks it.
Junior lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tillman dodges an elbow strike from Junior.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Junior as Tillman tries to tie him up.
Tillman managing to block the knees to the body from Junior.
Tillman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tillman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tillman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tillman scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Junior landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Junior lands an elbow inside.
Tillman blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tillman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Junior lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Junior misses with a hook to the ribs.
Junior misses with a hook to the ribs.
Junior trying to land knees to the body.
Junior blocking some punches.
A short left from Junior.
Tillman misses with a punch on the inside.
Junior lands a damaging elbow.
Tillman throws a head punch that misses.
Tillman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Junior walks away with a smile on his face. Tillman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tillman tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Junior moves out of range as Tillman throws a body kick.
Tillman throws out a loose jab but Junior uses good head movement to avoid it.
Junior on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tillman. Tillman obviously looking to wear him down.
Pat Tillman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior punishes Tillman's body with a nice straight punch.
Junior tries to clinch up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Junior.
Tillman checks a leg kick.
Tillman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Tillman throws a shot from downtown. Junior moves away and avoids it.
Neymar Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A shot to the liver by Tillman. Beautiful body shot.
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!
Tillman throws a low kick but it's checked well by Junior.
Tillman throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Junior.
Tillman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Junior flicks out a counter leg kick but Tillman steps away.
Jab by Tillman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior is looking to land body kicks.
Tillman lands an overhand right.
Junior throws a half hearted mid kick.
Junior thuds his shin into the meat of Tillman's side.
Junior takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Junior closes the distance but Tillman moves to the side
and Tillman counters with a good low kick that Junior was not able to check.
Tillman thuds a left hand into Junior's body.
Tillman thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Junior if he has to take too many more of those.
Junior throws a lazy uppercut
and Junior takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tillman ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice body kick there by Tillman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tillman throws a leg kick but Junior checks it.
A head kick misses from Junior.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tillman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Junior on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tillman. Tillman obviously looking to wear him down.
Tillman checks a leg kick.
Tillman is looking to counter with a body kick.
Junior throws a leg kick but Tillman checks it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tillman, as that shot connected.
Tillman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Junior counters with a body kick.
Junior throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Junior looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Junior throws a push kick but Tillman slaps the foot to one side.
Tillman connects with a leg kick. Junior looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

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 Pat Tillman.
Well Tillman 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 50:46
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 50:45
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pat Tillman!
Pat Tillman is the new featherweight champion!
Pat Tillman looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I'm coming down to 145 and going after Neymar Jr. I'm coming for you, buddy!'.