PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gaston Avare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tariq Joey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gaston Avare has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Avare
vs
Joey

200 cm
26
210 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

187 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gaston Avare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tariq Joey!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joey misses the shot to the body.
Avare is looking to counter punch.
Joey misses with a body shot.
Avare lands a head shot.
Avare misses with a wild combination.
Joey throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Avare misses with an uppercut. Joey saw that one coming.
Joey looks to score with a jab to the body but Avare is just out of range.
Avare will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joey takes a swing at Avare's ribcage but misses.
Avare lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Joey circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joey throws a body punch but Avare moves out of range.
Avare will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A lazy left from Avare finds it's target.

It looks like Tariq Joey has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joey throws a body punch but Avare moves out of range.
Avare thuds his right hand into Joey's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Joey ducks under a wild hook from Avare.
Joey scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Avare paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Avare throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Joey counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Avare looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Joey passes into side control.
Joey is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Avare will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Avare tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avare is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Joey is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joey controlling his opponent.
Avare keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Avare tries to hold on but Joey postures up.
Avare is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avare tries to hold on but Joey pushes him away.
Avare is looking to improve his position but Joey isn't that keen on the idea.
Joey tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Avare is in all sorts of trouble here.
Avare is working hard here to advance position.
Avare throwing hammer fists to the chest of Joey. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Avare is desperately trying to improve his position but Joey has a good base and remains in mount.
Avare looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joey controlling from mount.
Avare is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tariq Joey will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tariq Joey's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Avare catches Joey with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Avare is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Joey bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Joey avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Avare pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Joey takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Joey is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Avare rather than just go for the knockout.
Avare looks to land a left hand but Joey moved out of range nicely.
Joey lands with a good body shot.
Joey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Avare.
Joey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Avare.
Joey on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Avare. Avare obviously looking to wear him down.
Avare is looking to chop away at Joey's legs.
Joey drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Avare defends it well.
Joey looks to score with a jab to the body but Avare is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joey throws a body shot but no joy.
Avare connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Avare throws a shot from downtown. Joey moves away and avoids it.
Avare misses the jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Avare shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Joey eats them both and turns towards Avare to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avare takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Avare rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Joey decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Avare's guard.
Joey must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Avare trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Joey works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Avare wants to control but Joey passes into side.
Avare can't do much from the bottom here.
Avare is looking to reverse the position.
Joey working away.
Avare is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avare can't do much from the bottom here.
Joey taking a breather here.
Avare is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avare is trying to work for a sweep but Joey has mounted him!
Joey controlling from mount.
Avare keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Joey sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Avare manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Joey is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Avare is looking to control Joey's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Avare avoid being mounted?

Avare looking for a kimura from the bottom but Joey passes into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A control attempt from Avare but he's now mounted!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tariq Joey will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tariq Joey's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Avare throws a combination. Joey tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Avare throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Joey on the side of the head.
An inside leg kick from Avare misses.
Joey with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Avare to score with a decent uppercut.
Joey throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Avare avoids the body shot from Joey.
Avare moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gaston Avare is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice uppercut lands for Avare. That snapped Joey's head back.
Joey dodges the punch combination from Avare.
Joey scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Avare misses with an uppercut.
Joey changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Avare avoids the body shot from Joey.
Joey checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avare scores with a three punch combo!
Avare doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A low kick from Avare is predictable there

and Joey counters with a takedown into side control.
Joey remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Avare looks to move to half guard but instead Joey has passed into mount! Damn!
Avare is desperately trying to improve his position but Joey has a good base and remains in mount.
Joey sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Avare regains half guard.
Tariq Joey is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Avare is trying to get back to full guard.

Avare looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Avare wants to improve his position but Joey is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joey slows the pace down in half guard.

Joey moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Avare.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Avare tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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.
You can see the frustration on Avare's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
A lull in the action here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Avare lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gaston Avare has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Avare throws a jab when Joey was well out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gaston Avare showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Joey 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tariq Joey!
During a confident post fight interview, Tariq Joey thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.