PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between El Kabyo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Taktarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Kabyo
vs
Taktarev

195 cm
22
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
240 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, El Kabyo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roman Taktarev!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kabyo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taktarev looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Nice strikes from Kabyo there.
Kabyo trying to control from half guard but Taktarev is working away.
Kabyo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kabyo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Taktarev is looking to improve his position.
It looks like Kabyo is going to stand back up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kabyo in particular looking to stall.
Kabyo is just content to waste time from the top position. Taktarev takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kabyo trying to control the position from guard on top but Taktarev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Kabyo 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kabyo stands up from Taktarev's guard - Kabyo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Taktarev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kabyo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taktarev won't be happy with that.
A lull in the action here.
Taktarev is not content to let Kabyo control the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. El Kabyo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Kabyo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Taktarev!
Kabyo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kabyo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kabyo looking to control but Taktarev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kabyo is really struggling to control Taktarev but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Taktarev tries to hold on but Kabyo pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taktarev can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kabyo is working for a guillotine from mount but Taktarev frees his head quite easily.
Kabyo is trying to control here but Taktarev has managed to regain half guard.
Taktarev regains full guard. Nicely done.
Taktarev looking for a sweep. Not yet Taktarev, not yet.

Taktarev has his feet on Kabyo's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work. Kabyo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Taktarev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kabyo is looking to control Taktarev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kabyo avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kabyo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kabyo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kabyo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kabyo moves into full guard.
Kabyo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taktarev's guard.
Kabyo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kabyo pushing down on Taktarev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Taktarev is defending against the submission attempts here by Kabyo.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kabyo in particular looking to stall.
Kabyo is tying to control. Taktarev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kabyo controlling the action here.
Taktarev has hold of Kabyo's hands but Kabyo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Taktarev trying to control from the bottom.
Kabyo lands with a punch from half guard.
Kabyo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Taktarev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kabyo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kabyo trying to control from half guard but Taktarev is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kabyo lands with a punch from half guard.
Kabyo is taking a breather. Taktarev says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Kabyo decides to return to a standing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

El Kabyo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roman Taktarev's cut.
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.

Taktarev misses with a takedown

and Kabyo counters with a takedown into side control.
Kabyo trying to control the position but Taktarev is working away.
Taktarev tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kabyo presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
El Kabyo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kabyo landing punches.
Kabyo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kabyo tries to control but Taktarev wriggling away.
Taktarev is trying desperately to improve position.
Kabyo landing strikes from the mount and Taktarev is in trouble!
Kabyo landing shots from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kabyo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Taktarev looks a forlorn figure.
Kabyo landing shots from mount.
Kabyo trying to control but Taktarev is having none of it.
Kabyo is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Taktarev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kabyo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taktarev is looking to escape.
Kabyo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Taktarev can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kabyo with good strikes from the mount here!
Kabyo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Taktarev can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kabyo controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. El Kabyo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kabyo with a poor takedown
and Taktarev counters with a straight right hand.

Kabyo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kabyo trying to control from half guard but Taktarev is working away.
Kabyo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Taktarev trying to control but Kabyo postures up.
Kabyo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kabyo controlling the pace.
Kabyo working the head and body with strikes.
Taktarev is not content to let Kabyo control the position.
Kabyo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kabyo wants to control but Taktarev is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kabyo prevents Taktarev from improving his position.
Taktarev has hold of Kabyo's hands but Kabyo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kabyo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kabyo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Taktarev!
Kabyo wants to control the pace but Taktarev is squirming around nicely.
Taktarev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kabyo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Taktarev is trying to escape the mount.
The referee warns Taktarev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kabyo lands a big elbow.
Kabyo with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Kabyo.
Taktarev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kabyo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kabyo looking to control but Taktarev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Taktarev can't escape the position.
Taktarev is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Taktarev regains half guard.
Taktarev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
It looks like Kabyo is going to stand back up.
Taktarev is staying active underneath Kabyo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kabyo passes to full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kabyo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Taktarev can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

El Kabyo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roman Taktarev's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kabyo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taktarev swivels and escapes.
Taktarev has his takedown stuffed

and Kabyo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kabyo.
Kabyo passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Kabyo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Taktarev has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kabyo in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kabyo is looking to take a break and control but Taktarev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kabyo stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taktarev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taktarev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kabyo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taktarev won't be happy with that.
Kabyo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taktarev keeps working.

Kabyo stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Taktarev tries to clinch up

and Kabyo counters with a single leg into guard. Taktarev didn't expect that.
Kabyo wants to control from the top but Taktarev keeps moving.
Kabyo preventing the sweep.
Kabyo distracts Taktarev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taktarev can't keep his opponent in guard - Kabyo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kabyo passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Kabyo trying to control but Taktarev is having none of it.
Kabyo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taktarev can do to turn this around?
A nice elbow there by Kabyo.

Taktarev is rocked!

That has opened up Roman Taktarev's cut even more.
Kabyo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Taktarev is still in real trouble! Can Kabyo finish him?
The referee warns Taktarev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kabyo wants to control the pace but Taktarev is squirming around nicely.
Kabyo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Taktarev seems to have recovered his senses.
Kabyo lands a big elbow.

The cut above Roman Taktarev's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kabyo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kabyo wants to control the pace but Taktarev is squirming around nicely.
Taktarev really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kabyo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kabyo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kabyo punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kabyo landing strikes from the mount and Taktarev is in trouble!

Kabyo has control of Taktarev's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Taktarev regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kabyo wants to control the pace but Taktarev is squirming around nicely.

Kabyo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Taktarev has worked his arm free - good work by Taktarev!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kabyo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Taktarev to see if he's OK.

Kabyo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Taktarev to his feet.
Kabyo tries to bum rush Taktarev with a series of wild strikes but Taktarev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
El Kabyo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kabyo's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kabyo duly obliges.

Kabyo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Taktarev is squirming around, avoiding Kabyo's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kabyo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Taktarev can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Roman Taktarev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kabyo lands a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Kabyo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kabyo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... El Kabyo!