PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Taquses (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Araujo has chosen This time its war as his entrance music. Oliver Taquses has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taquses
vs
Araujo

175 cm
20
158 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

175 cm
20
150 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Oliver Taquses!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joao Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taquses feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Araujos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

It looks like Joao Araujo has been cut.
Taquses misses with a straight left.
A nice side step and Araujo releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Taquses changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Araujo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Taquses pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Araujo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Araujo lands with an uppercut that bounces Taquses off the cage and back into range.
Taquses shoots in looking for a takedown. Araujo tries to sprawl out of it but Taquses keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Araujo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taquses fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo lands with a good body shot.
Taquses looks to throw the jab but Araujo is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taquses misses with a looping right.
Araujo misses the body punch

and Taquses counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taquses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taquses.

Araujo pulls guard successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Araujo can do anything to dispel that myth.

Araujo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Taquses defends well.
Taquses tries to free his leg and advance position but Araujo is retaining full guard.
Araujo pulls Taquses in close to his closed guard and prevents Taquses from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taquses passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Araujo wants to control but Taquses postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taquses tries to advance to mount but Araujo denies him.
Araujo is not content to let Taquses control the position.
Araujo has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Taquses advances to full mount.

Taquses swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Oliver Taquses!
Oliver Taquses retains his featherweight title!
Oliver Taquses decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.