PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francis Taberna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Page (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Page is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Taberna
vs
Page

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francis Taberna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Page!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Page throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Michael Page seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Page tries to close the distance and clinch but Taberna swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taberna takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Page misses with a head kick.

Taberna closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Page's face as Taberna controls the position.
Page takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Taberna in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Page is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Taberna has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Taberna works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taberna decides to stand back up.
Page throws a nice outside leg kick.
Page tries to close the distance and clinch but Taberna swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Page tries to clinch up but Taberna circles away and keeps his distance.

Taberna instigates a clinch.
Taberna trying to land knees to the body.

Taberna breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Page tries to clinch up

and Taberna counters with a single leg into guard. Page didn't expect that.
Taberna is stalling in the full guard.
Page wants to stand but Taberna is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taberna sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Page wants to get back to his feet but Taberna is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Taberna 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.

Taberna drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Page dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taberna pulls Page in to control the position.
Page wants to stand and escape but instead Taberna has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Taberna is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Page wants to stand but Taberna is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Taberna is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Taberna has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Taberna passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taberna taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Taberna dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Page throws a head kick but Taberna moves out of range.
Taberna blocks a head kick by Page.
Taberna walks forward, straight into a front kick from Page.
Francis Taberna is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Taberna clinches with his opponent.

Taberna is trying to trip Page. He has hold of a leg but Page is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Taberna persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Taberna sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taberna stands and steps away. Page gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Page closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Page with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Taberna taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Page trying to control the position but instead, Taberna has worked for underhooks and has pushed Page into the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Taberna jumps into guard, dragging Page to the mat.
Taberna wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Page tries to stand but Taberna is controlling from the bottom.
Taberna wants to stand but Page is controlling the position.
Taberna has a closed guard, preventing Page from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taberna tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Page tries to stand but Taberna is controlling from the bottom.
Page must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taberna wants to sweep here but Page controlling him for the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Page being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Page tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taberna manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taberna tries a head kick but it misses.
Page raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taberna shoots in but Page avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Page gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taberna lands a left hand.

Taberna pulls guard successfully.
Francis Taberna overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Page trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taberna's guard.
Taberna wants to stand up but Page is controlling him.
Taberna on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Taberna tries to get out of the position.
Page wants to stand but Taberna is controlling his posture from full guard.
Taberna pulls Page in close to his closed guard and prevents Page from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taberna continues to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Taberna dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taberna keeps the fight on the outside.

Page moves into range and clinches up with Taberna.
Taberna prevents a body shot from Page.
Page tries to land a knee to the head but Taberna blocks with his arms.

Taberna manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Taberna working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Page doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Page manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Page decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Page throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Page moves in looking to clinch but Taberna pushes him off.

Page clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taberna goes for a takedown attempt but Page pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Page stuffs the takedown attempt from Taberna. Taberna gets slowly back to his feet.

Taberna closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Page looks like he's trying to stand up.
Taberna trying to control the pace.
Page pushes Taberna off but Taberna dives into side control.
Page really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taberna. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Page is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Page is working to avoid the ground and pound but Taberna connects with a decent elbow.

Taberna is trying to get an arm triangle but Page is defending well.
Taberna controlling the position.
Taberna's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Page tries to escape but Taberna is in control.
Taberna slows the pace down.
Page takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Taberna tries for a kimura but Page is defending well.
Page bucks up and tries to throw Taberna off but instead Taberna has got his back!
Page trying to get back to his feet but Taberna is in full control for now.

Taberna is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Page with him. Page is trying to defend but Taberna has an arm under the chin now! Page grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Francis Taberna!