PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Djalo Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Pierre has chosen Mother - by Danzig as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tavares
vs
St Pierre

178 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear
Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Djalo Tavares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jon St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tavares tries to keep at a distance but St Pierre has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tavares wants to break free but St Pierre has control.

Tavares manages to break the clinch.
Tavares waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract St Pierre.
St Pierre keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tavares throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

St Pierre pushes Tavares up against the cage in a clinch.

Tavares wants the takedown. St Pierre is fighting it off but Tavares persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in St Pierre's guard against the cage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tavares postures up and lands a big shot to St Pierre's brow.
St Pierre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tavares trying to control but St Pierre is working from the bottom.
St Pierre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tavares lands a couple of decent looking shots.
St Pierre wants to sweep here but Tavares controlling him for the moment.
St Pierre manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tavares manages to get himself to full guard.

Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tavares 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.
St Pierre wants to pass the guard but Tavares is keeping the position.
St Pierre seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
St Pierre's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre won't allow Tavares to sweep him here.
Tavares pulls St Pierre in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tavares swats away the attempt to clinch by St Pierre.
Tavares appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Tavares swats away the attempt to clinch by St Pierre.

St Pierre moves into the clinch.
St Pierre holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tavares struggles to land a body shot inside as St Pierre controls his hands.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tavares takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Tavares has dropped down and is working for a takedown. St Pierre is trying to keep an underhook but Tavares manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Tavares throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
St Pierre trying to control from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Tavares there.
Tavares landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tavares throwing shots but St Pierre is blocking nicely.
St Pierre wants to control but Tavares is keeping busy.
St Pierre is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tavares scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tavares working St Pierre over with strikes.
St Pierre is pressing down on Tavares's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tavares with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
St Pierre wants to sweep but no luck.
Tavares landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Djalo Tavares dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tavares is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by St Pierre.

Tavares fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with St Pierre, pushing him back against the cage.
Tavares wants to stall.
Tavares working aggressively here.
St Pierre blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Tavares is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. St Pierre can't fight it off and eventually Tavares manages to take the fight to the floor. St Pierre looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
St Pierre tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
St Pierre seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares trying to control the position from guard on top but St Pierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tavares is working St Pierre over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tavares trying to control but St Pierre is working from the bottom.
Tavares postures up in St Pierre's guard and throws a big left but St Pierre blocks it.
St Pierre manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tavares manages to get himself to full guard.

Tavares being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tavares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
St Pierre slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
St Pierre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tavares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
St Pierre is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
St Pierre is looking to advance position but Tavares has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares landing shots from mount.
St Pierre regains half guard.
Tavares is trying to control. St Pierre wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tavares prevents St Pierre from improving his position.
St Pierre is trying is best to control the position here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if St Pierre can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tavares working St Pierre over with strikes.
Tavares takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tavares looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tavares working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tavares seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
St Pierre tries to roll over but Tavares keeps him under control.
St Pierre is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tavares's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tavares's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
What can Tavares do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
More stalling from St Pierre.
St Pierre is continuing to stall.
Tavares can't escape the position.
St Pierre biding his time, looking for the opening.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Djalo Tavares dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

St Pierre gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tavares breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St Pierre tries to clinch up.

St Pierre drives through and clinches with Tavares against the cage.

Tavares is trying to trip St Pierre. He has hold of a leg but St Pierre is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Tavares persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Djalo Tavares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tavares postures up and lands a big shot to St Pierre's brow.
Tavares works over St Pierre with some ground and pound from guard.
St Pierre tries to land a sweep but no joy.
St Pierre looking to control.
St Pierre is pulling down on Tavares's head. It's preventing any offense from Tavares, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tavares accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tavares postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
St Pierre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tavares working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
St Pierre looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
St Pierre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
St Pierre can't keep his opponent in guard - Tavares advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
St Pierre is looking for a sweep. Tavares is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
St Pierre moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tavares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. St Pierre swivels though and keeps the full guard.
St Pierre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
St Pierre really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tavares. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
St Pierre keeps trying to improve his position.
St Pierre keeping moving, preventing Tavares from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tavares lands a couple of elbows.
St Pierre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tavares with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
St Pierre is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tavares content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
St Pierre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tavares is one step ahead there.
Tavares is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that St Pierre can do to turn this around?
St Pierre is still trying to improve position.
St Pierre utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tavares is looking to work some ground and pound but St Pierre has wrist control.
St Pierre is pulling down on Tavares's head to control his posture.
Tavares won't allow St Pierre to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares working some strikes from top position.
Tavares postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tavares makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tavares with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tavares cracks St Pierre with a solid left hand.
Tavares postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tavares wants to control from the top but St Pierre keeps moving.
St Pierre has control of Tavares's left arm, preventing Tavares from doing any damage.
Tavares works over St Pierre with some ground and pound from guard.
St Pierre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tavares scoring with punches to the head and body.
St Pierre is adopting a defensive guard.
Tavares trying to control but St Pierre is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
St Pierre keeping moving, preventing Tavares from controlling successfully.
Tavares connects with a couple of short punches.
Tavares in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tavares being controlled here momentarily.
Djalo Tavares is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tavares trying to control but St Pierre is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tavares's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
St Pierre pulls Tavares in close to prevent any damage.
St Pierre tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Djalo Tavares showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tavares, 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Djalo Tavares!
Djalo Tavares seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Jon St Pierre spoke after the fight, saying 'He put bacon grease on his body. Dude was all slippery... It was disgusting but delicious smelling at the same time... WTF Brah?'.