PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Felix Legions (ranked 121 p4p, 14 weight class) and Cristian Tavares (ranked 227 p4p, 27 weight class). Legions comes into the arena with For Heavy Metal we will die! blaring out of the sound system. Tavares has chosen I DON'T GET TIRED as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Cristian Tavares was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Legions
vs
Tavares

166 cm
27
148 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

173 cm
27
150 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Aspire Clothing
Conviction

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Felix Legions!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cristian Tavares!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavares scores with a jab to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A lazy left from Tavares finds it's target.
Legions connects with a jab.
Legions uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavares.
Tavares connects with a leg kick. Legions looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tavares misses with a hook. Legions ducked under it nicely.
Legions seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
A looping hook to the body misses from Legions. Tavares does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Legions does it's job there.
Tavares throws a one two combo.

It looks like Felix Legions has been cut.
A slow jab from Tavares misses its intended target.
A big left from Legions misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tavares misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Legions scores with a hook.
Legions dives in for a single leg takedown but Tavares sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Legions slips under a jab.
Tavares throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Legions on the side of the head.
Tavares misses with an uppercut. Legions saw that one coming.
A low kick from Tavares misses

and Legions counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Legions working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tavares taking some punishment here, with Legions in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legions thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tavares's head.

Tavares is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Legions pulls his head out easily.
Legions is trying to control the action in half guard but Tavares is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tavares is trying to get back to full guard.
Tavares trying to control but Legions postures up.
Legions wants to control but Tavares is keeping him busy.
Tavares is trying to control but Legions manages to pass to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legions misses with a head shot.
Tavares sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Legions wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tavares keeps working.
Legions slips a nice elbow through Tavares's hands, connecting with Tavares's forehead.
Tavares wants to get back to full guard.
Legions 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.
Legions looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares tries to roll over but Legions keeps him under control.
Tavares is looking to control Legions's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tavares avoid being mounted?
Tavares wants to control the action here but instead Legions manages to pass to full mount!
Legions working Tavares over with strikes here.
Legions is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tavares can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Tavares is squirming around, avoiding Legions's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares working to try and regain half guard.
Legions tries to control but Tavares wriggling away.
Legions controlling from mount.
Tavares is desperately trying to improve his position but Legions has a good base and remains in mount.
Tavares is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Legions dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Felix Legions'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.

Nice uppercut there from Legions.
Legions shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tavares pinned against the cage. Tavares gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tavares stuffs the takedown attempt from Legions. Legions gets slowly back to his feet.
Tavares lets loose with a powerful body kick. Legions will feel that in the morning.
Tavares lands a nice looking kick to the body. Legions takes a step back to recover.
Legions misses with a hook.
A big right from Tavares misses.
Legions half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Legions. Tavares does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tavares stalks Legions and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Legions's face. Legions staggers backwards, shaken.
Legions moves out of range as Tavares strikes.
Legions gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Tavares counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Legions throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Legions staying out of range there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tavares throws a jab but it's blocked by Legions.
Legions gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Legions scores with a nice strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legions lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Tavares misses with a hook. Legions ducked under it nicely.
An inside leg kick from Tavares misses.
Tavares lunges at Legions with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Legions's hand.
Tavares takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tavares with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Legions looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cristian Tavares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tavares needs to keep his hands up - Legions had a free shot at his head there.
Tavares scores with a nice right hand.
Legions looks to land a body kick but Tavares moved away.
Legions connects with an inside leg kick.
Legions throws a hook but Tavares blocks it.
Tavares lands a nice leg kick that just misses Legions's sensitive parts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tavares throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Legions swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Legions takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A jab from Tavares misses.
Legions throws a big counter combination but Tavares scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Tavares cracks Legions with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nice straight punches there by Tavares. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tavares.
Tavares blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares looks to land a left hand but Legions moved out of range nicely.
Legions fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Legions. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Legions fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tavares has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tavares dips to his left and cracks Legions with an uppercut!
Tavares with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Legions to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice shot by Legions.
Nice body kick there by Legions.
Legions on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tavares throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It looked like Legions wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Legions throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tavares misses with a wild body shot.
Legions misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tavares throws a body shot but no joy.
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
Legions throws a shot from downtown. Tavares moves away and avoids it.
Tavares is looking for the big counter here.
Legions walks into a stiff left hand from Tavares.
Legions avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Legions attempts a counter takedown but Tavares avoids it well and moves away.
Cristian Tavares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Tavares misses.
Tavares lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Tavares misses the target.
Tavares throws a hook but Legions avoids it easily.
Tavares misses with a looping left.
Legions swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
Legions slips under a jab from Tavares.
Legions attempts a counter takedown but Tavares avoids it well and moves away.
A leg kick checked by Tavares.
Tavares tries to work over Legions's front leg with a kick but Legions checks it.
As Tavares backs away, Legions returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

Legions bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Legions working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Legions sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tavares is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Tavares tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Legions wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Legions throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Tavares dodges the ground and pound from Legions.
Felix Legions overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legions tries to advance to mount but can't.
Legions lands a few punches from side control.
Legions is looking to take a break and control but Tavares is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tavares tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Legions wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Legions wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tavares keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Tavares's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cristian Tavares will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Felix Legions's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Left hook, right uppercut from Tavares.
Tavares jabs at Legions's body.
Tavares moves away from the strike by Legions.
Tavares defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Legions.
Tavares takes a swing at Legions's ribcage but misses.
Legions throws out a loose jab but Tavares uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tavares gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nice jab there from Legions.
Legions lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Legions throws a nice inside leg kick.
Legions misses with a straight left.
Tavares takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Legions is looking to land body kicks.
Legions has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tavares.
Legions misses with a straight right.
Tavares lands with a right hand.
Legions feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tavares's calf.
Tavares scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Legions throws a jab but it's blocked by Tavares.
Tavares steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Legions.
Tavares misses with a looping right.
Tavares keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Tavares moves out of range of the body kick from Legions.
Tavares looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Legions connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Legions waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tavares.
Tavares throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Legions counter with a right hand.
Legions blocks a jab.
Tavares throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tavares.
Legions steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Tavares. That one must have hurt.
Legions looks to land a right hand but Tavares moved out of range.
Legions throws a jab but it's blocked by Tavares.
A big right from Tavares misses.
Tavares fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Legions tries a low kick but Tavares avoids it.
A telegraphed right hand from Legions misses the target.
Legions swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tavares looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Legions swinging wildly here.
Legions throws the kick towards the body but Tavares avoids it.
Tavares is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Legions.
Legions throws a sloppy head kick
and Tavares counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Legions looks to land a right hand but Tavares moved out of range.
Tavares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Legions was well out of range. Poor timing from Tavares.
Tavares throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Legions with a jab.
Legions moves out of range of the strikes.
Legions changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Legions throws a lazy head kick
and Tavares counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tavares takes one to the chin there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tavares.
Legions misses with a straight left.
The fighters circling - Tavares throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tavares connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Legions looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legions lands with a right hand.
Legions fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tavares has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Legions fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Legions throws a hook to the side of Tavares's head but Tavares sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Legions throws a hook but Tavares avoids it easily.
Legions misses with an uppercut.
A chopping leg kick lands by Legions.
Tavares keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Legions.
Legions swings for the body but Tavares moves out of range.
Legions goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Legions looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Legions takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tavares fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Legions manages to avoid it.
Legions throws a wild body kick that Tavares sees coming a mile off.
Tavares scores with a jab to the head.
Legions throws a head kick that misses.

Legions closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tavares to the mat! Tavares manages to get full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tavares had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Legions defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares seems keen to control Legions's posture.
Tavares manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Legions manages to get himself to full guard.

Legions trying to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Legions escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tavares gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Felix Legions did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Felix Legions's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A telegraphed right hand from Tavares misses the target.
Legions uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tavares.
It looked like Legions wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Legions lands a nice shot to the body.
Tavares takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tavares blocks a leg kick.
Legions takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tavares lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Legions bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tavares throws a hook to the side of Legions's head but Legions sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tavares keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Legions jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tavares takes one to the side of the head.
Tavares scoring well with a low kick there.
Tavares feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Legions's calf.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tavares connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tavares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Legions.
Cristian Tavares seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Legions moves out of range as Tavares strikes.
Tavares connects with a single shot there.
Legions misses with a lunging right hand
and Tavares counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Legions has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tavares jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Legions decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tavares wants to get back to full guard.
Legions seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tavares gets full guard.
Tavares wants to sweep here but Legions controlling him for the moment.
Tavares bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Legions's guard.

Legions looking for a sweep. Not yet Legions, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Legions looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tavares advances to half guard.
Well, if Tavares 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.
Legions 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Tavares is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Legions off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Tavares manages to reverse the position and now he's in Legions's guard. Nice work there by Tavares.
Legions looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Legions has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tavares is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Legions.
Legions is looking for a sweep.
Tavares trying to control the action but Legions is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Legions's face as Tavares controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legions tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tavares takes a little break here. Legions wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
A control attempt from Legions but he's now mounted!
Legions tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristian Tavares dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Felix Legions'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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Legions dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tavares. That did some damage!
Nice uppercut there from Tavares.
Jab by Tavares.
Legions moves out of range of the strikes.
Tavares cracks Legions with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tavares.
Legions misses with a body kick.
Tavares looks to land a left hand but Legions moved out of range nicely.
Legions tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tavares.
Legions throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Tavares to counter with a crisp jab.
Legions misses with the combination.
Tavares takes a swing at Legions's ribcage but misses.
Legions lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tavares takes a step back to recover.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tavares throws a leg kick but Legions moved away.
Legions is looking to counter punch.
Legions with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tavares to score with a decent uppercut.
Legions walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tavares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tavares feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Legions's calf.
Tavares shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tavares throws a push kick but Legions slaps the foot to one side.

Legions looking to score a takedown here. Tavares is defending well but Legions drives through and ends up in Tavares's guard.
Tavares looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tavares looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Legions puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ground and pound from Legions.
Legions is taking a breather. Tavares 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.
Legions not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Legions chips away with some ground and pound.
Tavares controls Legions momentarily but Legions frees himself.
Legions wants to pass the guard but Tavares is keeping the position.
Tavares manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Legions manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares 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.

Legions had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tavares defends it easily.
Tavares tries to free his leg and advance position but Legions is retaining full guard.

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.

Tavares avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tavares is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Legions scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Tavares avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tavares throws out a counter right but Legions avoids it with no problem.
Tavares staying out of range there.
Legions misses with a looping left.
Tavares throws a leg kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cristian Tavares.
I think Tavares 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 47:48
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Felix Legions!
Felix Legions retains his featherweight title!
A less than humble Felix Legions misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.