PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Barover (ranked 2154 p4p, 234 weight class) and Oliver Taquses (ranked 1862 p4p, 203 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Barover
vs
Taquses

177 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

175 cm
23
158 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Barover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oliver Taquses!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Phil Schofield and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taquses scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Barover is looking for a sweep. Taquses is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Barover is defending against the submission attempts here by Taquses.
Taquses controlling the action here.

Taquses is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Barover has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barover tries to roll over but Taquses keeps him under control.
Barover trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taquses is working for a submission of some sort.
Taquses wants to pass the guard but Barover is defending well.

Taquses looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Barover is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barover moves into full guard.

Taquses drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taquses jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Barover manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taquses manages to get himself to full guard.

Taquses looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barover wants to control from the top but Taquses keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barover looking to pass the guard.
Barover keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Taquses's head.

Taquses throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Taquses controls Barover momentarily but Barover frees himself.
Barover trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barover trying to control the position from guard on top but Taquses is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taquses is trying to keep Barover in close.

Taquses looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Barover avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taquses escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barover gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barover trying to control but Taquses is working from the bottom.
Taquses working a defensive guard here.
Barover throws a big elbow that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Taquses working for a triangle but Barover defends it easily.

Taquses has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barover can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Taquses dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taquses shoots in looking for a takedown. Barover tries to sprawl out of it but Taquses keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barover manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taquses has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taquses looks for a takedown but Barover sprawls well.

Taquses bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Taquses trying to control the position but Barover is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taquses is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Barover is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Barover gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Oliver Taquses has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taquses is looking for a kimura here.
Barover wants to improve his position but Taquses is controlling well.
Barover works his way to full guard. Good work.
Taquses looking to pass the guard.
Barover keeping moving, preventing Taquses from controlling successfully.
Taquses controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two 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.
Barover looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barover trying to control the position.
Taquses stands and throws Barover's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Barover tries to bench press Taquses off him but Taquses keeps the position.

Taquses looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Taquses laying and praying for a moment but Barover takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taquses is trying to control. Barover wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barover manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Barover looking for a sweep. Not yet Barover, not yet.
Taquses trying to control the position from guard on top but Barover is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barover can't keep his opponent in guard - Taquses advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Taquses tries to pass the half guard into mount. Barover knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Taquses seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Barover is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Oliver Taquses!
Oliver Taquses bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.