PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Guzman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Asi Taulava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Asi Taulava has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Guzman
vs
Taulava

221 cm
19
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bobby Guzman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Asi Taulava!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot lands for Guzman.

Taulava shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Guzman's guard.
Taulava working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Guzman pulls Taulava in close to prevent any damage.
Taulava trying to control the position from guard on top but Guzman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taulava wants to pass the guard but Guzman is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guzman wants to get back to his feet but Taulava passes into half guard.
Guzman wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guzman is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taulava thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Guzman's head.
Taulava trying to control the action but Guzman is working from the bottom.
Taulava thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taulava wants to take a breather but Guzman is having none of it.
Guzman tries to kick Taulava off but Taulava keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Guzman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taulava is working away from the top position though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Taulava fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Guzman to the ground. Taulava is now in Guzman's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guzman is looking to sweep but instead, Taulava has passed into half guard.
Taulava wants to pass the guard but Guzman is defending well.
Taulava seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Guzman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Guzman won't allow Taulava to pass to mount.
Guzman manages to get to full guard.
Taulava wants to control from the top but Guzman keeps moving.
Guzman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taulava drops back, looking for a kneebar! Guzman looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Guzman looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Guzman!

Guzman in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Guzman is working Taulava over with some ground and pound from side control.
Taulava is looking to regain half guard here but Guzman keeps moving and retains side control.
The ground and pound from Guzman seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Guzman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Taulava, who protects the arm well.
Taulava is trying to get back to half guard.
Guzman working away.
Taulava manages to work his way to half guard, despite Guzman's best efforts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taulava trying to control here.
Taulava is looking for a sweep. Guzman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Asi Taulava will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taulava drives through and clinches with Guzman against the cage.
Taulava prevents Guzman from breaking the clinch.
Taulava jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Guzman walks away with a smile on his face. Taulava gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Taulava shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Guzman sprawls well. Guzman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taulava gets slowly back to his feet.
Guzman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Guzman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Guzman is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taulava darts in looking for a takedown but Guzman gets double underhooks and turns Taulava into the cage.
Guzman throwing a counter right hand but Taulava manages to avoid it.
Bobby Guzman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Asi Taulava.
Taulava looks for the body kick but Guzman saw that one coming.

Taulava throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Guzman tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Taulava is in Guzman's guard.
Taulava stopping the sweep attempt from Guzman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taulava throwing strikes but missing.
Taulava stops Guzman from standing up.

Guzman is looking for a triangle here but Taulava uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Taulava trying to control the position but Guzman is working away.

Taulava stands up and beckons Guzman to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taulava shoots in looking for a takedown. Guzman tries to sprawl out of it but Taulava keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Guzman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Guzman clinches up with Taulava and pushes him back against the cage.
Guzman is pressed up against the cage. Taulava has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Guzman down to the mat. Guzman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taulava tries for a takedown but Guzman circles away easily
and Guzman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taulava is breathing heavily.
Guzman connects with the punch.
Guzman cracks Taulava with a right hand to the side of the head.

Guzman clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taulava is trying to pull guard but Guzman has him pressed against the cage.
Guzman looking to stall.

Taulava breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Guzman wants to clinch up but Taulava keeps it at a distance.

Taulava drives through and clinches with Guzman against the cage.
Guzman taking a breather.
Guzman is looking to control Taulava's arms but Taulava gets an underhook and turns him. Now Guzman has his back to the cage.
Guzman taking a breather.
Guzman slowing the pace effectively.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Taulava is trying to drag Guzman to the mat but Guzman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Guzman takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bobby Guzman.
Guzman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taulava tries a head kick but it misses.
Guzman doesn't manage to clinch there - Taulava circles away.
Guzman backing away here, and Taulava unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Guzman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Guzman takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Taulava tries to pull guard but Guzman won't allow it.
Taulava's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Guzman pressing his opponent against the cage.
The referee calls for Guzman to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taulava drives through and clinches with Guzman against the cage.

Guzman jumps guard and drags Taulava to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Taulava trying to move into half guard but instead Guzman has managed to sweep!

Taulava throwing short punches from the bottom.
Taulava looking for a sweep. Not yet Taulava, not yet.
Guzman working some strikes from top position.
Guzman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taulava looking to control but Guzman passes into half guard.
Guzman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taulava defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guzman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Taulava with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Taulava is trying to maintain the position but Guzman is very close to passing his half guard.
Taulava tries to get to full guard but Guzman has control of the leg.
It looks like Guzman is going to stand back up.

Guzman is looking for a kimura but Taulava is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Guzman to get the leverage.

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.
Guzman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Guzman.
Taulava makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Taulava.
Taulava has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Guzman has passed into side control.
Taulava takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taulava tries to bench press Guzman off him but Guzman keeps the position.
Taulava is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Taulava regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guzman winds up and cracks Taulava with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Guzman winds up and cracks Taulava with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Taulava wants to get back to full guard.
Taulava taking some punishment here, with Guzman in his half guard.

Guzman seems to be looking for submissions.
Taulava regains full guard. Nicely done.
Taulava looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guzman would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Guzman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Guzman landing with the ground and pound.
Taulava lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Taulava wants to control from the top but Guzman keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taulava prevents Guzman from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Guzman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Guzman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Guzman!