PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Siva Tavau (ranked 4511 p4p, 492 weight class) and Apollo Gutz (ranked 3078 p4p, 0 weight class). Tavau kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is In the Air Tonight. Apollo Gutz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Siva Tavau's chin.

Tavau
vs
Gutz

200 cm
29
264 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

192 cm
39
239 lbs
30 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

KAISER Nutrition - Q160
Amped Performance

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Siva Tavau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Apollo Gutz!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Tavau enables Gutz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Tavau manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gutz postures up.
Tavau looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gutz wants to get up but he can't break Tavau's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Gutz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tavau, up you get!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tavau.
Tavau throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Tavau tries to score with some ground and pound. Gutz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Tavau looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tavau is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gutz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tavau grinds an elbow into Gutz's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Gutz throws Tavau to one side and escapes!

Tavau shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gutz makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Tavau looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tavau throwing shots but Gutz is blocking nicely.
Gutz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Tavau throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gutz pushes Tavau off looking to stand but Tavau dives back in and keeps control.
Gutz told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Tavau is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tavau prevents Gutz from standing back up.
Tavau thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gutz's head.
Tavau has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutz wants to get back to his feet.
Tavau tries to pass to full mount but Gutz defends it.

Tavau is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gutz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gutz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tavau.

Tavau is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tavau prevents Gutz from standing back up.
Gutz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tavau.
Tavau is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tavau throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gutz pushes Tavau off looking to stand but Tavau dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tavau.
Tavau thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gutz's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tavau connects with a nice short shot to Gutz's temple.
Gutz wants to get back to his feet.
Tavau thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gutz is looking to escape.
Gutz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tavau.
Gutz is looking to escape.
Tavau throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tavau throwing shots but Gutz is blocking nicely.
Tavau missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gutz is looking to escape.
Gutz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tavau working Gutz over with strikes.
Gutz looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavau is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Tavau throws a big elbow that misses.
Tavau won't allow Gutz to get back to his feet.
Tavau distracts Gutz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tavau stands up over Gutz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tavau won't allow Gutz to get back to his feet.
Tavau working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gutz's head.
Gutz keeping full guard, as Tavau tries to pass.
Gutz wants to stand but Tavau is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siva Tavau dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gutz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Gutz gets to his feet - Tavau follows without any prompting.

Gutz clinches with his opponent.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gutz obliges.

Tavau wants the takedown. Gutz is fighting it off but Tavau persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gutz's guard against the cage.

Gutz has his feet on Tavau's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gutz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Siva Tavau has been cut.

Tavau changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gutz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gutz is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tavau working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Tavau working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Tavau prevents Gutz from escaping the position.
Tavau in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutz wants to get back to his feet but Tavau drags him back down.
Tavau cracks Gutz with a big elbow.
Gutz is trying to get back to his feet.

Gutz throws Tavau to one side and escapes!

Tavau looking to score a takedown here. Gutz is defending well but Tavau drives through and ends up in Gutz's guard.

Gutz has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Tavau off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Gutz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gutz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gutz decides to stand back up. Gutz steps back and let's Tavau get back to his feet.

Tavau is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gutz's half guard.
Tavau sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gutz defending well though.
Gutz pushes Tavau off looking to stand but Tavau dives back in and keeps control.
Tavau looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gutz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavau missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gutz is trying to stand.
Tavau sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gutz defending well though.
Gutz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tavau throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tavau lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gutz wants to get back to his feet.
Siva Tavau overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ground and pound from Tavau.
Tavau thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gutz is trying to stand back up but Tavau is controlling him
Tavau throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gutz manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Tavau keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Gutz unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gutz landing knees to the head.
Gutz lands an elbow inside.
Nice elbow from Gutz.
Gutz unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gutz lands a knee to the body.
Gutz scores a nice knee to the body.
Gutz lands an elbow just above Tavau 's eye.
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!

Gutz manages to break the clinch.

Gutz has closed the distance and engaged Tavau in a clinch.
Gutz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gutz lands a knee to the body.
Gutz creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tavau's defenses.
Tavau takes an elbow to the temple.
Gutz scores with a knee to the head.
Gutz working Tavau over with knees to the body.
Gutz connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Tavau has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gutz regains guard immediately.

Gutz pushes Tavau off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Gutz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gutz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Tavau manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Gutz manages to break the clinch.

Tavau closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gutz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Tavau postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Gutz wants to get back to his feet but Tavau drags him back down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tavau postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Tavau in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Tavau throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Gutz is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Gutz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Siva Tavau's cut.
That's time! Tavau's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gutz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tavau's guard.
Gutz wants to stand but Tavau has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tavau not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gutz wants to stand but Tavau has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Gutz stands up and waves to Tavau to follow him.
Gutz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tavau's sensitive parts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gutz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Tavau tries to sprawl but Gutz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gutz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tavau wants to improve his position but Gutz is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavau is trying to control but can't.
Gutz wants to get back to his feet.
Tavau is trying to control but can't.
Gutz wants to stand up but Tavau manages to regain full guard.
Gutz tries to stand but Tavau is controlling from the bottom.

Gutz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Tavau closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gutz quickly recovers to half guard.
Tavau looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gutz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tavau knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gutz on the ground.
Tavau landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tavau prevents Gutz from standing back up.
Tavau lands strikes from half guard.
Tavau working Gutz over with strikes.

Tavau is looking for a kimura but Gutz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tavau to get the leverage.
Gutz is trying to stand back up but Tavau is controlling him
Gutz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gutz is trying to stand up here but Tavau is controlling him well.

Gutz pushes Tavau off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gutz shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tavau manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gutz wanted to stand there but Tavau had control of the position.
Gutz stopping the sweep attempt from Tavau.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tavau is working an open guard so Gutz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Apollo Gutz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gutz.

Gutz stands up and beckons Tavau to his feet.

Gutz moves into range and clinches up with Tavau.
Tavau takes an elbow to the forehead.

Tavau has clasped his hands together around Gutz's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Gutz is trying to buck Tavau off.
Tavau creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gutz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gutz wants to get back to his feet but Tavau drags him back down.
Tavau scores with punches from side control.
Tavau creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Tavau in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tavau thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gutz is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Tavau throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Gutz wants to get back to his feet.
Tavau in side control, throwing shots but Gutz defends.
Gutz tries to escape but Tavau is in control.
The ground and pound from Tavau seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gutz pushes Tavau away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Tavau gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gutz dodges the ground and pound from Tavau.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Apollo Gutz.
I think Gutz 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Apollo Gutz!
After the fight, Apollo Gutz was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Siva Tavau spoke after the fight, saying 'I beat myself tonight, I will look to improve on that.'.