PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Imtiyaz Usaym Tahan (ranked 5797 p4p, 688 weight class) and Buzzard Jigsawz (ranked 22532 p4p, 954 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Usaym Tahan
vs
Jigsawz

176 cm
25
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
29
175 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Imtiyaz Usaym Tahan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Buzzard Jigsawz!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jigsawz has managed to clinch.

Usaym Tahan has picked Jigsawz up - he's going for a ride! Usaym Tahan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Usaym Tahan wants to stand up but Jigsawz manages to regain full guard.
Jigsawz wants to stand and escape but Usaym Tahan is having none of it.
Usaym Tahan 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.

Usaym Tahan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Jigsawz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Usaym Tahan has Jigsawz in his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usaym Tahan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jigsawz postures up.
Usaym Tahan 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.
Usaym Tahan throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Usaym Tahan is trying to keep Jigsawz in close.
Usaym Tahan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two 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.
Jigsawz stopping the sweep attempt from Usaym Tahan.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Usaym Tahan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Usaym Tahan went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Nice takedown defense from Jigsawz. No joy for Usaym Tahan on that attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Usaym Tahan is defended easily by Jigsawz.
Buzzard Jigsawz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Usaym Tahan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Usaym Tahan seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Usaym Tahan gets tackled into the cage by Jigsawz. Jigsawz maintains the clinch.

Usaym Tahan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jigsawz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Usaym Tahan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jigsawz tries to clinch there but Usaym Tahan circles away.
Usaym Tahan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Usaym Tahan clinches up against the cage.

Usaym Tahan manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jigsawz closes the distance and clinches.
Usaym Tahan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jigsawz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Imtiyaz Usaym Tahan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Usaym Tahan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Usaym Tahan fails to land the takedown.
Usaym Tahan throws the kick towards the body but Jigsawz avoids it.
Jigsawz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Usaym Tahan shoots in but Jigsawz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Usaym Tahan is breathing heavily.

Usaym Tahan instigates a clinch.
Usaym Tahan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Usaym Tahan is trying to pull guard but Jigsawz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usaym Tahan misses with a body punch.

Usaym Tahan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Jigsawz closes the distance and clinches.
Usaym Tahan is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Usaym Tahan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Usaym Tahan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Usaym Tahan takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Usaym Tahan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Usaym Tahan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Imtiyaz Usaym Tahan will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jigsawz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Usaym Tahan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jigsawz tries to clinch there but Usaym Tahan circles away.
Jigsawz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Usaym Tahan gets tackled into the cage by Jigsawz. Jigsawz maintains the clinch.
Usaym Tahan is working for takedown but Jigsawz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Usaym Tahan's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Usaym Tahan pulls Jigsawz into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usaym Tahan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Usaym Tahan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Jigsawz passes into side control.
Usaym Tahan is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Jigsawz is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usaym Tahan tries to reverse the position but Jigsawz maintains control.

Jigsawz get's back to his feet.
Jigsawz wants to clinch.
Jigsawz moves in looking to clinch but Usaym Tahan pushes him off.
Jigsawz tries to clinch there but Usaym Tahan circles away.
Usaym Tahan goes for a double leg but Jigsawz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jigsawz continues to drive forward.

Jigsawz has managed to clinch.
Usaym Tahan struggles to land a body shot inside as Jigsawz controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Usaym Tahan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jigsawz walks into a stiff left hand from Usaym Tahan.
Jigsawz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Usaym Tahan swats away the attempt to clinch by Jigsawz.

Jigsawz forces Usaym Tahan back against the cage and clinches.
Jigsawz letting Usaym Tahan take a breather here.
Jigsawz gets underhooks to prevent Usaym Tahan's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Imtiyaz Usaym Tahan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Usaym Tahan breaks from the clinch.

Jigsawz rushes Usaym Tahan and presses him up against the cage.
Usaym Tahan has Jigsawz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jigsawz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jigsawz is trying to trip Usaym Tahan. He has hold of a leg but Usaym Tahan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Jigsawz persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Usaym Tahan is looking to stand up but Jigsawz isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Usaym Tahan controlling Jigsawz's posture.
Usaym Tahan wants to control but Jigsawz passes easily into half guard.
Usaym Tahan tries to kick Jigsawz off in order to stand up. Jigsawz Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usaym Tahan is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Jigsawz is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Usaym Tahan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Usaym Tahan tries to improve his position but instead Jigsawz has taken his back!
Usaym Tahan is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Jigsawz controlling the position well here. Usaym Tahan rolled but Jigsawz kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Jigsawz is looking to get the fight back to the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Usaym Tahan is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buzzard Jigsawz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Usaym Tahan swats away the attempt to clinch by Jigsawz.
Jigsawz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jigsawz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Usaym Tahan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Usaym Tahan drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jigsawz sprawls and moves away.
Jigsawz tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jigsawz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jigsawz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Usaym Tahan shoots in for a double leg but Jigsawz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Usaym Tahan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jigsawz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jigsawz moves in looking to clinch but Usaym Tahan pushes him off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Usaym Tahan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jigsawz just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Imtiyaz Usaym Tahan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jigsawz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Usaym Tahan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Usaym Tahan manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Usaym Tahan wants to sweep but no luck.
Jigsawz wants to stand but Usaym Tahan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jigsawz preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jigsawz wants to stand but Usaym Tahan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Usaym Tahan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Jigsawz is now in half guard.
Usaym Tahan wants to get back to full guard.
Buzzard Jigsawz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Usaym Tahan wants to control the action here but instead Jigsawz manages to pass to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jigsawz prevents Usaym Tahan from getting the reversal.
Jigsawz is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Usaym Tahan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Usaym Tahan is looking to get to half guard.
Jigsawz is looking to stand but Usaym Tahan has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Usaym Tahan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jigsawz tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

Jigsawz stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Jigsawz tries to clinch but Usaym Tahan moves out of range.
Usaym Tahan half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jigsawz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Usaym Tahan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Usaym Tahan tries to counter by clinching up but Jigsawz breaks away and moves out of range.

Jigsawz clinches with his opponent.
Jigsawz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Usaym Tahan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buzzard Jigsawz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jigsawz 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Buzzard Jigsawz!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Buzzard Jigsawz!
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Buzzard Jigsawz!

Buzzard Jigsawz wins by unanimous decision!