PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Tarasov (ranked 3043 p4p, 425 weight class) and Thomas Boothe (ranked 9826 p4p, 850 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tarasov
vs
Boothe

184 cm
27
215 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

190 cm
48
207 lbs
50 - 30 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Tarasov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 50 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Boothe!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarasov misses with a double jab.
Boothe avoids a punch combination nicely.

Tarasov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Boothe is trying to keep Tarasov in close.
Tarasov wants to control from the top but Boothe keeps moving.
Tarasov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boothe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarasov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tarasov forces his way into half guard.

Tarasov seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tarasov lands a nice short elbow.
Tarasov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tarasov is keen to just control but Boothe is a slippery customer.
Boothe trying to control from the bottom.
Tarasov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tarasov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Boothe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tarasov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tarasov lands a big elbow.

Tarasov is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Boothe has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tarasov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Boothe manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Boothe is trying to control Tarasov's posture but Tarasov avoids it.
Tarasov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Boothe keeps working.

Tarasov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Boothe has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boothe struggling a bit here.
Sloppy strikes there by Tarasov.
Boothe is trying to get back to half guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tarasov tries for a kimura but Boothe is defending well.

Tarasov swings around for an armbar but Boothe sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tarasov's guard.

Tarasov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Boothe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tarasov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Boothe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Tarasov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Boothe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Boothe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tarasov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Tarasov dominated that round.
That's time! Tarasov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tarasov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A nice combination there by Tarasov.

It looks like Thomas Boothe has been cut.
Tarasov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Tarasov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Boothe manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Tarasov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Boothe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarasov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Boothe is keeping the position for now.
Tarasov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tarasov lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarasov is pushing down on Boothe's leg trying to pass to half guard. Boothe is fighting to maintain full guard but Tarasov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tarasov is looking to take a break and control but Boothe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Tarasov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tarasov is nestled in close to Boothe, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tarasov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tarasov wants to control but Boothe is keeping him busy.

Tarasov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tarasov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Boothe defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tarasov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Tarasov seems to be working for a kimura but Boothe defends the submission attempt.
Tarasov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Boothe can do to turn this around?
Tarasov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Tarasov is working for a kimura but Boothe is defending it quite comfortably.

Tarasov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Boothe is just riding it out for now. Tarasov eventually gives up the hold.
Boothe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tarasov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ivan Tarasov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tarasov is trying to work for a kimura but Boothe is defending well.

Tarasov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boothe has managed to free his arm - good work.

Tarasov is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tarasov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tarasov trying to control the action but Boothe is working from the bottom.

Tarasov is looking for a kimura but Boothe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tarasov to get the leverage.
Tarasov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Tarasov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Boothe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tarasov.
Boothe trying to hold on to Tarasov's head to control him but Tarasov postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Tarasov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Thomas Boothe's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Tarasov. Those never looked like landing.
Boothe changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tarasov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Boothe with the counter takedown but Tarasov avoids it easily.
Ivan Tarasov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tarasov cracks Boothe with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tarasov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Boothe is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Tarasov tries to bum rush Boothe with a series of wild strikes but Boothe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Boothe drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tarasov defends it well.
Tarasov misses with a few strikes there.
Boothe tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tarasov swinging wildly here.
And Boothe tries to counter it with a takedown but Tarasov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarasov throws a series of punches but Boothe avoids them all with ease.
Boothe tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tarasov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Boothe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boothe changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Boothe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tarasov throws a right and a left that Boothe avoids nicely.
Boothe is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarasov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Boothe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Boothe controlling Tarasov's posture.
Tarasov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Boothe's guard.

Tarasov is working for a kimura but Boothe is defending it quite comfortably.

Tarasov is trying to work for a kimura but Boothe is defending well.
Thomas Boothe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tarasov wants to work for an arm triangle but Boothe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Tarasov is looking for a kimura but Boothe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tarasov to get the leverage.
Boothe wants to improve his position but Tarasov is controlling well.
Tarasov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Boothe defending well though.

Tarasov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Tarasov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Boothe is just riding it out for now. Tarasov eventually gives up the hold.
Ivan Tarasov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boothe trying to control but Tarasov postures up.
Boothe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tarasov.
Tarasov is controlling the pace.
Tarasov throwing shots but Boothe is blocking nicely.

That's four 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.

Tarasov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tarasov controlling the action here.
Tarasov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Further stalling from Tarasov.
Tarasov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Tarasov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tarasov 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:25
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:25
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Tarasov!
A determined Ivan Tarasov didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!