PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Segey Taranin (ranked 2789 p4p, 273 weight class) and Santana Blaze (ranked 1468 p4p, 157 weight class). Santana Blaze has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Segey Taranin's chin.

Taranin
vs
Blaze

166 cm
26
159 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

177 cm
33
143 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Segey Taranin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Santana Blaze!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaze stuffs the takedown attempt from Taranin. Taranin gets slowly back to his feet.
Blaze lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Blaze missing with a left hand there. Taranin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taranin.
Taranin throws a hook but Blaze blocks it.
A little jabbing left from Blaze on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Blaze gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Taranin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranin won't allow Blaze to sweep him here.
Blaze working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taranin.
Taranin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Blaze trying to keep a closed guard but Taranin is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Taranin distracts Blaze with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Blaze controls Taranin momentarily but Taranin frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taranin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blaze working a defensive guard here.
Blaze tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taranin postures up in Blaze's guard and throws a big left but Blaze blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taranin trying to control but Blaze is working from the bottom.
Taranin is looking to work some ground and pound but Blaze has wrist control.

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.
Taranin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've been hearing that Taranin has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Taranin throwing strikes from guard but Blaze blocks nicely.
Taranin working some strikes from top position.
Taranin won't allow Blaze to sweep him here.
Taranin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Blaze keeping moving, preventing Taranin from controlling successfully.
Blaze tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blaze is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taranin is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Blaze shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Taranin eats them both and turns towards Blaze to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaze manages to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Blaze on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Taranin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Blaze defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Segey Taranin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taranin lands a glancing blow to the side of Blaze's head.
Blaze walks into a stiff left hand from Taranin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Blaze counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taranin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Blaze.
Blaze swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Taranin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blaze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taranin swings widly with a right hand
enabling Blaze to counter with a crisp jab.
Blaze throws a looping overhand right but Taranin ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taranin misses with a takedown
and Blaze counters with a straight right hand.
Nice uppercut there from Blaze.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Santana Blaze will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A left lands for Blaze.
Blaze misses with a looping right.
Taranin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blaze.
Taranin feinted with a counter takedown.
Santana Blaze is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taranin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blaze as he avoids it easily.
Blaze unleashes a big counter combination but Taranin bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Taranin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blaze to the mat! Blaze manages to get full guard.
Taranin throwing strikes from guard but Blaze blocks nicely.
Taranin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blaze works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Blaze can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Blaze wants to sweep but no luck.
Taranin postures up.
Taranin is looking to work some ground and pound but Blaze has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranin postures up in Blaze's guard and throws a big left but Blaze blocks it.
Taranin working some strikes from top position.
Blaze wants to sweep but no luck.
Taranin trying to control but Blaze is working from the bottom.
Blaze 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.
Blaze working a defensive guard here.
Taranin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taranin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Taranin won't allow Blaze to sweep him here.
Blaze keeps trying to improve his position.
Blaze being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taranin drops back looking for a leg! Blaze is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Blaze manages to kick Taranin off! Taranin jumps back into Blaze's guard.
Blaze wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Taranin is looking to work some ground and pound but Blaze has wrist control.
Taranin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taranin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taranin connects with a couple of short punches.
Taranin won't allow Blaze to get back to his feet.
Blaze wants to sweep here but Taranin controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Segey Taranin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taranin connects with a couple of short punches.
Blaze really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taranin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Blaze looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Blaze working a defensive guard here.
Taranin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taranin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blaze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blaze wants to get back to his feet but Taranin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blaze is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Taranin misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Blaze counters with a series of strikes. Taranin will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Taranin with that takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taranin or perhaps it was just good defense by Blaze, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Segey Taranin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blaze misses with a body shot.
Taranin throws a combination that misses
and Blaze connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Blaze throws a right and a left that both miss.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blaze misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Santana Blaze will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Taranin misses with an uppercut. Blaze saw that one coming.
Taranin throws an off balance right hand
and Blaze counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taranin shoots and misses
and Blaze counters with a nice uppercut.
Taranin shoots in for a double leg but Blaze sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blaze is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Blaze has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Blaze misses with a double jab.
Taranin attempts a counter takedown but Blaze avoids it well and moves away.
Taranin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Blaze doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaze connects with a right hand. Taranin shakes it off.
Taranin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taranin looks to score with a jab to the body but Blaze is just out of range.
Blaze throws a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blaze circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Segey Taranin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taranin ducks under a wild hook from Blaze.
Taranin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blaze but Blaze pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Santana Blaze seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blaze looks to land a combination but Taranin avoids it well.
Taranin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little jabbing left from Blaze on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Taranin connects with a jab.
Taranin shoots and misses
and Blaze counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taranin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blaze counters with a series of strikes. Taranin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Segey Taranin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze works over Taranin's head and body with a nice combination.
A good leg kick by Blaze.
Blaze scores with a one two! Taranin had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blaze misses the jab.
Taranin tries to counter with a takedown but Blaze is quick to defend against it.
Taranin throws a series of punches but Blaze avoids them all with ease.
As Taranin backs off Blaze throws a huge counter combo but Taranin manages to avoid it all.
Taranin misses with a takedown
and Taranin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A slow jab from Taranin misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze lands a nice looking body shot.
Taranin has a takedown stuffed.
A combination from Blaze does no damage.
Blaze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blaze lands a glancing blow to the side of Taranin's head.
Taranin walks into a straight right hand from Blaze.
Blaze rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taranin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taranin tries to counter with a takedown but Blaze is quick to defend against it.
Taranin swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blaze's waist but Blaze gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taranin off to one side.
Taranin misses with a left hand
and Blaze counters with a stiff right hand.
Blaze throws a nice looking combination but Taranin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Blaze finds it's way through Taranin's defenses.
Blaze misses with a straight left.
Taranin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Blaze unleashes a big counter combination but Taranin bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Blaze moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taranin with a poor takedown
and Blaze counters with a stiff right hand.
Santana Blaze is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blaze buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santana Blaze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Blaze winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santana Blaze!
Our winner, Santana Blaze, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.