PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tony Garcia (ranked 2144 p4p, 218 weight class) and Segey Taranin (ranked 3283 p4p, 296 weight class). Garcia comes to the cage accompanied by Future–Last Breath. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Garcia
vs
Taranin

172 cm
30
155 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

166 cm
27
159 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Red Light Coffeeshop

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tony Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Segey Taranin!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia slaps away a takedown attempt from Taranin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Garcia misses with a double jab.
Taranin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Garcia sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taranin somewhat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taranin.
Tony Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Segey Taranin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranin misses with a takedown attempt - Garcia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Garcia appears to be looking for a big counter.
Taranin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It looked like Garcia was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taranin misses with a wild combination.
Taranin defending well as Garcia loads up on a big left hand.
Taranin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Garcia's waist but Garcia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taranin off to one side.
Taranin lunges at Garcia with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Garcia's hand.
Garcia misses with a two punch combination.
Taranin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Garcia defends it well.
Taranin scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Taranin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Garcia pinned against the cage. Garcia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Garcia slaps away a takedown attempt from Taranin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Garcia went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Segey Taranin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcia takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Garcia avoids the body shot from Taranin.
Taranin shoots in for a takedown but Garcia shows good takedown defense.
Garcia throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Taranin with the counter takedown but Garcia avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taranin with the counter takedown but Garcia avoids it easily.

Taranin drives through with a takedown into Garcia's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Garcia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Taranin trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Taranin controlling from the top position.
Taranin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Garcia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to stand up but Taranin is controlling him.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Taranin from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

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

Taranin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taranin throws a strike but Garcia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Garcia showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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 Tony Garcia will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taranin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garcia.
Taranin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Garcia throws a nice looking combination but Taranin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Taranin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Garcia sprawls well initially but Taranin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Garcia is trying to stand up here but Taranin is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranin thows a huge punch but Garcia dodges it nicely.
Taranin stops Garcia from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taranin is looking to take a break and control but Garcia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taranin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taranin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia tries to kick Taranin off but Taranin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Taranin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Taranin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taranin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Taranin working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Garcia regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Taranin.
Taranin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taranin trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taranin 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.

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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Garcia is looking to stand up but Taranin isn't so interested in that idea.
Taranin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Garcia wants to stand up but Taranin is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Garcia stuffs the takedown attempt from Taranin. Taranin gets slowly back to his feet.
Garcia went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Garcia keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranin throws a lazy right hand but Garcia sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taranin throws a shot from downtown. Garcia moves away and avoids it.
Garcia misses with a double jab
and Taranin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Garcia waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taranin.
Garcia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Garcia wants it to stay on the feet.
It looked like Garcia was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Garcia throws a head kick but Taranin moves out of range.
Taranin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Garcia defends it well.
Taranin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It looked like Garcia was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Taranin tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranin dodges the punch combination from Garcia.
Tony Garcia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taranin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Taranin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Garcia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Garcia sneaks out the side door and pushes Taranin away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
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!
Garcia throws a left and a right that both miss
and Taranin counters with a stiff right hand.
Garcia keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Segey Taranin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Garcia misses with a double jab
and Taranin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taranin. Garcia does a little dance to reset his feet.
Garcia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taranin.
And Taranin tries to counter it with a takedown but Garcia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Garcia tries a head kick but it misses.
Taranin slips a jab from Garcia.
Taranin tries to counter with a clinch but Garcia shakes him off and moves away.
Garcia drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranin goes for a double leg but Garcia avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Garcia continues to drive forward.
Garcia appears to be looking for a big counter.
Taranin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Garcia sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taranin looks for a takedown but Garcia sprawls well.
Tony Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Segey Taranin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Garcia sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taranin somewhat.
It looked like Garcia wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A slow jab from Garcia misses its intended target.

Taranin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Taranin throws an elbow but Garcia slips to the side and avoids it well.
Segey Taranin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taranin working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Taranin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Garcia is avoiding damage well.

Garcia throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Taranin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taranin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Garcia is looking to escape.
Taranin drops an elbow to the side of Garcia's head.

Garcia makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Taranin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia walks into a straight right hand from Taranin.

Taranin drives through and clinches with Garcia against the cage.
Taranin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Garcia lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but Taranin blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taranin.
Garcia with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Taranin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Garcia has a couple of punches blocked by Taranin.
Taranin stalling in the clinch but Garcia improves position.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Taranin fails to land.
Taranin has Garcia pressed against the cage.
Taranin avoiding damage as Garcia throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia misses with a hook from the clinch.

Taranin manages to break the clinch.

Taranin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Garcia did well to prevent Taranin getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garcia is looking to get back to is feet but Taranin passes into side control.

Taranin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Garcia rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Taranin's guard! Nice work there by Garcia!
Taranin keeping full guard, as Garcia tries to pass.

Taranin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garcia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Taranin keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Segey Taranin.
I think Taranin 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Segey Taranin!
A very excited looking Segey Taranin rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.