PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mukinio Tambua (ranked 1028 p4p, 115 weight class) and Eldar Tskhadaia (ranked 693 p4p, 74 weight class). Mukinio Tambua had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Tambua
vs
Tskhadaia

196 cm
20
265 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
243 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Dauntless
Aspire Clothing

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mukinio Tambua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eldar Tskhadaia!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tambua lands an overhand right.
Tambua takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mukinio Tambua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Tambua misses.
And Tskhadaia tries to counter it with a takedown but Tambua pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A swing and a miss from Tambua.
Tskhadaia is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Tskhadaia slips a jab from Tambua.
Tskhadaia feints the counter takedown.
Tambua throws a hook to the side of Tskhadaia's head but Tskhadaia sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tskhadaia changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nice shot by Tambua.
Tambua cracks Tskhadaia with an open hand slap.
Tambua dives in and grabs Tskhadaia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tskhadaia pushes down on Tambua's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tskhadaia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tskhadaia wants it to stay on the feet.
Tskhadaia feints the counter takedown.
Tambua misses with a left hand

and Tskhadaia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tskhadaia wants to stand up but Tambua has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Tambua tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Tskhadaia has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tambua tries to reverse the position but Tskhadaia maintains control.
Tskhadaia avoids the attempt from Tambua to control.
Tambua is desperately trying to improve his position but Tskhadaia has a good base and remains in mount.

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.
Tskhadaia wants to get back to his feet but Tambua is holding on tight.
Tambua can't escape the position.
Tambua looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Tambua tries to break free.
Tambua trying to control the action but Tskhadaia just sinks the hooks in.
Tambua tries to roll but Tskhadaia sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tskhadaia controlling from the back.
Tskhadaia not allowing Tambua to control his hands.

Tskhadaia stands up from back control! Strange decision that!
Tskhadaia moves out of range of the strikes.

Tambua shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

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

Tambua is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tambua passes the guard and advances to mount!

Tambua is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Tskhadaia has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Tskhadaia!
Tambua controls Tskhadaia momentarily but Tskhadaia frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eldar Tskhadaia will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tskhadaia takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tambua bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tskhadaia's head backwards.
Tambua 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.
Tambua is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Tskhadaia uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tambua.
Tskhadaia drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tambua defends it well.
Tskhadaia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tskhadaia wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice cross by Tambua.
Tambua throws a big shot that misses.
Tskhadaia tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tambua throws the left hand but Tskhadaia avoids the punch easily.
Tambua loads up on a big right hand but Tskhadaia slips the punch.
Tskhadaia drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tambua defends it well.

Tambua closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tskhadaia's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tambua passes into half guard.
Tambua is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tskhadaia can do to turn this around?
Tambua tries to pass to full mount but Tskhadaia defends it.

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

Tambua is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tskhadaia has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tambua will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tambua throwing shots but Tskhadaia is blocking nicely.

Tambua seems to be working for a kimura but Tskhadaia defends the submission attempt.

That's two 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.
Tambua tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tskhadaia knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tskhadaia wants to get back to his feet.

Tambua is working for a kimura but Tskhadaia is defending it quite comfortably.

Tambua is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tskhadaia is just riding it out for now. Tambua eventually gives up the hold.

Tambua is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tskhadaia pushes Tambua off and gets back to his feet.
A left lands for Tambua.
Tambua bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tskhadaia's head.
Tambua works the jab nicely.
Tambua lands a really nice looking cross but Tskhadaia seems unphased.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tambua throws the left hand but Tskhadaia avoids the punch easily.
Mukinio Tambua is winning the standup battle so far.
Tskhadaia staying out of range there.
Tambua looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tambua scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tskhadaia in his tracks.
Tambua fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tskhadaia changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tskhadaia slips a straight right by Tambua.
Tambua throws the left hand but Tskhadaia avoids the punch easily.

Tambua shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tskhadaia napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Tambua is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tskhadaia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Tambua is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tskhadaia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mukinio Tambua dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tambua throws a hook but Tskhadaia blocks it.
Tskhadaia stuffs the takedown.
Tskhadaia moves out of range as Tambua strikes.
Tambua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tskhadaia feints the counter takedown.
Sloppy strikes from Tambua. Those never looked like landing.
Tskhadaia takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Tambua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good shot there by Tambua.
Tambua throws a looping overhand right but Tskhadaia ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Tambua misses.
Tskhadaia feints the counter takedown.
Tambua smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tambua misses with a looping left.
Tskhadaia staying out of range there.
Tambua looks to land a right hand but Tskhadaia moved out of range.
Tskhadaia tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tambua throws an off balance right hand

and Tskhadaia counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tambua!
Tambua is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tambua wants to control but Tskhadaia postures up.
Tambua tries to get back to half guard but can't.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Tskhadaia working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Tskhadaia wants to stand but Tambua has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tambua is looking to reverse the position.
Tskhadaia tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tambua tries to bench press Tskhadaia off him but Tskhadaia keeps the position.
Tskhadaia working away.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tambua's corner calls for a 1-2. Tambua obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tambua scores with a one two! Tskhadaia had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Tambua misses with a straight left.
Tskhadaia drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tambua defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tambua jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Tambua lands a left and a right that sends Tskhadaia crashing to the canvas! Tambua dives into mount looking to finish!

Tskhadaia is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tambua throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tskhadaia because Tambua loaded up on that one.
Tskhadaia is still in real trouble! Can Tambua finish him?
You get the feeling that Tskhadaia really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Oooh a big shot lands for Tambua! Tskhadaia is out! The ref dives in to save him from more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Mukinio Tambua!
Our winner, Mukinio Tambua, 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.