PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Mueller (ranked 5652 p4p, 0 weight class) and LaTrell Tarver (ranked 5482 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Mueller
vs
Tarver

160 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodrigo Mueller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, LaTrell Tarver!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Dean Styles and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarver dodges the punch combination from Mueller.
Tarver goes for a double leg but Mueller avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mueller continues to drive forward.
Tarver pushes Mueller away with a front kick.
Tarver lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Mueller gets caught napping as Tarver dives in and scores a takedown. Mueller manages to retain guard.

Mueller has his feet on Tarver's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
LaTrell Tarver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mueller misses with a body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tarver closes the distance and clinches.

Tarver is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mueller is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Tarver to the mat. Tarver regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Tarver is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Mueller presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Mueller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tarver avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Tarver escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarver tries a head kick but it misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mueller. Tarver does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tarver changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tarver dives in for a single leg takedown but Mueller sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Mueller gets a clinch.
Mueller slows down the pace here.

Tarver breaks from the clinch.

Mueller has managed to clinch.
Mueller stalling the fight.

Mueller turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Tarver manages to get back to half guard.
Tarver trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarver is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tarver has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mueller is working away from the top position though.
Tarver tries to kick Mueller off in order to stand up. Mueller Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Mueller controls the position.
Tarver gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mueller wants to control but Tarver is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mueller not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tarver is doing well to control the position and prevent Mueller from advancing to side control.

Tarver manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Tarver tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Mueller is able to avoid easily.
Tarver throws a head kick but Mueller moves out of range.
Tarver takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tarver tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mueller has taken the fight to the clinch.

Tarver breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mueller. Tarver does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tarver drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mueller defends it well.
Mueller misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tarver counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Tarver has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mueller drags the fight down to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tarver controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tarver trying to control the position from guard on top but Mueller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but LaTrell Tarver will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tarver dives in for a single leg takedown but Mueller sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Mueller darts in and clinches Tarver up against the cage.
Mueller displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tarver up against the cage.

Tarver gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Mueller tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Tarver manages to move to mount!
LaTrell Tarver has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tarver lands with some strikes.
Tarver can't control as he wanted to and Mueller manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Tarver trying to control the action but Mueller is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarver stops Mueller from getting back to his feet.
Tarver is looking to stall here but Mueller recovers full guard.
Tarver controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tarver wants to control from the top but Mueller keeps moving.
Tarver wants to get up but he can't break Mueller's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tarver trying to control the position from guard on top but Mueller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mueller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tarver is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tarver works over Mueller with some ground and pound from guard.
Tarver prevents Mueller from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tarver wants to stand but Mueller is controlling his posture from full guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tarver shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mueller sprawls well. Mueller wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tarver gets slowly back to his feet.
Mueller appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tarver throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Mueller counters by moving into the clinch.
Mueller throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tarvers head.

Mueller works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Mueller won't allow Tarver to get back to his feet.
Tarver is breathing heavily.
Tarver is trying to control the position but Mueller postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tarver throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mueller won't allow Tarver to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rodrigo Mueller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mueller moves into range and clinches up with Tarver.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Mueller dominated that second round.
That's time! Mueller's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mueller rushes Tarver and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Tarver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mueller misses with a wild combination.

Tarver gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Tarver escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tarver forces Mueller back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mueller tries to pull guard but Tarver won't allow it.

Tarver has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mueller uses from the top position.
Tarver 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.
Mueller postures up and lands a big shot to Tarver's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mueller looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Tarver looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mueller passes into half guard.
Mueller drops an elbow to the side of Tarver's head.

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.
Tarver trying to control here.
Tarver might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mueller haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Tarver wants to get back to full guard.
Tarver takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tarver has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mueller is working away from the top position though.
Tarver is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tarver gets tackled into the cage by Mueller. Mueller maintains the clinch.
Tarver stops a takedown attempt from Mueller.

Mueller gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Tarver is trying to stand up here but Mueller is controlling him well.
Mueller is looking to take a break and control but Tarver is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mueller slows the pace down in half guard.
Mueller is keen to just control but Tarver is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarver is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mueller wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tarver keeps working.
Tarver wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tarver shoots in but no luck this time.
LaTrell Tarver seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tarver throws a chopping leg kick but Mueller manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Mueller has closed the distance and engaged Tarver in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Mueller showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mueller has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Mueller!