PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Tauer (ranked 1769 p4p, 266 weight class) and Harald Gormsson (ranked 2005 p4p, 294 weight class). Gormsson has chosen Saor - Children of the Mist as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Tauer
vs
Gormsson

200 cm
29
219 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

186 cm
28
213 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Tauer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harald Gormsson!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gormsson avoids the body shot from Tauer.
A slow jab from Tauer misses its intended target.
Gormsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tauer.
Gormsson takes a swing at Tauer's ribcage but misses.
Gormsson misses the jab.
Tauer appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Tauer closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gormsson quickly recovers to half guard.

Tauer is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Gormsson still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Gormsson has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Tauer is looking for a sweep.
Gormsson working away.
Tauer has one of Gormsson's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Tauer's coaches at Listerman's Club have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Tauer is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gormsson tries to move to mount but Tauer blocks the move with his legs.
Tauer tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gormsson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gormsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tauer keeps working.
Tauer is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Gormsson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's two 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.
Tauer tries to reverse the position but Gormsson maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gormsson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tauer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gormsson tries to control but Tauer wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tauer can't escape the position.
Gormsson avoids the attempt from Tauer to control.
Tauer bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Tauer passes into half guard.
Tauer is trying to control. Gormsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Tauer is looking for a kimura but Gormsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tauer to get the leverage.
Gormsson has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Ryōzanpaku Dojo. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tauer sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tauer prevents Gormsson from improving his position.
Gormsson trying to hold on to Tauer's head to control him but Tauer postures up.

Tauer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gormsson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tauer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tauer is looking to take a break and control but Gormsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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 Steven Tauer will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tauer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gormsson manages to avoid it.
Tauer scores with a hook to the body. Gormsson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tauer shoots in looking for a takedown. Gormsson tries to sprawl out of it but Tauer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gormsson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gormsson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Gormsson misses with a hook
and Tauer counters with a right hand to the body.
Harald Gormsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gormsson moves forwards but Tauer connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gormsson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Steven Tauer has been cut.
Tauer is looking to wear down Gormsson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gormsson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tauer.
Gormsson throws a hook but Tauer blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tauer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gormsson throws a hook to the side of Tauer's head but Tauer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gormsson lands a glancing blow to the side of Tauer's head.
Gormsson loads up on a big right hand but Tauer slips the punch.
It looked like Tauer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gormsson is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Gormsson throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Gormsson.
Gormsson looks to land a left hand but Tauer moved out of range nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Tauer misses the target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gormsson! But no joy.
Gormsson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Gormsson punishes Tauer's body with a nice straight punch.
Tauer takes one to the side of the head.
Gormsson throws a body shot but no joy.
Gormsson throws a hook to the side of Tauer's head but Tauer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gormsson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tauer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Tauer misses the target.
Gormsson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tauer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A telegraphed right hand from Tauer misses the target.
Gormsson jabs Tauer right on the nose. Tauer blinks but takes it well.
A big left from Gormsson misses.
Gormsson swings for the body but Tauer moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tauer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gormsson is fending him off so far but Tauer persists. Nope, Gormsson circles away and we're back to standing.
The fighters circling - Gormsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tauer was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gormsson misses with a wild body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tauer lands with a hook. Gormsson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gormsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gormsson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gormsson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tauer at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Gormsson misses the target.
Tauer scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gormsson connects with a single shot there.
A punch combination from Gormsson misses.
Tauer cracks Gormsson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gormsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tauer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gormsson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tauer lands a right hook to the body.
Tauer slips under a jab.
Harald Gormsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gormsson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tauer.
Gormsson walks into a left hand.
Nice jab there from Gormsson.
Gormsson tests Tauer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Tauer as he connects with a hook.
A slow jab from Gormsson misses its intended target.
A left lands for Tauer.
Gormsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tauer.
Gormsson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tauer was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gormsson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Gormsson avoids the body shot from Tauer.
Gormsson cracks a nice hook into Tauer's ribs.
Gormsson misses with a straight left.
Gormsson throws a lazy uppercut
and Tauer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tauer dives in and grabs Gormsson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gormsson pushes down on Tauer's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Tauer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tauer takes a swing at Gormsson's ribcage but misses.
Gormsson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tauer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gormsson.
Tauer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tauer throws a lazy right hand but Gormsson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tauer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gormsson's waist but Gormsson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tauer off to one side.
Tauer misses with a double jab.
Tauer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gormsson slips a jab from Tauer.
Gormsson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gormsson loads up on a big right hand but Tauer slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harald Gormsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steven Tauer's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gormsson throws a hook but Tauer avoids it easily.
Tauer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gormsson.
Tauer is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gormsson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tauer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gormsson throws out a loose jab but Tauer uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Tauer misses.
Tauer defending well as Gormsson loads up on a big left hand.
Nice shot lands for Gormsson.

Tauer closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tauer lands in his opponent's guard.
Tauer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gormsson working a defensive guard but Tauer passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tauer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gormsson keeps working.
Tauer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gormsson pushes Tauer off but Tauer dives into side control.
Tauer trying to control the action but Gormsson is working from the bottom.
Steven Tauer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tauer goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gormsson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Tauer's guard! Nice work there by Gormsson!

Tauer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gormsson passes into half guard.
Gormsson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gormsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tauer keeps working.
Tauer wants to get back to full guard.
Tauer keeping hold of Gormsson's head, controlling as best he can.
Tauer is pressing down on Gormsson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gormsson stopping the sweep attempt from Tauer.
Tauer is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gormsson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tauer continues to stall.
Tauer looking for a sweep. Not yet Tauer, not yet.
Tauer pulls Gormsson in to control the position.
Tauer keeping moving, preventing Gormsson from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gormsson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tauer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gormsson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gormsson misses with a hook.
Gormsson moves out of range of the strikes.
Tauer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tauer is looking to counter punch.
The crowd cheers as Gormsson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tauer doesn't seem phased though.
Tauer misses with a hook
and Gormsson counters with a left to the body.
Tauer throws a lazy right hand but Gormsson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tauer digs a good hook to Gormsson's body.
Gormsson thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gormsson slips under a jab from Tauer.
Tauer lands a lovely overhand right.
Gormsson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tauer was well out of range. Poor timing from Gormsson.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Harald Gormsson.
I think Gormsson 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harald Gormsson!
A relieved looking Harald Gormsson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.