PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Voronov (ranked 1797 p4p, 238 weight class) and Maki Tantor (ranked 2318 p4p, 289 weight class). Voronov comes to the cage accompanied by Noize Mc - Make Destroy . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Voronov
vs
Tantor

188 cm
21
185 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

182 cm
19
180 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrei Voronov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maki Tantor!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters circling a little - Tantor finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Tantor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An inside leg kick from Voronov misses.
Tantor thows a body kick. Voronov tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Tantor throws a good cross that connects.
That kick from Voronov tenderised Tantor's leg. Tantor is trying to keep his angry face on.
Voronov scores with a nice strike.
Voronov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tantor checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Maki Tantor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tantor throws a chopping leg kick but Voronov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A thudding body kick lands there by Voronov!
Voronov lands a nice looking body kick.
A swing and a miss from Tantor.
Voronov throws out a loose jab but Tantor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Voronov throws a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tantor misses with a left hand
and Voronov counters with a stiff right hand.
Tantor connects with a leg kick. Voronov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tantor has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor throws a shot from downtown. Voronov moves away and avoids it.
Tantor moves out of range as Voronov throws a body kick.
Tantor closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Andrei Voronov has been cut.
Voronov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Voronov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Voronov throws a body shot but no joy.
Voronov throws a nice looking combination but Tantor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tantor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tantor takes one on the button.
Voronov fails to land with a series of punches.
Tantor throws a big shot that misses.
Voronov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tantor.
Voronov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tantor cracks the inside of Voronov's front leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Voronov connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voronov misses with a body kick.
Tantor tries to land a front kick but Voronov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tantor wants to slow Voronov down by chopping away at his legs.
Voronov fires out a quick counter leg kick but Tantor just manages to avoid it.
Voronov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Tantor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Voronov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Voronov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tantor manages to avoid it.
Tantor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Voronov.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tantor.
Tantor throws a push kick but Voronov slaps the foot to one side.
Voronov appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tantor darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tantor lands a leg kick that knocks Voronov off balance momentarily.
Tantor missing with a left hand there. Voronov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tantor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voronov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tantor ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Tantor throws out a loose jab but Voronov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Voronov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Voronov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Voronov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Voronov blocks a leg kick.
Voronov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tantor doesn't seem bothered though.
Tantor cracks Voronov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Voronov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Voronov misses with an uppercut.
A little jabbing left from Tantor on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Voronov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tantor throws out the jab.
Voronov cracks Tantor with a good jab.
Voronov tests Tantor's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tantor scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voronov tries to land a leg kick but Tantor saw it coming and moves away.
A big left from Tantor misses.
Voronov swings for the body but Tantor moves out of range.
Voronov misses the shot to the body.
Tantor's corner calls for a 1-2. Tantor obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Both fighters circling a little - Tantor finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Tantor walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Voronov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
It looked like Voronov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Tantor.
Voronov misses with an uppercut.
Voronov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tantor.
Voronov moves away from the strike by Tantor.
Nice defenses there by Voronov.

Tantor clinches with his opponent.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maki Tantor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andrei Voronov's cut.
That's time! Voronov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Voronov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tantor's hands.
Tantor pivots, looking for a leg kick but Voronov is out of range and Tantor settles back down.
Tantor takes a swing at Voronov's ribcage but misses.
Voronov misses with a wild body shot.
Donk. Tantor catches Voronov right on the button with a cross.
Tantor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Voronov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tantor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Voronov defending well as Tantor loads up on a big left hand.
Tantor lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Voronov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tantor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voronov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tantor.
Voronov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tantor has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A low kick from Tantor is predictable there
and Voronov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Voronov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Voronov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tantor scores with a leg kick.
Tantor scores with the left hand. Voronov knows he should have avoided that one.
Tantor takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A big right from Tantor misses.
Tantor throws a hook but Voronov avoids it easily.
Maki Tantor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tantor throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tantor misses with an uppercut. Voronov saw that one coming.
Voronov quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Voronov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tantor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Voronov connects with a single shot there.
A jab from Voronov does it's job there.
Voronov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Voronov is looking to clinch but Tantor is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voronov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tantor jabs Voronov right on the nose. Voronov blinks but takes it well.
Voronov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Voronov tries to clinch there but Tantor circles away.
Voronov misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Voronov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tantor fakes the leg kick and cracks Voronov in the body.
Tantor throws a lazy uppercut

and Voronov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tantor misses with a body punch.
Voronov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Voronov tries a knee to the head but Tantor blocks it.
Voronov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Voronov prevents a body shot from Tantor.
I was talking to Voronov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voronov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Tantor fails to land.
Voronov misses with a knee strike.
Tantor stalling in the clinch but Voronov improves position.
Tantor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Voronov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tantor avoids it.
Tantor stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Voronov lands a nice knee to the body.
A hook to the body from Tantor.
Voronov trying to stall but Tantor improves his position.
Voronov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Voronov avoiding damage.
Tantor scores with a shot to the side of Voronov's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tantor throws a punch but it's blocked by Voronov.
Tantor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tantor pressing his opponent against the cage.
Voronov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tantor up against the cage.
Tantor misses with the head strike.
Tantor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tantor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tantor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tantor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tantor lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maki Tantor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Andrei Voronov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tantor throws a leg kick
and Voronov counters with a body kick.
Tantor misses with a hook. Voronov ducked under it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Voronov misses the target.
Voronov checks a leg kick.
Tantor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Voronov at a distance.
Voronov lands a really nice looking cross but Tantor seems unphased.
Voronov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tantor throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tantor stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Voronov.
Both fighters circling a little - Tantor finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voronov tries to land a front kick but Tantor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Voronov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tantor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Voronov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Voronov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tantor throws a leg kick but Voronov checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tantor.
A slow jab from Tantor misses its intended target.
Voronov moves out of range as Tantor strikes.
Tantor misses with a head kick.
Tantor misses with a right hand
and Voronov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tantor stuns Voronov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tantor on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A solid leg kick lands there for Voronov.
Tantor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Voronov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Voronov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tantor throws out the jab.
Tantor lands a nice looking body kick.
A combination from Tantor does no damage.
Tantor throws out a loose jab but Voronov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tantor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor throws a front kick aimed at Voronov's knee but Voronov avoids it well.
Voronov drops his hands momentarily and Tantor takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Voronov connects with a jab.
Tantor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Voronov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tantor sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tantor lands with a nice body kick.
Tantor takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Tantor scores with a body shot.
Tantor throws a solid leg kick but Voronov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tantor.
Voronov ducks under a wild hook from Tantor.
Voronov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tantor appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Tantor.
Voronov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor scores with a jab to the head.
Tantor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Voronov's sensitive parts.
Tantor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Voronov on the side of the head.
Tantor swings widly with a right hand

and Voronov counters by clinching up.
Andrei Voronov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tantor.

Tantor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Voronov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tantor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Voronov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Voronov looks to clinch
and Tantor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tantor rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Voronov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tantor lands a left hand.
Voronov lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Voronov.
Tantor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voronov with a knee to the head.
Voronov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Voronov avoiding damage.
Tantor struggles to land a body shot inside as Voronov controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Voronov.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tantor takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Tantor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tantor misses with some punches.
Tantor tries to stall but Voronov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tantor lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Voronov backwards.
Voronov misses with a body punch.
Tantor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Voronov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Tantor in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tantor prevents a body shot from Voronov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maki Tantor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tantor 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maki Tantor!