PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Moleg Taktarov (ranked 24845 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Quinn (ranked 5176 p4p, 478 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Taktarov
vs
Quinn

180 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Moleg Taktarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Justin Quinn!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Quinn misses with a leg kick.
Taktarov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Quinn keeps the fight on the outside.
Quinn unleashes a big counter combination but Taktarov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Taktarov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Quinn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Taktarov counters with a thumping low kick.
Taktarov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Taktarov tries to keep at a distance but Quinn has taken the fight into the clinch.
Taktarov is looking for a takedown.

Taktarov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Quinn cracks Taktarov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Quinn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taktarov closes the distance and clinches up with Quinn, looking for a takedown. Taktarov pushes Quinn against the cage but Quinn circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moleg Taktarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taktarov wants to clinch up but Quinn keeps it at a distance.
Taktarov misses with a series of wild punches.
Quinn shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taktarov shoots in looking for a takedown but Quinn manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taktarov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Taktarov avoids the head kick by Quinn.
Quinn throws a leg kick
and Taktarov counters with a low kick, right behind Quinn 's knee.
Taktarov shoots in looking for a takedown. Quinn tries to sprawl out of it but Taktarov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Quinn manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Quinn feints a counter leg kick.
Taktarov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Quinn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Quinn follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Taktarov swings for the body but Quinn moves out of range.
Taktarov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Quinn is fending him off so far but Taktarov persists. Nope, Quinn circles away and we're back to standing.
A left and a right from Quinn both land. Nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Quinn.
Quinn throws a head kick but Taktarov moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Quinn.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Quinn tried to score with a low kick but Taktarov checks it.
Quinn's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Quinn duly obliges.
Taktarov dives in for a single leg takedown but Quinn sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Taktarov lands with a nice body kick.
Taktarov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Quinn.

Quinn clinches up with Taktarov and pushes him back against the cage.
Taktarov wants to take the fight to the mat but Quinn manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Quinn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Quinn tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taktarov avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quinn wants to get back to striking at distance but Taktarov won't allow it.

Quinn lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Quinn trying to control from half guard but Taktarov is working away.
Quinn is thwarting Taktarov's attempts to control the position.
Quinn tries to pass the half guard into mount. Taktarov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Taktarov makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quinn takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Quinn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Taktarov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Quinn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taktarov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taktarov or perhaps it was just good defense by Quinn, which made it look bad.

Quinn pushes Taktarov up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Taktarov decides to pull guard.
Taktarov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Taktarov keeping moving, preventing Quinn from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Quinn dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Taktarov as Quinn shoots in.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Quinn.
Taktarov tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Quinn manages to circle out of the way.
Quinn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Quinn tries to work over Taktarov's front leg with a kick but Taktarov checks it.

Quinn takes the fight into the clinch.

Taktarov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Quinn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Quinn stalks Taktarov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taktarov's face. Taktarov staggers backwards, shaken.
Taktarov darts in looking for a takedown but Quinn gets double underhooks and turns Taktarov into the cage.
Quinn swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Taktarov.
Quinn is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Taktarov tries to clinch up but Quinn circles away and keeps his distance.
Quinn wants to counter with a clinch but Taktarov pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taktarov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Quinn circles away.
Quinn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Quinn thuds his right hand into Taktarov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Taktarov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taktarov wants it to stay on the feet.
Moleg Taktarov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Quinn.
Taktarov tries to clinch up but Quinn circles away and keeps his distance.
Quinn tries to clinch but Taktarov is having none of it.

Quinn closes the distance and pushes Taktarov back into the cage.
Taktarov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Quinn pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Taktarov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Quinn has Taktarov up against the cage in a clinch.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Taktarov manages to break the clinch.
Justin Quinn seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Taktarov wriggles free and stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Quinn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Quinn scores with a shot to the body.
Taktarov shoots in but no luck this time.
Quinn looks for a takedown but Taktarov sprawls well.
Quinn is breathing heavily.
Taktarov tries to clinch but Quinn is having none of it.
Quinn displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Quinn clinches with his opponent.
Taktarov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taktarov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Quinn uses from the top position.
Quinn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taktarov trying to control the position.
Taktarov keeping moving, preventing Quinn from controlling successfully.
Quinn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taktarov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Quinn throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Quinn looking to sit in guard and control but Taktarov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Quinn can't keep his opponent in guard - Taktarov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Taktarov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Quinn can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taktarov is thwarting Quinn's attempts to control the position.

Quinn kicks off Taktarov and gets to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Quinn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Quinn is looking to chop away at Taktarov's legs.
Nice takedown defense from Taktarov. No joy for Quinn on that attempt.
Taktarov shoots in looking for a takedown but Quinn manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taktarov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Taktarov fails to land the takedown.

Quinn closes the distance and clinches.
Taktarov taking a breather.
Quinn lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taktarov fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moleg Taktarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taktarov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quinn wants to get back to striking at distance but Taktarov won't allow it.

Taktarov manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Taktarov as Quinn shoots in.
Justin Quinn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Quinn shoots in but Taktarov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Quinn throws a leg kick
and Taktarov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taktarov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Quinn tries to avoid it but Taktarov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Quinn to the ground. Quinn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Quinn is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Moleg Taktarov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Quinn forces Taktarov back against the cage and clinches.
Taktarov jumps guard but Quinn turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Taktarov breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Quinn lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Quinn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taktarov, pushing him back against the cage.
Quinn prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Taktarov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Quinn falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taktarov counters with an outside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Quinn.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taktarov.
Justin Quinn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Quinn swats away the attempt to clinch by Taktarov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Taktarov - that will leave a mark!

Quinn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taktarov avoiding damage as Quinn throws knees to the body.
Quinn effectively controlling the action here.
Quinn tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taktarov tries to pull guard but Quinn won't allow it.
Taktarov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Quinn to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Quinn.
Quinn stalling.

Taktarov pulls Quinn into guard.
Quinn trying to control the position from guard on top but Taktarov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taktarov keeping full guard, as Quinn tries to pass.
Taktarov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Moleg Taktarov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Quinn trying to control but Taktarov is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Quinn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Quinn 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Quinn!