PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Segey Taranin (ranked 3639 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Oddie (ranked 2941 p4p, 275 weight class). Oddie is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Wild Thing. 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.

Taranin
vs
Oddie

166 cm
35
159 lbs
25 - 18 - 1

169 cm
28
158 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Segey Taranin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bill Oddie!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Taranin - just one landing.
Oddie throws a head kick but Taranin moves out of range.
Taranin moves out of range of the strikes.
Taranin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bill Oddie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oddie throws a sloppy head kick
and Oddie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Oddie throws a right hand that Taranin ducks under and follows up with a left that Taranin also avoids with ease.
Oddie goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Taranin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taranin avoids the head kick by Oddie.
Taranin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Oddie.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Taranin, as that shot connected.
Oddie throws a solid leg kick but Taranin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Oddie.
Taranin lands a nice shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Oddie throws a hook but Taranin blocks it.
Oddie throws a head kick that Taranin semi-blocks.
Oddie lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A punch combination from Oddie misses.

Taranin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Oddie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taranin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oddie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taranin.
Oddie is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oddie told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Taranin is thwarting Oddie's attempts to control the position.
Taranin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Oddie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Taranin connects with a nice short shot to Oddie's temple.
Taranin prevents Oddie from improving his position.
Oddie pushes Taranin off looking to stand but Taranin dives back in and keeps control.
Taranin is keen to just control but Oddie is a slippery customer.
Taranin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taranin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Oddie is trying to stand up here but Taranin is controlling him well.
Oddie wants to stand back up but Taranin manages to pass into side control.
Oddie wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oddie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Taranin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Oddie is trying to get back to his feet.
Taranin misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Taranin working the head and body with strikes.
Oddie tries to bench press Taranin off him but Taranin keeps the position.

Taranin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Taranin taking a breather here.
Taranin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Oddie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oddie dodges the ground and pound from Taranin.
Oddie is trying to control Taranin's posture but Taranin avoids it.
The ground and pound from Taranin seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Oddie struggling a bit here.
Taranin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Taranin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Segey Taranin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Taranin avoids the head kick by Oddie.
Oddie takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Taranin looks to land a left hand but Oddie moved out of range nicely.
Taranin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Oddie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Taranin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Taranin swinging wildly here.
Bill Oddie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Oddie is looking to chop away at Taranin's legs.
Oddie swinging wildly here.
Taranin avoids the head kick by Oddie.
Oddie throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Oddie. Those never looked like landing.
Taranin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taranin slips under a jab.
A lazy left from Taranin finds it's target.
Taranin blocks a head kick by Oddie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taranin throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oddie throws a sloppy head kick and Taranin moves out of range easily.
Taranin scores with a hook.
Oddie throws a head kick but Taranin moves out of range.

Taranin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Oddie tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Taranin is in Oddie's guard.
Oddie is trying to keep Taranin in close.
Taranin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Taranin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Taranin throwing strikes from guard but Oddie blocks nicely.
Taranin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Oddie has momentary wrist control but Taranin slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oddie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taranin is controlling him.
Taranin wants to pass the guard but Oddie is keeping the position.
Taranin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Taranin preventing the sweep.
Oddie is still trying to improve position.
Taranin is working Oddie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taranin scoring with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taranin stops Oddie from standing up.
Taranin stands up over Oddie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oddie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Taranin distracts Oddie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taranin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Oddie can do to turn this around?
Taranin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Taranin works over Oddie with some ground and pound from guard.
Taranin stands up over Oddie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Taranin cracks Oddie with a solid left hand.
Oddie wants to get back to his feet but Taranin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taranin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Taranin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oddie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taranin works over Oddie with some ground and pound from guard.
Oddie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taranin is controlling him.
Taranin throws a big elbow that misses.
Oddie looking for a sweep. Not yet Oddie, not yet.
Taranin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Oddie's head.
Segey Taranin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Oddie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Oddie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taranin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Segey Taranin dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Oddie slips a jab from Taranin.
Oddie throws a looping overhand right but Taranin ducks down to avoid it.
Taranin changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Taranin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Oddie connects with a high kick.

Taranin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Oddie was covering up waiting for the punch and Taranin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Taranin works over Oddie with some ground and pound from guard.
Taranin throwing strikes but missing.
Taranin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oddie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Oddie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taranin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranin is in close to Oddie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Taranin pushes down on Oddie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Taranin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Oddie wants to get back to his feet.
Taranin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Oddie's head.
Taranin prevents Oddie from standing back up.
Oddie tries to get to full guard but Taranin has control of the leg.

Taranin is looking for a kimura but Oddie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Taranin to get the leverage.
Bill Oddie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranin thows a huge punch but Oddie dodges it nicely.
Taranin is thwarting Oddie's attempts to control the position.
Oddie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taranin.
Oddie is trying to get back to full guard.
Segey Taranin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taranin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oddie keeps working.
Taranin tries to pass to full mount but Oddie defends it.
Oddie gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranin connects with a couple of short punches.
Taranin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Oddie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taranin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Taranin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Taranin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Oddie's head.
Taranin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Taranin stopping the sweep attempt from Oddie.
Oddie wants to stand up but Taranin is controlling him.
Taranin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranin is working Oddie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taranin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Oddie is trying to keep Taranin in close.
Oddie keeping moving, preventing Taranin from controlling successfully.
Taranin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Oddie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taranin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taranin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

And that's the end of the fight!
Segey Taranin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taranin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Segey Taranin!
Our winner, Segey Taranin, 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.