PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alphaxard Kibagendi (ranked 5241 p4p, 0 weight class) and Decan Tanner (ranked 5296 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kibagendi
vs
Tanner

200 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alphaxard Kibagendi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Decan Tanner!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kibagendi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tanner!
Kibagendi works to advance to full mount. Tanner defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Kibagendi is working for a guillotine from mount but Tanner frees his head quite easily.

Kibagendi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Tanner manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Tanner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kibagendi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tanner is trying to escape the position but Kibagendi is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Tanner is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kibagendi stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Tanner misses with a looping left.
A jab from Tanner misses.
Kibagendi appears to be looking for a big counter.
Kibagendi shoots for a double leg takedown but Tanner sprawls well. He's pushed Kibagendi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Tanner gets tackled into the cage by Kibagendi. Kibagendi maintains the clinch.
Kibagendi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tanner avoids it.
Tanner is looking to control Kibagendi's arms but Kibagendi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tanner has his back to the cage.
Kibagendi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tanner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tanner has a couple of punches blocked by Kibagendi.
Tanner prevents a takedown attempt there.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tanner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kibagendi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tanner looking to slow down the pace here.
Tanner misses with some punches.
Tanner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tanner throws a head punch that misses.
Tanner lands a nice uppercut.
Tanner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A shot in the inside from Tanner.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kibagendi blocking some punches.
Tanner has a couple of punches blocked by Kibagendi.
Tanner working aggressively here.

Kibagendi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tanner misses with a wild body shot.
Decan Tanner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crunch! Kibagendi slams his shin into Tanner's torso.
Tanner with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner scores with a sloppy right hand. Kibagendi should have avoided that one.
Tanner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kibagendi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alphaxard Kibagendi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kibagendi moves into the clinch.

Kibagendi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kibagendi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tanner's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Tanner duly obliges.
Tanner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kibagendi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tanner jabs Kibagendi to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A left lands for Tanner.
Kibagendi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kibagendi is breathing heavily.
Tanner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kibagendi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tanner fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kibagendi on the side of the head.
Tanner leaves Kibagendi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tanner swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tanner fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kibagendi moves forwards but Tanner connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kibagendi shoots in looking for a takedown. Tanner tries to sprawl out of it but Kibagendi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tanner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tanner looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Decan Tanner dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kibagendi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tanner takes a swing at Kibagendi's ribcage but misses.
Tanner just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromKibagendi.
Tanner uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tanner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tanner wants to clinch.
Kibagendi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kibagendi clinches up with Tanner and pushes him back against the cage.
Kibagendi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tanner has a couple of punches blocked by Kibagendi.

Kibagendi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kibagendi at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Tanner tries to clinch up.

Kibagendi clinches up with Tanner and pushes him back against the cage.
Kibagendi blocking some punches.
Tanner lands a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tanner lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kibagendi backwards.
Tanner misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tanner scores with a shot to the side of Kibagendi's head.
Kibagendi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kibagendi.

Kibagendi manages to break the clinch.
Tanner throws a series of punches but Kibagendi avoids them all with ease.
Decan Tanner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kibagendi keeps the fight on the outside.
Kibagendi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tanner scores with a nice head shot.
Tanner doesn't manage to clinch there - Kibagendi circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kibagendi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
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!
Kibagendi goes for a double leg but Tanner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tanner continues to drive forward.
Tanner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kibagendi.
Kibagendi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tanner lands a slapping body shot.
Tanner ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tanner scores with the left hand. Kibagendi knows he should have avoided that one.
Tanner uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kibagendi has time to react.
Tanner lands a head shot.

Kibagendi is rocked!
Tanner tries to clinch there but Kibagendi circles away.
Oh Kibagendi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tanner catches Kibagendi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
and Tanner counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Kibagendi! He's just covering up as Tanner starts to tee off till the referee steps in and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Decan Tanner!