PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ergun Cerrahoglu (ranked 2564 p4p, 685 weight class) and Balink Tarlah (ranked 285 p4p, 94 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Ergun Cerrahoglu has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Ergun Cerrahoglu seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Cerrahoglu
vs
Tarlah

174 cm
20
155
4 - 5 - 0

179 cm
28
159
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ergun Cerrahoglu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Balink Tarlah!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tarlah closes the distance and clinches.

Cerrahoglu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cerrahoglu wants to clinch.
Cerrahoglu seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Cerrahoglu gets a clinch.
Cerrahoglu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tarlah has Cerrahoglu pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cerrahoglu manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tarlah dodges an elbow strike from Cerrahoglu.
Tarlah struggles to land a body shot inside as Cerrahoglu controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cerrahoglu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tarlah is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cerrahoglu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tarlah is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ergun Cerrahoglu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Balink Tarlah.
Cerrahoglu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cerrahoglu is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrahoglu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Still in the clinch, Cerrahoglu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cerrahoglu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cerrahoglu scores with a shoulder strike.

Cerrahoglu jumps into guard, dragging Tarlah to the mat.
Cerrahoglu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tarlah manages to get himself to full guard.

Cerrahoglu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cerrahoglu's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Cerrahoglu seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tarlah for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarlah wants to stand up but Cerrahoglu is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cerrahoglu is looking to stand up but Tarlah won't let him.
Cerrahoglu preventing the sweep.
Cerrahoglu wants to stand but Tarlah is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cerrahoglu stopping the sweep attempt from Tarlah.
Cerrahoglu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrahoglu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cerrahoglu sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ergun Cerrahoglu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cerrahoglu closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tarlah quickly recovers to half guard.
Cerrahoglu sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tarlah wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cerrahoglu sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cerrahoglu tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Tarlah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cerrahoglu keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tarlah wants to control but Cerrahoglu is keeping busy.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cerrahoglu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tarlah does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cerrahoglu is figuring out what he wants to do next.
It looks like Cerrahoglu is going to stand back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice sprawl there from Tarlah as Cerrahoglu shoots in.
Cerrahoglu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tarlah stuffs the takedown attempt from Cerrahoglu. Cerrahoglu gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ergun Cerrahoglu dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cerrahoglu gets a clinch.
Tarlah wants a takedown but no success here.
Cerrahoglu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tarlah backwards.
Cerrahoglu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tarlah.
Cerrahoglu lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cerrahoglu misses with a punch on the inside.
Tarlah is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cerrahoglu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tarlah can't get the takedown.
Ergun Cerrahoglu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Balink Tarlah.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarlah blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tarlah tries for a takedown. No joy.

Cerrahoglu manages to break the clinch.
Cerrahoglu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tarlah can do to turn this around?
Cerrahoglu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Tarlah was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlah darts in looking for a takedown but Cerrahoglu gets double underhooks and turns Tarlah into the cage.
Tarlah keeps the fight on the outside.
Tarlah wants to counter the offense by Cerrahoglu and move into the clinch position.
Cerrahoglu missing with a left hand there. Tarlah was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tarlah changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tarlah stuffs the takedown.
Tarlah is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Tarlah looks for a takedown but Cerrahoglu sprawls well.
Tarlah has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Cerrahoglu throws a sloppy head kick and Tarlah moves out of range easily.

Cerrahoglu closes the distance and pushes Tarlah back into the cage.
Tarlah drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cerrahoglu pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cerrahoglu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cerrahoglu has his takedown stuffed

and Tarlah counters by clinching up.

Cerrahoglu decides to pull guard.
Tarlah scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerrahoglu striking off his back but it's not causing Tarlah any problems.
Tarlah forces his way into half guard.
Cerrahoglu throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Tarlah working over Cerrahoglu with some ground and pound. Cerrahoglu looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tarlah blocks the strikes from Cerrahoglu.
Tarlah trying to control the action but Cerrahoglu is working from the bottom.
Cerrahoglu tries to kick Tarlah off but Tarlah keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tarlah passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cerrahoglu!
Cerrahoglu is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrahoglu is trying to stand up.
Tarlah tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cerrahoglu wants to get back to his feet.
Cerrahoglu tries to lock up and control but Tarlah gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cerrahoglu slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tarlah winds up and cracks Cerrahoglu with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cerrahoglu wants to get back to his feet.
Cerrahoglu trying to control from the bottom.
Tarlah looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cerrahoglu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Tarlah there.
Cerrahoglu is trying to stand.
Ergun Cerrahoglu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cerrahoglu missing with punches from the bottom.
Tarlah thows a huge punch but Cerrahoglu dodges it nicely.
Tarlah scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cerrahoglu won't allow Tarlah to pass to mount.
Cerrahoglu punching from the bottom.
Cerrahoglu tries to kick Tarlah off but Tarlah keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Cerrahoglu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tarlah is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cerrahoglu misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Tarlah to counter with a crisp jab.
Cerrahoglu shoots for a takedown but Tarlah saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Balink Tarlah will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tarlah.
Cerrahoglu wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Cerrahoglu is trying to improve his position.
Tarlah landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Tarlah working the head with strikes.
Cerrahoglu wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarlah controls the position from side control.
Cerrahoglu manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tarlah's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrahoglu is trying to control but can't.
Tarlah trying to pass the guard but Cerrahoglu defending well.
Tarlah has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tarlah lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cerrahoglu flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Tarlah blocks the strikes from Cerrahoglu.
Cerrahoglu wants to get back to his feet.

Cerrahoglu manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Tarlah keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Cerrahoglu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tarlahs head.
Tarlah is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tarlah blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cerrahoglu misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarlah is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cerrahoglu is defending well.
Cerrahoglu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tarlah is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cerrahoglu is defending well.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cerrahoglu.
Tarlah has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cerrahoglu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ergun Cerrahoglu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Balink Tarlah.
Cerrahoglu looking to throw knees to the head but Tarlah is blocking nicely.
Still in the clinch, Cerrahoglu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cerrahoglu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tarlah has a couple of punches blocked by Cerrahoglu.

Tarlah lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cerrahoglu is staying active underneath Tarlah, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cerrahoglu trying to hold on to Tarlah's head to control him but Tarlah postures up.
Cerrahoglu wants to get back to his feet.
Cerrahoglu on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cerrahoglu tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrahoglu is trying to escape back to his feet but Tarlah uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Cerrahoglu pushes Tarlah away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Tarlah gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Cerrahoglu is not content to let Tarlah control the position.
Tarlah in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Tarlah working the ground and pound but Cerrahoglu is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cerrahoglu tries to bench press Tarlah off him but Tarlah keeps the position.
Tarlah wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cerrahoglu keeps working.
Cerrahoglu manages to get back to half guard.

Cerrahoglu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tarlah drops an elbow to the side of Cerrahoglu's head.
Cerrahoglu tries to kick Tarlah off but Tarlah keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cerrahoglu is looking to control Tarlah's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cerrahoglu avoid being mounted?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cerrahoglu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tarlah's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tarlah's back!
Cerrahoglu controlling from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ergun Cerrahoglu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cerrahoglu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ergun Cerrahoglu!