PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Badr Al Din (ranked 94 p4p, 182 weight class) and Papi Tantor (ranked 20 p4p, 31 weight class). Al Din comes to the cage accompanied by RUNNING BACK. Tantor has chosen Cyan Kicks - Wish You Well as his entrance music. 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.

Al Din
vs
Tantor

187 cm
34
204
23 - 15 - 0

198 cm
26
205
15 - 3 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT
Conviction

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 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Badr Al Din!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Papi Tantor!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Din throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Tantor counters with a straight right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Tantor misses the target.
Tantor throws a lazy uppercut
and Al Din counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Al Din uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tantor.
Tantor tries a low kick but Al Din avoids it.
Al Din tried to counter with a leg kick but Tantor avoided it.
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Al Din.
Tantor throws an off balance right hand
and Tantor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tantor throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Al Din seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Papi Tantor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tantor throws a lazy uppercut
and Al Din counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Al Din takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Al Din thuds his shin into the meat of Tantor's side.
Tantor lands a leg kick that knocks Al Din off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor wants to land a leg kick but Al Din is out of range.
A left lands for Tantor.
Tantor misses with a hook. Al Din ducked under it nicely.
Al Din checks a leg kick.
It appears Al Din was looking to counter with a kick there.
Tantor throws a jab when Al Din was well out of range.
Tantor throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Al Din stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tantor moves out of range as Al Din throws a body kick.
Al Din connects with an inside leg kick.
Tantor fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Al Din checks it well.
Al Din throws a quick counter kick to the body but Tantor avoids it.
Al Din throws a jab but it's blocked by Tantor.
A little jabbing left from Tantor on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tantor has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Al Din throws a lazy right hand but Tantor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tantor.
Al Din throws a big shot that misses.
Tantor looks for the body kick but Al Din saw that one coming.
Tantor looks to throw the jab but Al Din is out of range.
Al Din throws a body shot but no joy.
Tantor misses the shot to the body.
Tantor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tantor throws an off balance right hand
and Al Din counters with a good, hard body kick but Tantor shrugs it off.
Tantor rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Al Din counters with an outside leg kick.
Al Din bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tantor connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tantor throws a lazy right hand but Al Din sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Al Din takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Al Din moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Al Din takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A lazy left from Tantor finds it's target.
A shot to the liver by Al Din. Beautiful body shot.
Al Din gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tantor.
Tantor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Al Din.
A low kick lands for Tantor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Din looks to throw a body kick
and Tantor counters with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tantor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Al Din misses with a straight right.
Al Din with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tantor to score with a decent uppercut.
Al Din misses with a hook
enabling Tantor to counter with a crisp jab.
Tantor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Al Din was well out of range. Poor timing from Tantor.
Al Din looks to land a body kick but Tantor moved away.
Tantor was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Al Din tries to clinch but Tantor moves away
and Tantor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tantor bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Tantor moves out of range as Al Din throws a body kick.
Tantor lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Papi Tantor dominated that 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.

Tantor takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Tantor looks to land a right hand but Al Din moved out of range.
Al Din takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Al Din avoids a kick to the body.
Tantor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tantor is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Al Din thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Tantor if he has to take too many more of those.
Tantor throws a low kick but Al Din avoids it.
Tantor misses with an uppercut
and Al Din counters with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Din chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tantor can pounce on him.
Tantor tries to move into range but Al Din moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Papi Tantor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tantor swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Din blocks the body kick.
Nice cross by Tantor.
Tantor misses with a body shot.
Tantor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tantor wants to slow Al Din down by chopping away at his legs.

Al Din lands a big head kick that sends Tantor tumbling to the mat! Al Din takes a step backwards and waves Tantor back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Tantor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Al Din.
Tantor appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tantor connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Din tries to clinch but Tantor moves out of range.
Tantor throws a quick inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tantor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Din is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tantor only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tantor tries to land a leg kick but Al Din saw it coming and moves away.
Tantor takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Al Din throws a body kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Tantor on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Al Din throws a leg kick but Tantor sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tantor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Al Din feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Tantor sprawling to the canvas! Tantor rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Al Din finish him?!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Al Din crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Tantor - the referee stops the clock and Al Din gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Tantor. Al Din manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Al Din misses with a jab to the body
and Al Din takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Al Din.
Tantor blocks the body kick.
Al Din takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tantor lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tantor connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tantor bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Al Din's head.
Al Din takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Al Din lands a big head kick that sends Tantor tumbling to the mat! Al Din takes a step backwards and waves Tantor back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Tantor is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Din misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tantor is still on wobbly legs! Can Al Din finish him?
Tantor lands with a shot to the body.
Tantor seems to have recovered his senses.
Al Din misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Tantor lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tantor moves out of range of the body kick from Al Din.
A clash of legs there as Al Din blocks the low kick.
Al Din pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Tantor on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tantor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Al Din looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tantor lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tantor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Al Din keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tantor.
Tantor smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Badr Al Din will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A punch lands to the side of Al Din 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tantor throws a leg kick but Al Din sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Al Din.
Al Din misses with a hook to the body
and Tantor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tantor tests Al Din's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tantor throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tantor throws a push kick but Al Din slaps the foot to one side.
Tantor misses with a hook.
Al Din is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Good exchange - Al Din coming out on top.
Tantor connects with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor moves out of range as Al Din throws a body kick.
Tantor stuns Al Din with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Al Din uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tantor.
A clash of legs there as Tantor blocks the low kick.
Tantor misses with a leg kick
and Al Din counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Good work by Al Din as he checks the leg kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Al Din misses its target.
Tantor misses with an uppercut. Al Din saw that one coming.
Tantor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good leg kick by Tantor.
A big left from Tantor misses.
Al Din throwing a counter right hand but Tantor manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Al Din misses the target.
A good leg kick by Tantor.
Tantor lands a lovely overhand right.
Tantor is looking to chop away at Al Din's legs.
Al Din misses with a body kick.
Al Din misses with an uppercut. Tantor saw that one coming.
Al Din uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tantor.
That kick from Tantor tenderised Al Din's leg. Al Din is trying to keep his angry face on.
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!
Al Din displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tantor throws out the jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tantor. That's going to slow Al Din down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor throws a looping overhand right but Al Din ducks down to avoid it.
Tantor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Tantor.
Tantor checks the leg kick.
Tantor throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A quick step to the side and Al Din tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tantor misses with a body punch
and Al Din counters with a right hand to the body.
Tantor throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice defenses there by Al Din.
Tantor lands with a nice body punch.
Al Din with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Din on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Al Din blocks a leg kick.
Tantor scores with a nice head shot.
A big left from Tantor misses.
Tantor cracks Al Din with a right hand to the side of the head.
Al Din moves out of range of the leg kick from Tantor.
As Tantor backs away, Al Din returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tantor throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Al Din appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tantor misses with a lunging right hand
and Al Din counters with a nice leg kick.
Tantor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Al Din staying out of range there.
Al Din is looking to counter punch.
Al Din takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Al Din darts in and clinches Tantor up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Papi Tantor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tantor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papi Tantor!
During a confident post fight interview, Papi Tantor thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.