PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Stein (ranked 77 p4p, 72 weight class) and Papi Tantor (ranked 14 p4p, 13 weight class). Stein comes to the cage accompanied by Red - Falling Sky. Tantor has chosen Cyan Kicks - Wish You Well as his entrance music. Papi Tantor told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Stein
vs
Tantor

195 cm
36
190
36 - 21 - 1

198 cm
25
189
14 - 1 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Altitude Clothing

HELLBENT
HARDCORE Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 21 - 1, fighting out of New York, Frank Stein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Papi Tantor!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stein uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tantor.
Stein is looking to counter the offense by Tantor and move into the clinch.
Tantor misses with a hook
and Stein counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stein checks a low kick from Tantor.
Stein wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tantor throws an overhand right that lands on Stein's shoulder, as Stein tries to avoid the shot.
Good work by Stein as he checks the leg kick.
Stein throwing a counter right hand but Tantor manages to avoid it.

Stein clinches up with Tantor and pushes him back against the cage.
Tantor avoids the elbow strike from Stein, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Tantor fails to land.
Good body shot from Stein.
Tantor misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tantor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tantor throws a lazy right hand but Stein sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stein half committed to a counter leg kick.
Tantor tries a low kick but Stein avoids it.
Tantor scores with a head kick.

It looks like Frank Stein has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stein takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tantor scores with a jab to the body.
Tantor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tantor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stein ducks under a wild hook from Tantor.
Stein looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tantor misses with a hook.
Stein lands a nice looking body shot.
Stein scores with a punch to the head.
Stein takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stein throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice body kick there by Tantor.
Tantor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Papi Tantor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stein uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tantor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor throws a lazy uppercut

and Stein counters by clinching up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tantor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tantor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tantor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tantor dodges an elbow strike from Stein.
Stein lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tantor backwards.
Tantor working aggressively here.
Tantor misses with the head strike.
Stein blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stein struggles to land a body shot inside as Tantor controls his hands.
Tantor's coach down at Finnish Elite Sport and Fitness Center was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tantor's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Tantor takes an elbow to the temple.
Tantor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice elbow from Stein.
Tantor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tantor blocks an elbow strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Stein.
Stein throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stein blocks an uppercut.
Tantor stalling in the clinch.
Tantor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tantor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stein lands an elbow just above Tantor 's eye.
Tantor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stein blocking some punches.
Tantor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stein has him pressed against the cage.
Tantor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tantor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tantor slowing the pace effectively.
Stein tries to throw a body punch but Tantor avoids it by throwing Stein back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tantor.
Tantor has Stein pushed against the cage.
Stein takes a shot to the head.
Tantor is trying to break free.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tantor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tantor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Stein fails to land.
Tantor throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Steins head.
Stein lands an elbow inside that Tantor shrugs off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tantor manages to break the clinch.
Stein avoids a kick to the body.
Tantor tries to land a body kick
and Stein counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stein blocks a low kick nicely.
Tantor connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice defenses there by Tantor.
Good standup being displayed there by Tantor as he connects with a hook.
Stein throws a quick inside leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Papi Tantor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Stein's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stein avoids a kick to the body.
Good leg kick by Tantor.
Tantor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stein was well out of range. Poor timing from Tantor.
Tantor gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Tantor looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Stein tries to counter by clinching up but Tantor breaks away and moves out of range.
Tantor throws a hook to the side of Stein's head but Stein sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tantor fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Stein is out of range.
Stein scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stein ducks under a wild hook from Tantor.
It looked like Stein was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Tantor thows a leg kick but Stein checks it
and Stein counters with an inside leg kick.
Tantor misses the jab.
Stein lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Tantor throws the left hand but Stein avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor misses with a hook. Stein ducked under it nicely.
Tantor looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tantor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tantor throws a wild body kick that Stein sees coming a mile off.
Stein throws a sloppy head kick and Tantor moves out of range easily.
Tantor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tantor throws a right hand that misses
and Tantor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stein walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Stein looks to land a left hand but Tantor moved out of range nicely.
Stein avoids the body shot from Tantor.
An attempted straight right counter from Stein misses the target.
Tantor throws a body punch but Stein moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Tantor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Stein cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stein gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tantor.
Stein avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tantor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stein moves away.
Stein throwing a counter right hand but Tantor manages to avoid it.
Tantor looks to land a body kick but Stein moved away.
Stein is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Stein uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tantor.
Stein throws a big counter combination but Tantor scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stein blocks a leg kick.
Stein uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tantor.
A jab from Tantor misses.
A little feinted left hand from Stein on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tantor.
Papi Tantor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice leg kick from Tantor, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor just misses with a punch to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tantor.
Tantor delivers a nice body kick.
Stein on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Tantor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stein wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tantor tried to score with a low kick but Stein checks it.
Stein is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tantor.
Stein throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tantor scoring well with a low kick there.

Stein takes the fight into the clinch.
Stein struggles to land a body shot inside as Tantor controls his hands.
Stein blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stein misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tantor tries to break the clinch but Stein is controlling the position.
Tantor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stein softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Stein working aggressively here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Stein tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tantor.
Tantor lands a shoulder strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stein looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tantor lands a left hand.
Tantor lands with a light punch inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tantor.
Stein lands an elbow that stopped Tantor in his tracks for a moment.
Tantor blocks an elbow strike.
Tantor wants to stall.
Stein lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tantor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Papi Tantor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Frank Stein's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Tantor throws an off balance right hand
and Stein counters with a slapping leg kick.
Tantor avoids the head kick by Stein.
Stein tries to close the distance and clinch but Tantor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tantor looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tantor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stein moves out of range as Tantor strikes.
As Tantor looks to move away, Stein throws a big counter combo but Tantor just gets out of the way.
Stein fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tantor just misses with a punch to the body.
Stein throwing a counter right hand but Tantor manages to avoid it.
Stein waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tantor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stein doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tantor misses with a kick to the body.
Tantor just misses with a punch to the body.
Tantor throws an overhand right that lands on Stein's shoulder, as Stein tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Tantor misses
and Stein counters with an inside leg kick.
Stein scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Jab, jab by Tantor - just one landing.
A jab from Tantor finds it's way through Stein's defenses.
Stein throws a head kick but Tantor moves out of range.
Stein keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big right from Tantor misses.
Stein was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Tantor with a nice calf kick.

Stein moves into the clinch successfully.
Tantor tries to throw a body punch but Stein avoids it by throwing Tantor back against the cage.
Tantor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Frank Stein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stein misses with an elbow strike.
Stein tries to throw a body punch but Tantor avoids it by throwing Stein back against the cage.
Stein throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stein throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tantor wants to stall.

Tantor breaks from the clinch.
Stein scores with a head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice shot by Tantor.
Nice jab there from Tantor.
Stein fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tantor on the side of the head.
Tantor has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tantor there as he acknowledges the shot.
Stein moves out of range as Tantor strikes.
Stein tried to counter with a leg kick but Tantor avoided it.
Tantor lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor throws an off balance right hand
and Stein counters with a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Tantor.
Tantor lands with a thumping leg kick.
Stein ducks right into an uppercut from Tantor.
Stein ducks under a wild hook from Tantor.
Stein wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Stein ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tantor jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Stein throws a sloppy head kick and Tantor moves out of range easily.
Stein is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tantor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stein's sensitive parts.
Stein checks a leg kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor slips a straight right by Stein.
Stein fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Tantor.
Tantor misses with a hook. Stein ducked under it nicely.
Tantor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Stein's head backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stein staying out of range there.
Stein gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tantor.
Tantor jabs at Stein's body.
Tantor on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Tantor throws a right hand that misses
and Stein counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stein slips a straight right by Tantor.

And that's the end of the fight!
Papi Tantor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tantor 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papi Tantor!
Papi Tantor decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.