PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between David Garcia (ranked 4571 p4p, 4516 weight class) and Ryu Taiga (ranked 0 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.

Garcia
vs
Taiga

183 cm
20
155
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
147
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, David Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryu Taiga!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taiga changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Garcia tries to avoid it but Taiga manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Garcia to the ground. Garcia escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taiga is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Taiga has taken the fight to the clinch.
Garcia wants to break free but Taiga has control.

Garcia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Garcia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taiga scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Taiga stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taiga wants it to stay on the feet.
Garcia throws a one two combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taiga fails with a takedown attempt.
Taiga tries a head kick but it misses.

Garcia scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Taiga has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Garcia is on him like a limpet, forcing Taiga back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia trying to control the position but instead, Taiga has worked for underhooks and has pushed Garcia into the cage.
Taiga working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Garcia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Taiga has closed the distance and engaged Garcia in a clinch.
Garcia is trying to force a seperation but Taiga has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Taiga's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taiga changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Garcia fights it off and pushes away nicely.
David Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryu Taiga.
Garcia misses with the combination.
Garcia lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taiga circles away quickly and effectively.
Taiga throws a leg kick but Garcia sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Garcia wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Taiga tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Garcia swivels and escapes.

Garcia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Taiga is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taiga tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Garcia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Garcia working hard to break the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Garcia trying to stall but Taiga improves his position.
Taiga tries to pull guard but Garcia won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taiga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taiga throws a sloppy head kick and Garcia moves out of range easily.
Garcia scores with a shot to the body.
Garcia tries to clinch up but Taiga circles away and keeps his distance.
Taiga feints the counter takedown.

Taiga moves into the clinch.
Garcia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Garcia is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Taiga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Garcia has him pressed against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Taiga - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Taiga drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taiga looks winded!
Garcia is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Taiga drags the fight down to the ground.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Taiga keeps moving.
Taiga keeping full guard, as Garcia tries to pass.

Garcia stands up from Taiga's guard - Garcia perhaps looking for a knockout.
Taiga throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Garcia tries to clinch but Taiga moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Taiga dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Garcia has a takedown stuffed.

Taiga drives through and clinches with Garcia against the cage.
Taiga keeps control of Garcia as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Garcia is trying to push Taiga away but Taiga has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nice body punch from Taiga.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Garcia wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taiga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia looking to slow down the pace here.
Taiga throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Taiga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Garcia to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taiga is looking to take this one to the mat.
Garcia stops a takedown attempt from Taiga.
David Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryu Taiga.
Garcia is trying to break free.
Taiga tries to pull guard but Garcia forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Taiga tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Garcia smiles and moves away.

Taiga moves into the clinch.
Taiga jumps guard but Garcia stands there with Taiga around his waist. Taiga gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Taiga is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Taiga tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Garcia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Taiga is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to get back to striking at distance but Taiga won't allow it.
Taiga is trying to pull guard but Garcia has him pressed against the cage.
Taiga tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Garcia smiles and moves away.
Garcia tries for a takedown but Taiga circles away easily
and Taiga connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Garcia shoots in but Taiga avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice takedown defense from Taiga. No joy for Garcia on that attempt.
David Garcia is winning the standup battle so far.
Garcia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taiga will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taiga pinned against the cage. Taiga gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Taiga has a takedown stuffed.
Garcia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taiga unleashes a big counter combination but Garcia bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Garcia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taiga throws a series of punches but Garcia avoids them all with ease.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taiga or perhaps it was just good defense by Garcia, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taiga throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Garcia slips under a jab.
Garcia with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch but Taiga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Despite the aggression on Taiga's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Taiga fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Garcia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Garcia lands a front kick.
Taiga displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Garcia.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garcia lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Taiga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Taiga has closed the distance and engaged Garcia in a clinch.
Garcia has a couple of punches blocked by Taiga.
Garcia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Taiga prevents Garcia from breaking the clinch.
Taiga is trying to break the clinch but Garcia is controlling him.
Taiga tries to score a body lock takedown but Garcia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Garcia wants to break the clinch but can't.
Garcia is trying to push Taiga away but Taiga has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Taiga is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Garcia breaks from the clinch.
Garcia throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Taiga wants to clinch but Garcia slips to the side
and Taiga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Garcia feints and as Taiga raises his hands in defense, Garcia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Taiga pushes Garcia off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taiga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taiga shoots in for a takedown but Garcia shows good takedown defense.
David Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryu Taiga.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taiga.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but Taiga shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Garcia fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taiga avoids it really well and circles away.
Taiga throws a counter combo.

Taiga closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taiga stalling in the clinch.
Garcia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Garcia tries to circle away but Taiga has him pinned against the cage.
Taiga will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Garcia up against the cage.
Taiga wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Garcia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Garcia fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Garcia tries to clinch up but Taiga circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taiga fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Garcia fails with the takedown.
Taiga wants to counter with a clinch but Garcia pushes him away.
Garcia shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taiga defends it nicely.

Taiga instigates a clinch.
Taiga tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Taiga jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Garcia walks away with a smile on his face. Taiga gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taiga looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Garcia!

Garcia throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garcia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taiga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garcia.

Taiga rushes Garcia and presses him up against the cage.
Taiga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Garcia has him pressed against the cage.
Taiga is looking to break free of the clinch but Garcia has double underhooks.
Garcia is trying to force a seperation but Taiga has the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to David Garcia.
I think Taiga 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight for David Garcia!
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight for David Garcia!
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight for Ryu Taiga!

David Garcia wins by split decision!