PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tiaoali Lvavatai (ranked 3609 p4p, 6345 weight class) and Romega Vartanein (ranked 331 p4p, 434 weight class). Tiaoali Lvavatai could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Romega Vartanein's chin.

Lvavatai
vs
Vartanein

171 cm
23
151
3 - 5 - 0

179 cm
23
130
3 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

High Peak Fightwear

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tiaoali Lvavatai !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Romega Vartanein!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vartanein fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lvavatai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A combination from Lvavatai does no damage.
Lvavatai seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Lvavatai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vartanein manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Romega Vartanein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lvavatai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vartanein as he avoids it easily.
Decent striking displayed by Vartanein there.

Lvavatai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vartanein stalling the fight.
Lvavatai tries to pull guard but Vartanein won't allow it.
Vartanein looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Vartanein taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Lvavatai is trying to pull guard but Vartanein has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiaoali Lvavatai . That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vartanein goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lvavatai jumps guard but Vartanein turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Vartanein lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lvavatai is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vartanein is defending well for now.
Lvavatai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vartanein stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lvavatai fails to pull guard.
Lvavatai is trying to pull guard but Vartanein has him pressed against the cage.
Vartanein lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lvavatai backwards.
Lvavatai jumps guard but Vartanein turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lvavatai is trying to pull guard but Vartanein has him pressed against the cage.

Vartanein breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vartanein throws a jab when Lvavatai was well out of range.
Lvavatai avoids the body shot from Vartanein.
Lvavatai drops his hands momentarily and Vartanein takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lvavatai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vartanein defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai throws a sloppy body shot
and Vartanein counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Vartanein throws a lazy right hand but Lvavatai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lvavatai closes the distance and clinches up with Vartanein, looking for a takedown. Lvavatai pushes Vartanein against the cage but Vartanein circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Romega Vartanein is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lvavatai closes the distance and pushes Vartanein back into the cage.
Lvavatai tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vartanein just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vartanein throws a knee to the head but misses.

Lvavatai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lvavatai shoots for a takedown but Vartanein saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vartanein swings for the body but Lvavatai moves out of range.
Vartanein swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lvavatai feinted with a counter takedown.
Lvavatai shoots for a takedown but Vartanein saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vartanein throws a sloppy head kick and Lvavatai moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lvavatai is defended easily by Vartanein.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lvavatai looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vartanein is trying to control but can't.
Vartanein might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lvavatai haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Vartanein is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lvavatai in particular looking to stall.
Vartanein keeping hold of Lvavatai 's head, controlling as best he can.
Vartanein wants to control but Lvavatai is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vartanein is controlling Lvavatai 's trapped leg to prevent Lvavatai from advancing to side control.
Vartanein told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Lvavatai wants to control but Vartanein is keeping him busy.
Lvavatai is thwarting Vartanein's attempts to control the position.
Lvavatai tries to pass to full mount but Vartanein defends it.
Vartanein trying to control but Lvavatai postures up.
Vartanein is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Romega Vartanein dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lvavatai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vartanein throws a hook but Lvavatai avoids it easily.
Lvavatai moves out of range of the strikes.
Vartanein ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lvavatai moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vartanein. Lvavatai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lvavatai drops down looking for a counter takedown but Vartanein sprawls and moves away.
Vartanein takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vartanein connects with a crisp jab.
Vartanein misses with a body punch
and Lvavatai counters with a two punch combo.
Vartanein cracks Lvavatai with a good jab.
Lvavatai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vartanein.
Vartanein circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vartanein has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vartanein lands a slapping body shot.
Vartanein swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vartanein scores with a punch to the head.
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!
Vartanein thows a leg kick but Lvavatai checks it

and Lvavatai counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lvavatai is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Vartanein trying to control from the bottom.
Lvavatai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Vartanein is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lvavatai passes into side control, despite Vartanein's attempt to control the position.

Lvavatai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vartanein has escaped the position, nice work there.
Vartanein is not content to let Lvavatai control the position.
Vartanein is looking to regain half guard here but Lvavatai keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lvavatai tries to advance to mount but Vartanein denies him.
Vartanein is trying to get back to half guard.
Vartanein can't do much from the bottom here.

Lvavatai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lvavatai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Lvavatai has hold of Vartanein's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Vartanein seems comfortable defending it but Lvavatai has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Vartanein is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Vartanein is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Lvavatai couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tiaoali Lvavatai !
Tiaoali Lvavatai thanked the fans post fight for their support.