PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isaac Newton (ranked 299 p4p, 803 weight class) and Old Leg Tartakov (ranked 39 p4p, 91 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Newton
vs
Tartakov

189 cm
30
280
16 - 3 - 0

200 cm
30
266
18 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Fast

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

SynCity Fightwear
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Isaac Newton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Old Leg Tartakov!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Reed Andrews and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tartakov darts in and clinches Newton up against the cage.

Tartakov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Newton shoots in and bounces Tartakov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Tartakov keeping full guard, as Newton tries to pass.
Newton throwing strikes from guard but Tartakov blocks nicely.
Newton trying to control but Tartakov is working from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Newton's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Newton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Tartakov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Newton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newton wants to control from the top but Tartakov keeps moving.

Tartakov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Our spies down at at Cant Lose MMA inform us that Tartakov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Newton sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tartakov's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tartakov is refusing to be controlled, as Newton sits in half guard.
Newton is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tartakov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Newton not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tartakov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Newton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tartakov looking for a guillotine here but Newton defends easily.
Tartakov trying to keep a closed guard but Newton is proving a slippery customer.
Newton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Newton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Newton won't allow Tartakov to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tartakov working a defensive guard here.

Newton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Newton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Newton cracks Tartakov with a solid left hand.
Tartakov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Newton's guard.

Newton pulls Tartakov in close to his closed guard and prevents Tartakov from doing any damage or advancing position.

Newton has his foot on Tartakov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tartakov works his way back into a safe position though.
Newton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tartakov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton lands a couple of digs.
Newton trying to control but Tartakov is working from the bottom.
Newton lands a couple of digs.
Newton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Newton lands a couple of digs.
Newton won't allow Tartakov to sweep him here.
Newton wants to control from the top but Tartakov keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tartakov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tartakov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tartakov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton won't allow Tartakov to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Newton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Newton is on top in guard.

Tartakov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tartakov looking for a sweep. Not yet Tartakov, not yet.
Newton scoring with some ground and pound.
Tartakov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Newton is one step ahead there.
Newton slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Newton working over Tartakov with some ground and pound. Tartakov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isaac Newton dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Newton tries to keep at a distance but Tartakov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Newton working hard to break the clinch.
Newton drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tartakov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tartakov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Old Leg Tartakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tartakov looks to throw the jab but Newton is out of range.
Tartakov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Newton.
Tartakov wants to clinch up but Newton keeps it at a distance.
Newton connects with a body shot that sends Tartakov's belly button to the back.

Tartakov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Newton, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tartakov leaning against his opponent.
Newton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Newton taking a breather.
Tartakov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Newton avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton wants to get back to striking at distance but Tartakov won't allow it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Newton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tartakov's brow.
Tartakov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Newton is looking to take this one to the mat.

Tartakov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Newton misses the body punch
and Newton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Newton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tartakov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Newton scores with a nice strike.
Tartakov defending well as Newton loads up on a big left hand.
Newton fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tartakov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nice sprawl there from Tartakov as Newton shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaac Newton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tartakov tries to clinch but Newton is having none of it.
Newton tries to counter with a takedown but Tartakov is quick to defend against it.
Newton swings for the body but Tartakov moves out of range.
Tartakov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tartakov avoids the body shot from Newton.

Newton scores with a takedown into Tartakov's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Tartakov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Newton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Newton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Newton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tartakov is keeping the position for now.

Tartakov is looking for a triangle but Newton pushes his legs off easily.
Newton throwing strikes but missing.

Tartakov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Newton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tartakov is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Tartakov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Newton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tartakov is trying to keep Newton in close.
Tartakov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Newton haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Newton postures up and lands a big shot to Tartakov's brow.
Newton chips away with some ground and pound.
Newton won't allow Tartakov to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Newton not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Newton cracks Tartakov with a solid left hand.

Tartakov is rocked!
Newton passes Tartakov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tartakov is still in real trouble! Can Newton finish him?
Tartakov tries to roll over but Newton keeps him under control.
Tartakov seems to have recovered his senses.
Newton is looking to take a break and control but Tartakov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tartakov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Tartakov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Newton defends it easily.
Newton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tartakov can do to turn this around?
Newton postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Tartakov covers up, he's hurt! Newton keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Newton and the ref steps in to end the fight! Newton can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Isaac Newton!
Isaac Newton retains his heavyweight title!
A relieved looking Isaac Newton thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.