PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Gimenes (ranked 3760 p4p, 4268 weight class) and Michael Tavares (ranked 382 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gimenes
vs
Tavares

172 cm
25
165
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
168
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Miguel Gimenes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Tavares!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Gimenes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tavares doesn't seem phased though.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tavares or perhaps it was just good defense by Gimenes, which made it look bad.
A quick step to the side and Gimenes tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot by Gimenes.
Gimenes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tavares.
Gimenes scores with a decent looking hook.
Gimenes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tavares manages to avoid it.
Tavares takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gimenes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tavares lands a nice looking body shot.
Tavares shoots for a double leg takedown but Gimenes sprawls well. He's pushed Tavares's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Miguel Gimenes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Tavares.
Gimenes swings for the body but Tavares moves out of range.
Tavares feints the counter takedown.
Tavares fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tavares changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gimenes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gimenes wants to control but Tavares postures up.
Tavares trying to control the position but Gimenes is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gimenes defending against the ground and pound.
A lull in the action here as Tavares stalls from top position.

Tavares stands up and beckons Gimenes to his feet.
Tavares wants to clinch up but Gimenes keeps it at a distance.
Gimenes is looking to counter punch.
Tavares fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tavares shoots for a double leg takedown but Gimenes sprawls well. He's pushed Tavares's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gimenes throws a poor cross that misses

and Tavares counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tavares.
Gimenes wants to get back to his feet but Tavares passes into half guard.
Tavares has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Tavares is trying to control. Gimenes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gimenes is trying to maintain the position but Tavares is very close to passing his half guard.
Tavares landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gimenes is concentrating on defense, preventing Tavares from advancing position.
Tavares keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Tavares is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gimenes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gimenes is trying to stand up here but Tavares is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gimenes is defending against the submission attempts here by Tavares.
Tavares sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tavares moves into full mount! Gimenes won't be happy about that!
Gimenes wants to control but Tavares is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gimenes is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gimenes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gimenes tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Tavares scoring with strikes but Gimenes is staying in there.
Tavares with good strikes from the mount here!
Tavares in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Tavares avoids the attempt from Gimenes to control.
Poor strikes thrown by Tavares there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Tavares lands a nice shot to the head.
Gimenes tries to buck Tavares off but he can't manage it.
Tavares wants to control the pace but Gimenes is squirming around nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gimenes tries to buck Tavares off but he can't manage it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Tavares dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A swing and a miss from Gimenes.
Gimenes throws a good cross that connects.
Decent striking displayed by Gimenes there.
Tavares wants to clinch up but Gimenes keeps it at a distance.
Tavares tries for a takedown but Gimenes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tavares looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A slow jab from Gimenes misses its intended target.
Gimenes sets himself, and Tavares steps forward looking for the clinch! Gimenes avoids it this time.
Nice sprawl there from Gimenes as Tavares shoots in.
Miguel Gimenes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Tavares.
Gimenes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tavares doesn't seem bothered though.
Gimenes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tavares moves away.
Gimenes lands a nice looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gimenes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tavares somewhat.
It looked like Gimenes wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gimenes with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gimenes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Tavares has Gimenes up against the cage in a clinch.
Gimenes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tavares's efforts to push away.
Gimenes is working Tavares over against the cage.
Tavares wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gimenes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tavares backwards.
Tavares blocking some punches.
Gimenes has a couple of punches blocked by Tavares.
Tavares can't get the takedown.
Gimenes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tavares blocks an uppercut.
Tavares tries to pull guard but Gimenes won't allow it.
Gimenes throws a punch but it's blocked by Tavares.
Gimenes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tavares jumps guard.
Tavares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gimenes is one step ahead there.

Tavares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gimenes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gimenes preventing the sweep.
Tavares is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tavares is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gimenes wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gimenes wants to control but Tavares is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tavares is keen to just control but Gimenes is a slippery customer.

Tavares is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gimenes sees it coming and defends easily.
Gimenes tries to kick Tavares off in order to stand up. Tavares Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Tavares.

Tavares thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gimenes is not content to let Tavares control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tavares is trying to get an arm triangle but Gimenes is defending well.
Tavares has control of an arm but Gimenes manages to advance to Tavares's back!
Gimenes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tavares on the ground.
Gimenes biding his time, looking for the opening.
Gimenes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Tavares breaks Gimenes's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Gimenes dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gimenes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tavares on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tavares shoots in but Gimenes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gimenes swats away the attempt to clinch by Tavares.
Tavares shoots for a takedown but Gimenes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tavares throws an overhand right that lands on Gimenes's shoulder, as Gimenes tries to avoid the shot.
Gimenes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tavares at a distance.
Tavares ducks right into an uppercut from Gimenes.
Gimenes lands with a right hand.
Tavares shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gimenes as he avoids it easily.
Miguel Gimenes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Tavares.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gimenes scores with a jab. Tavares acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Tavares slips a straight right by Gimenes.
Tavares wants to counter the offense by Gimenes and move into the clinch position.
Gimenes lands a body shot.
Tavares will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tavares takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Gimenes. Beautiful body shot.
Michael Tavares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tavares decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tavares looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gimenes tries to get to full guard but Tavares has control of the leg.
Tavares is trying to control the action in half guard but Gimenes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tavares passes to full mount!
Gimenes wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares trying to control but Gimenes is having none of it.
Gimenes is trying to stand.
Gimenes is trying to stand but he's just given Tavares his back.

Gimenes is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Tavares not allowing Gimenes to control his hands.
Michael Tavares has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gimenes trying to get back to his feet but Tavares is in full control for now.
Tavares scores with punches from the back.

Tavares looking for the RNC.
Gimenes is trying to stand back up.

Gimenes is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tavares is cranking Gimenes's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Gimenes! He's tightened the choke and Gimenes is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Michael Tavares!