PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafa Peziev (ranked 2390 p4p, 5135 weight class) and Great Tiger (ranked 160 p4p, 282 weight class). Great Tiger will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Peziev
vs
Tiger

161 cm
22
147
4 - 2 - 0

172 cm
42
142
32 - 52 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafa Peziev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 52 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Great Tiger!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Peziev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tiger as he avoids it easily.
Tiger misses with a few strikes there.
Peziev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tiger scores with a leg kick.
Tiger misses with a looping left.
Peziev has his takedown stuffed
and Tiger cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafa Peziev. 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.
An inside leg kick from Tiger misses.
Peziev appears to be looking for a big counter.
Peziev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tiger defends well and Peziev ends up having to push Tiger into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Tiger gets control of Peziev's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tiger will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Peziev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiger wants to sweep but no luck.
Peziev is looking to advance position but Tiger has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Tiger throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Peziev because Tiger loaded up on that one.
Tiger tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Poor strikes thrown by Tiger there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Peziev wants to hold on but Tiger pushes him away.
Peziev can't escape the position.
Peziev taking shots to the head.
Tiger wants to control the pace but Peziev is squirming around nicely.
Peziev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tiger wants to control the pace but Peziev is squirming around nicely.
Tiger might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Peziev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Peziev can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiger tries to control but Peziev wriggling away.
Peziev really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peziev sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Peziev wants to improve his position but Tiger is controlling well.

Peziev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tiger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Peziev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tiger prevents Peziev from standing back up.
Tiger is keen to just control but Peziev is a slippery customer.

Peziev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Peziev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiger sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Peziev is staying active underneath Tiger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tiger looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Peziev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Peziev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Peziev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Tiger is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Peziev actively working from the bottom here.
Tiger stalling.
Peziev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Peziev looking for a sweep. Not yet Peziev, not yet.
Peziev looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tiger's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Peziev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Peziev looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tiger has picked Peziev up and slammed him! Peziev can't keep hold of the triangle and Tiger manages to pass to side control!
Peziev sneaks back into half guard.
Tiger perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Great Tiger dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tiger slaps away a takedown attempt from Peziev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Peziev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tiger but Tiger pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jab by Tiger.
Tiger moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tiger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut there from Tiger.

Peziev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Tiger works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiger is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Peziev trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tiger manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Peziev working for a triangle but Tiger defends it easily.

Peziev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tiger can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tiger trying to control the position from guard on top but Peziev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tiger slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Peziev throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tiger uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peziev is trying to improve his position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Peziev stops Tiger from passing to mount.
Tiger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Peziev keeps working.
Peziev is looking to regain half guard here but Tiger keeps moving and retains side control.
Tiger cracks Peziev with a big right hand but Peziev just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Great Tiger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Peziev tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Peziev's face as Tiger controls the position.
Tiger trying to control the action but Peziev is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peziev throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Peziev is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tiger's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Peziev actively working from the bottom here.
Peziev tries to kick Tiger off but Tiger keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Peziev manages to get to full guard.
Tiger stands and throws Peziev's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Peziev is trying to buck Tiger off.
Peziev is trying to improve his position.
Tiger content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peziev is not content to let Tiger control the position.
Tiger in side control, throwing shots but Peziev defends.
Peziev sneaks back into half guard.
Tiger throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peziev moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tiger is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tiger trying to control the position from guard on top but Peziev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Great Tiger 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Peziev slips under a jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Peziev misses the target.
Great Tiger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Peziev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tiger as he avoids it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tiger.
Peziev shoots in and drives through. Tiger sprawls well.
Peziev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafa Peziev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Peziev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tiger's waist but Tiger gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Peziev off to one side.
Peziev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiger misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tiger tries to score a power double leg takedown but Peziev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tiger somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peziev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tiger digs a good hook to Peziev's body.

Peziev manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tiger on his heels. He'll look to pass Tiger's guard now, I'm sure.
Peziev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Peziev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tiger's head.
Peziev wants to control from the top but Tiger keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Peziev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Peziev looking to pass the guard.
Peziev throws an elbow that misses. Tiger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Peziev's guard. Nice move by Tiger!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Peziev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tiger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Peziev is looking for a triangle but Tiger pushes his legs off easily.
Tiger engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Peziev throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Tiger postures up in Peziev's guard and throws a big left but Peziev blocks it.
Tiger trying to control the position from guard on top but Peziev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Peziev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tiger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Peziev has an active guard here but Tiger has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiger performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Peziev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Peziev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tiger pulls his head out easily.
We've been informed that Tiger has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Tiger is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Tiger stops Peziev from getting back to his feet.
Peziev wants to control but Tiger is keeping busy.
Peziev wants to improve his position but Tiger is controlling well.
Tiger is controlling the pace.
Rafa Peziev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.

Peziev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Peziev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tiger pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiger works his way into side control.
Peziev is looking to reverse the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiger trying to control the action but Peziev is working from the bottom.
Tiger has knee on belly and moves into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Great Tiger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tiger has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Great Tiger!
Great Tiger thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Rafa Peziev stepped up to the mic, saying 'I be back, fuuuk the rucians!'.