PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Tarver (ranked 251 p4p, 91 weight class) and Sergey Vinogradov (ranked 11 p4p, 5 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Tarver
vs
Vinogradov

169 cm
34
251
22 - 6 - 0

195 cm
36
220
28 - 14 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
Northern Zombie

30th Century Beer Store
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antonio Tarver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Vinogradov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarver swings away with a body shot that misses
and Vinogradov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tarver swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tarver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vinogradov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vinogradov throws out a powerful jab.
Vinogradov's coach down at St Petersburg MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Vinogradov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Vinogradov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vinogradov throws a hook but Tarver blocks it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vinogradov.
Vinogradov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vinogradov. Tarver does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tarver takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tarver throws a jab but it's blocked by Vinogradov.
Vinogradov ducks under a wild hook from Tarver.
Tarver wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarver tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vinogradov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tarver doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tarver throws a jab but it's blocked by Vinogradov.
Vinogradov tests Tarver's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jab by Vinogradov.
Vinogradov throws an overhand right that lands on Tarver's shoulder, as Tarver tries to avoid the shot.
Decent striking displayed by Vinogradov there.
Tarver swings widly with a right hand
and Vinogradov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fighters circling - Tarver throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Good standup being displayed there by Tarver as he connects with a hook.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Tarver checks a leg kick.
Vinogradov throws a right hand that Tarver ducks under and follows up with a left that Tarver also avoids with ease.
As Vinogradov tries to get set, Tarver tries to push him back and clinch up but Vinogradov manages to avoid the attempt.
Vinogradov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tarver throws the left hand but Vinogradov avoids the punch easily.
Vinogradov connects with a body shot that sends Tarver's belly button to the back.
Vinogradov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Tarver.
It looked like Tarver wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tarver takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tarver is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Vinogradov's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Vinogradov thuds his right hand into Tarver's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tarver misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tarver takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vinogradov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tarver moves away.
Tarver slips under a jab from Vinogradov.
Vinogradov moves away from the strike by Tarver.
Vinogradov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tarver gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Vinogradov.
Tarver on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tarver lands a jab.
Vinogradov misses with a straight left.
Tarver wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tarver closes the distance and pushes Vinogradov back into the cage.
Tarver prevents a body shot from Vinogradov.
Tarver jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vinogradov walks away with a smile on his face. Tarver gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tarver slips a jab from Vinogradov.
Tarver throws a right hand that misses
and Vinogradov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Tarver clinches up against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Tarver.
Tarver lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tarver lands with a light punch inside.
Tarver swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tarver tries to pull guard but Vinogradov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tarver fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Tarver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vinogradov blocks a body shot from Tarver.
Tarver misses with a punch on the inside.
Tarver misses with a punch to the body.
Tarver tries to work over Vinogradov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vinogradov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tarver keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vinogradov.
Tarver is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Vinogradov.
Vinogradov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Vinogradov tests Tarver's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vinogradov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice body punch from Vinogradov.
Vinogradov looks to score with a jab to the body but Tarver is just out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Vinogradov!
Vinogradov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vinogradov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tarver manages to avoid it.
Tarver throws the left hand but Vinogradov avoids the punch easily.

Tarver has closed the distance and engaged Vinogradov in a clinch.
Tarver lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tarver working aggressively here.
Vinogradov wants to break free but Tarver has control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vinogradov scores with the left hand. Tarver knows he should have avoided that one.
Vinogradov looks to land a right hand but Tarver moved out of range.
Vinogradov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tarver takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tarver swings for the body but Vinogradov moves out of range.
Vinogradov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Vinogradov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tarver sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vinogradov moves away from the strike by Tarver.
Vinogradov throws a hook but Tarver avoids it easily.
Vinogradov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vinogradov looks to land a combination. Tarver sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinogradov looks to score with a jab to the body but Tarver is just out of range.
Sergey Vinogradov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tarver slips under a jab.
Tarver tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Vinogradov manages to circle out of the way.
Tarver avoids the body shot from Vinogradov.
Tarver keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vinogradov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinogradov misses the jab.
Tarver swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tarver tries to clinch but Vinogradov moves away
and Vinogradov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vinogradov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tarver manages to avoid it.
Vinogradov tests Tarver's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sergey Vinogradov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tarver takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tarver keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vinogradov lands a jab to the head.
Vinogradov throws a body punch but Tarver moves out of range.
Tarver is looking to counter the offense by Vinogradov and move into the clinch.
Tarver closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vinogradov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tarver looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Vinogradov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tarver counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tarver slips under a jab from Vinogradov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vinogradov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tarver takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Vinogradov scores with a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vinogradov looks to land a right hand but Tarver moved out of range.
Vinogradov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Vinogradov.
Tarver takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Vinogradov misses with an uppercut.
Tarver wants to clinch but Vinogradov slips to the side
and Vinogradov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vinogradov lands with a straight right. Tarver didn't see that one coming.
Tarver moves to clinch but Vinogradov breaks away
and Vinogradov counters with a stiff right hand.
Vinogradov scores with a shot to the body.
Tarver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinogradov takes a swing at Tarver's ribcage but misses.
Vinogradov misses with an uppercut.
Vinogradov just misses with a punch to the body.
Vinogradov misses with a body shot.
Vinogradov throws a jab but it's blocked by Tarver.
Vinogradov throws a series of strikes that have Tarver backpedaling.
Tarver gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Vinogradov.
Vinogradov throws a right and a left that Tarver avoids nicely.
Tarver is looking to clinch.
Vinogradov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tarver manages to avoid it.
Tarver tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Vinogradov manages to circle out of the way.
Tarver tries to clinch up but Vinogradov circles away and keeps his distance.
Vinogradov throws a big shot that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Vinogradov misses the target.
Vinogradov digs a good body shot into Tarver's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinogradov swats away the attempt to clinch by Tarver.
Tarver takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Vinogradov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Vinogradov, as that shot connected.
Tarver uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vinogradov.
Tarver is looking to counter the offense by Vinogradov and move into the clinch.
Tarver misses with a lunging right hand
and Vinogradov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Vinogradov.
Tarver throws a looping overhand right but Vinogradov ducks down to avoid it.
Vinogradov misses with a wild body shot.
Tarver checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tarver seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Tarver is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Vinogradov lands a two punch combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Vinogradov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tarver on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Vinogradov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Vinogradov wants to land a leg kick but Tarver is out of range.
Tarver takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tarver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vinogradov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vinogradov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vinogradov misses with the combination.
A cross from Tarver lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinogradov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vinogradov misses with a looping left.
Vinogradov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vinogradov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Tarvers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarver moves away from the strike by Vinogradov.
Tarver tries to counter by clinching up but Vinogradov breaks away and moves out of range.
Jab from Vinogradov.
Vinogradov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tarver.
Tarver is looking to counter the offense by Vinogradov and move into the clinch.
Tarver uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vinogradov.
Tarver connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Vinogradov momentarily.
Tarver takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tarver throws a lazy right hand but Vinogradov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tarver moves to clinch but Vinogradov breaks away
and Vinogradov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Vinogradov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tarver.
Vinogradov throws a hook but Tarver avoids it easily.
Vinogradov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Vinogradov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vinogradov misses with a straight right.
Tarver tries to clinch up
and Vinogradov counters with a right hand to the body.
Vinogradov throws a jab but it's blocked by Tarver.
Tarver avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big left from Vinogradov misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tarver takes a swing at Vinogradov's ribcage but misses.
Vinogradov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tarver slips a straight right by Vinogradov.
A jab from Tarver misses.
Vinogradov digs a good hook to Tarver's body.
Vinogradov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tarver. Tarver circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarver displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vinogradov throws out the jab.
Tarver is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Vinogradov.
Vinogradov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vinogradov misses with a hook. Tarver ducked under it nicely.

Tarver has Vinogradov up against the cage in a clinch.
Good body shot from Vinogradov.
Tarver jumps guard but Vinogradov stands there with Tarver around his waist. Tarver gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tarver lands a body shot in the clinch.
Vinogradov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tarver struggles to land a body shot inside as Vinogradov controls his hands.
Tarver tries to throw a body punch but Vinogradov avoids it by throwing Tarver back against the cage.
Tarver lands a hook that snaps the head of Vinogradov backwards.
Vinogradov prevents a body shot from Tarver.
Sergey Vinogradov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tarver working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinogradov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tarver swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tarver struggles to land a body shot inside as Vinogradov controls his hands.
Tarver doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tarver misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tarver tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vinogradov's elbow.
Tarver misses with a body punch.

Vinogradov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tarver gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A swing and a miss from Vinogradov.
Vinogradov lands a nice shot to the body.
Tarver throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vinogradov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tarver takes a jab right on the kisser.
Antonio Tarver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vinogradov moves away from the strike by Tarver.
Vinogradov unleashes a big counter combination but Tarver bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Vinogradov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vinogradov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Vinogradov!
Sergey Vinogradov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.