PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Tarver (ranked 516 p4p, 848 weight class) and Jerry Short (ranked 25 p4p, 38 weight class). Short is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger. Antonio Tarver has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tarver
vs
Short

169 cm
34
251
22 - 8 - 0

151 cm
34
135
20 - 15 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
Northern Zombie

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

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 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antonio Tarver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jerry Short!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Short shoots in and drives through. Tarver sprawls well.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Short has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Tarver wants to clinch up but Short keeps it at a distance.
Short misses with a takedown attempt

and Tarver counters by clinching up.
Tarver tries to work over Short's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Short drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Antonio Tarver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerry Short.
Tarver can't find room to land a body shot as Short controls the action.
Tarver is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Short to keep the fight standing.
A right handed body shot lands from Tarver.
Tarver tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Short's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarver is leaning against Short and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Short looks winded!
Tarver pushes Short back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tarver jumps guard but Short turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tarver tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Short's elbow.
Tarver misses with a punch to the body.
A body shot lands from Tarver.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Tarver.
Tarver scores with a hook to the body.
Tarver digs a right hand into Short's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Short's gas tank.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tarver.
Tarver lands a nice uppercut.
Tarver tries to throw a body punch but Short avoids it by throwing Tarver back against the cage.
Tarver is working Short over against the cage.
Tarver misses with a punch to the body.
Tarver lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Short.
Tarver lands a body punch.
Tarver lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tarver stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Tarver lands a body shot in the clinch.
Tarver pushes Short back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tarver cracks Short with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarver lands a nice shot to the body.
Tarver fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A body shot lands from Tarver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short body shot lands from Tarver as the two fighters clinch.
Tarver works on Short's body with a couple of short punches.

Tarver pulls guard successfully.

Tarver looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Short passes into side control.
Tarver wants to control but Short postures up.
Tarver is trying to improve his position.
Tarver is trying to control Short's posture but Short avoids it.
Tarver is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Tappelukerho, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarver is trying to improve his position.
Tarver is working hard here to advance position.
Short wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tarver keeps working.
Tarver is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Tarver is trying to get back to full guard.

Short is trying to work for a kimura but Tarver is defending well.

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.

Tarver looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Short keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Tarver actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tarver looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Tarver 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.

Tarver takes the fight into the clinch.
Tarver tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Short just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tarver lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Short backwards.

It looks like Jerry Short has been cut.
Short prevents a body shot from Tarver.
A right hand to the body from Tarver.
Tarver lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Short or not.

Tarver jumps into guard, dragging Short to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarver is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Short missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarver is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Short defends well.
Short looking to pass the guard.
Tarver is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Short can do to turn this around?

Tarver looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Short passes Tarver's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tarver trying to hold on to Short's head to control him but Short postures up.
Short content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Tarver looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Short is trying to control. Tarver wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Short working over Tarver with some ground and pound. Tarver looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Short is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Short can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tarver is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Short sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Short 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.

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.
Tarver tries to reverse the position but Short maintains control.
Tarver slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tarver is looking to control Short's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tarver avoid being mounted?

Short is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tarver has managed to free his arm - good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tarver taking some punishment here, with Short in his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jerry Short will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jerry Short's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Tarver scores with a hook to the body. Short takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Short has a takedown stuffed.
As Short tries to get set, Tarver tries to push him back and clinch up but Short manages to avoid the attempt.
Short gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tarver misses with a left hand

and Short decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tarver's guard.
Tarver is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tarver keeping moving, preventing Short from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Short loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Short trying to control but Tarver is working from the bottom.

Tarver is looking for a triangle but Short pushes his legs off easily.
Tarver trying to control the position.
Short slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Short is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Tarver looks calm but he's in trouble here. Short gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Tarver is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Short lets go of the hold and Tarver can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jerry Short!