PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ruan Lieb (ranked 5265 p4p, 2971 weight class) and Katsuo Tahara (ranked 484 p4p, 334 weight class). Lieb comes to the cage accompanied by Where The Hood at - DMX. Ruan Lieb has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lieb
vs
Tahara

180 cm
18
177
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
177
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruan Lieb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Katsuo Tahara!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tahara closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lieb did well to prevent Tahara getting side control.
Tahara content to control rather than advance.

Tahara is looking for a kimura here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lieb is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahara wants to stand but Lieb has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Tahara is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lieb trying to control here.
Lieb is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Tahara trying to pass the guard but Lieb defending well.

Tahara is working for a submission of some sort.
Tahara is taking a breather. Lieb says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two 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.
Lieb trying to control here.
Tahara looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Tahara is looking for a kimura but Lieb is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tahara to get the leverage.
Lieb works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lieb wants to sweep but no luck.

Lieb is looking for a triangle but Tahara pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tahara seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tahara tries to stand but Lieb is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tahara or perhaps it was just good defense by Lieb, which made it look bad.
Katsuo Tahara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tahara closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lieb quickly recovers to half guard.
Lieb regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lieb wants to get back to his feet but Tahara is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lieb trying to control the position.
Lieb is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tahara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Tahara decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lieb, up you get!
Lieb misses with a wild body shot.

Tahara gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lieb is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tahara to keep the fight standing.
Lieb is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tahara is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuo Tahara dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tahara closes the distance and clinches up with Lieb, looking for a takedown. Tahara pushes Lieb against the cage but Lieb circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lieb misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tahara uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lieb.

Lieb gets a clinch.
Lieb tries to pull guard but Tahara holds him up against the cage and eventually Lieb drops back down to his feet.
Lieb keeps control of Tahara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Lieb has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tahara uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lieb being controlled here, momentarily.
Lieb tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahara not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lieb looking for a sweep. Not yet Lieb, not yet.
Tahara is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tahara won't allow Lieb to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lieb swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tahara looks to land a combination but Lieb avoids it well.
Lieb appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lieb keeps the fight on the outside.
Tahara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lieb pinned against the cage. Lieb gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lieb shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tahara as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruan Lieb. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lieb shoots in for a double leg but Tahara sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tahara wants to counter the offense by Lieb and move into the clinch position.
Tahara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lieb is looking to counter the offense by Tahara and move into the clinch.
Tahara throws a series of punches but Lieb moves out of range.
Lieb half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Tahara is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lieb's half guard.
Tahara prevents Lieb from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lieb is trying to escape back to his feet but Tahara uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Tahara tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Lieb is looking to regain half guard here but Tahara keeps moving and retains side control.
Lieb seems a little lost for a moment, as Tahara dominates the positioning.
Tahara creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lieb sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sloppy strikes there by Tahara.
Tahara content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tahara misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lieb tries to improve position but can't.
Tahara advances nicely into full mount.
Tahara postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lieb looks a forlorn figure.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuo Tahara 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lieb clinches up with Tahara and pushes him back against the cage.
Lieb is trying to drag Tahara to the mat but Tahara just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lieb gets underhooks to prevent Tahara's takedown attempt.

Lieb has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tahara clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Tahara prevents Lieb from getting a body triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tahara is trying to get back to his feet but Lieb has full control of the position and if anything, Tahara has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Tahara turns into Lieb and is now in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lieb escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tahara gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Katsuo Tahara has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lieb avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tahara is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lieb looking for a sweep. Not yet Lieb, not yet.
Tahara wanted to stand there but Lieb had control of the position.
Tahara controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tahara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tahara tries to free his leg and advance position but Lieb is retaining full guard.
Tahara controlling from the top position.

Lieb has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tahara is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Lieb.
Lieb seems a little lost for a moment, as Tahara dominates the positioning.
Tahara fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tahara cracks Lieb with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lieb prevents Tahara from moving into mount.
Tahara is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Lieb will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Ruan Lieb has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lieb taking a bit of punishment here - Tahara scoring with strikes.
Tahara working away.
Tahara tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Tahara thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tahara working the ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tahara is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Tahara stands up and beckons Lieb to his feet.

Tahara drives through with a takedown into Lieb's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Tahara wants to get up but he can't break Lieb's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lieb looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lieb is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tahara advances position into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Katsuo Tahara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tahara 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katsuo Tahara!
A relieved looking Katsuo Tahara thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.