PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robban Kristowiper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tavares
vs
Kristowiper

167 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Tavares!
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, Robban Kristowiper!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kristowiper keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tavares.
A right-left combo lands from Tavares.

Tavares looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tavares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kristowiper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tavares is looking to stand up but Kristowiper won't let him.

Tavares postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kristowiper is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tavares, into his guard.
Kristowiper wants to get up but he can't break Tavares's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kristowiper is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kristowiper trying to control but Tavares is working from the bottom.
Kristowiper is standing up over Tavares. Tavares looks to escape but Kristowiper dives into side control.
Kristowiper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tavares keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Kristowiper has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tavares lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tavares misses with a series of wild punches.
Kristowiper tries to clinch but Tavares is having none of it.
Kristowiper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tavares paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tavares shoots in and bounces Kristowiper off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tavares has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tavares trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kristowiper looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares trying to control but Kristowiper is working from the bottom.
Tavares wants to stand but Kristowiper has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kristowiper is on top in guard.
Kristowiper forces his way into half guard.
Tavares on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kristowiper tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Tavares knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kristowiper on the ground.
Kristowiper content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
It looks like Kristowiper is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rodrigo Tavares will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kristowiper on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Kristowiper gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kristowiper looking to control.
Kristowiper looking for a sweep. Not yet Kristowiper, not yet.
Tavares might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tavares wants to control from the top but Kristowiper keeps moving.
Kristowiper is trying to keep Tavares in close.
Tavares looking to pass the guard.
Tavares is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kristowiper is trying to control the position but Tavares postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tavares throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tavares misses with a jab, cross combination.

Tavares drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kristowiper is breathing heavily.
Kristowiper is trying to keep Tavares in close.
Kristowiper looking for a sweep. Not yet Kristowiper, not yet.
Tavares trying to control the position from guard on top but Kristowiper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tavares has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kristowiper is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares looking to sit in guard and control but Kristowiper gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kristowiper sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tavares's guard.
Kristowiper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tavares keeps working.
Kristowiper tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tavares controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares tries to roll over but Kristowiper keeps him under control.
Kristowiper tries to stand and escape but Tavares is controlling the position.
Tavares is staying active underneath Kristowiper, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four 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.

Tavares is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kristowiper pulls his head out easily.
Kristowiper throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kristowiper tries for a takedown but Tavares circles away easily

and Tavares counters with a takedown into side control.

Tavares thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kristowiper throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Tavares dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Tavares's corner calls for a 1-2. Tavares obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Tavares shoots in and bounces Kristowiper off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kristowiper keeping moving, preventing Tavares from controlling successfully.
Tavares wants to get up but he can't break Kristowiper's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tavares wants to pass the guard but Kristowiper is keeping the position.
Kristowiper keeping moving, preventing Tavares from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kristowiper looking to control.
Tavaresis looking to pass into half guard but Kristowiper pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kristowiper is in guard.
Kristowiper is pushing down on Tavares's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tavares is fighting to maintain full guard but Kristowiper has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tavares wants to get back to full guard.
Kristowiper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kristowiper is trying to control the action in half guard but Tavares is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.
Tavares is looking for a sweep. Kristowiper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kristowiper is trying to control the action in half guard but Tavares is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tavares lands a two punch combo.

Tavares shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Tavares was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Tavares working for a submission but Kristowiper is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kristowiper wants to hold on but Tavares pushes him away.
Rodrigo Tavares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tavares fails to move to back control.
Tavares wants to stand but Kristowiper is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Kristowiper bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Tavares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kristowiper can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kristowiper has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tavares is proving hard to escape from.

Tavares looking for a guillotine here but Kristowiper defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Tavares showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tavares has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Tavares!