PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and H S (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo Tavares had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Tavares
vs
S

167 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 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, H S!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
S tries to clinch there but Tavares circles away.
S fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tavares avoids it really well and circles away.
Tavares avoids a punch combination nicely.
S fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tavares thuds a left hand into S's body.
S fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tavares jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tavares lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as S backs up against the cage.
S with a nice cross.
S throws a combination that misses
and Tavares counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
S throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
No joy there for Tavares, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A left and a right from S both land. Nice combination.
S wants to clinch.
Tavares misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tavares drives through with a takedown into guard.
S keeping full guard, as Tavares tries to pass.
S is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tavares is controlling him.

Tavares has gone for a leg lock! S slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tavares's guard.
S trying to control but Tavares is working from the bottom.
S tries to stand but Tavares is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
S wants to control from the top but Tavares keeps moving.

Tavares is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and S defends well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as S accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tavares looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

S stands and steps away. Tavares gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tavares connects with the punch.
S wants to clinch up but Tavares keeps it at a distance.
Tavares fails with the takedown.

That's four 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 misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from S.
Tavares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tavares throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
H S seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tavares swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by S.

S throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tavares was covering up waiting for the punch and S finishes the takedown easily into guard.
S trying to control but Tavares is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
S tries to stand but Tavares is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tavares misses with a combination

and S counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by S.
Tavares changes levels and goes for a takedown here. S fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tavares lands a jab-cross combination.

Tavares shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tavares showed some decent athleticism there.

S has one foot on Tavares's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
S fails with the takedown

so Tavares counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tavares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. S swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Tavares thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
S looking for a sweep. Not yet S, not yet.
Tavares wants to control from the top but S keeps moving.
Tavares tries to free his leg and advance position but S is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tavares is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! S is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! S has escaped and now he's on top!
Tavares knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for S on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tavares throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Tavares is working an open guard so S takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
S misses with a combination

and Tavares counters with a shoot takedown. S fights it but they end up in guard.
S is looking to stand up but Tavares isn't so interested in that idea.

Tavares has gone for a leg lock! S slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tavares's guard.
S missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
S working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tavares might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

S decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tavares, up you get!
S throws a combination that misses
and Tavares cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Tavares!
A lazy left from Tavares finds it's target.

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.
S wants to clinch.
Tavares lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tavares fails to land with a series of punches.
Tavares throws a one two combo.
Tavares misses with a jab, cross combination.
S tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tavares is able to avoid easily.
S misses with a double jab

and Tavares counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in S's guard now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavares wants to pass the guard but S is keeping the position.

Tavares drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but S manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tavares has S in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Tavares dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

S slips a jab and a cross from Tavares.
S connects with a crisp jab.
Tavares sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
S swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tavares counters with a one-two to the body.
S throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tavares counters with a nice uppercut.
Tavares moves out of range as S strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
S doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tavares counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
S lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Tavares displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
S throws a low kick but Tavares avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
S tries for a takedown but Tavares circles away easily
and S takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
S takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tavares punishes S's body with a nice straight punch.
S swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tavares counters with a nice double leg into side control. S won't be happy with that.
Tavares wants to stand but S has his arm trapped.

Tavares goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, S rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Tavares's guard! Nice work there by S!
Tavares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
S missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tavares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Tavares looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tavares escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. S gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tavares on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tavares tries to get out of the position.
S trying to control the position from guard on top but Tavares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
S misses with a body shot

and Tavares counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for S!
S stops Tavares from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
S is working to get back to half guard.

Tavares has hold of S's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and S manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Tavares moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, S has worked his arm free - good work by S!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
S sneaks back into half guard.
S wants to get back to his feet.
S is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rodrigo Tavares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tavares is trying to control the action in half guard but S is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Tavares is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tavares stalling away here and it's allowed S to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
S wants to stand and escape but Tavares is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Tavares showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tavares has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

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