PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Estevan Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waclaw Zbichowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zbichowski has chosen Na Szczycie as his entrance music. 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
Zbichowski

225 cm
22
291 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
22
291 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Estevan Tavares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Waclaw Zbichowski!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Bruno Hogan and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavares wants to clinch.

Zbichowski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Zbichowski stands up and waves to Tavares to follow him.
Tavares tries to clinch but Zbichowski is having none of it.
Tavares misses with a body kick.

Zbichowski shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tavares manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zbichowski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zbichowski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tavares tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tavares keeping moving, preventing Zbichowski from controlling successfully.
Tavares is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zbichowski.
Zbichowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Tavares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zbichowski sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tavares working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zbichowski keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zbichowski shoots and misses
and Tavares cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zbichowski looks gassed!
Tavares tries to close the distance and clinch but Zbichowski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tavares moves in looking to clinch but Zbichowski pushes him off.
Tavares shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zbichowski as he avoids it easily.
Zbichowski shoots for a double leg takedown but Tavares sprawls well. He's pushed Zbichowski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zbichowski moves into the clinch.
Tavares pushes off an throws an elbow but Zbichowski leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Zbichowski gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tavares is holding on to half guard well.

Zbichowski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tavares is just riding it out for now. Zbichowski eventually gives up the hold.
Tavares is looking to control Zbichowski's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tavares avoid being mounted?

Tavares is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zbichowski pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zbichowski is working away from the top position though.
Zbichowski wants to pass the guard but Tavares is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tavares tries to clinch but Zbichowski is having none of it.
Tavares shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zbichowski pinned against the cage. Zbichowski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Estevan Tavares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tavares tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zbichowski swivels and escapes.
Zbichowski misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tavares shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zbichowski defends it nicely.
Zbichowski shoots in and drives through. Tavares sprawls well.
Tavares shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zbichowski as he jumps to the side.

Zbichowski moves into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Zbichowski manages to pull guard.
Tavares would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zbichowski wants to hit a switch here but Tavares passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Zbichowski there!
Tavares trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waclaw Zbichowski dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tavares closes the distance but Zbichowski moves to the side

and Zbichowski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zbichowski.
Tavares is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Zbichowski has gone for a leg lock! Tavares slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zbichowski's guard.
Zbichowski trying to keep a closed guard but Tavares is proving a slippery customer.
Zbichowski keeping moving, preventing Tavares from controlling successfully.
Tavares forces his way into half guard.

Tavares is trying to work for a kimura but Zbichowski is defending well.
Zbichowski is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares is looking to take a break and control but Zbichowski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Tavares wants to work for an arm triangle but Zbichowski is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Tavares is looking for a kimura here.
Zbichowski is looking for a sweep. Tavares is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tavares.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tavares pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Zbichowski closes the distance and clinches.
Tavares gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zbichowski.
Tavares tries to pull guard but Zbichowski won't allow it.

Zbichowski pulls guard effortlessly.

Zbichowski working for a triangle but Tavares defends it easily.
Tavares passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tavares is looking to take a break and control but Zbichowski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Tavares crashes against the mat.
Tavares trying to control the action but Zbichowski is working from the bottom.
Tavares moves into full mount!

Tavares is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zbichowski can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Zbichowski blocking the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Zbichowski is trying to escape the mount.
Zbichowski is trying to reverse the position but instead Tavares has taken his back - oops!
Zbichowski looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Zbichowski tries to roll but Tavares sticks to his back.
Zbichowski prevents Tavares from getting a body triangle.
Zbichowski covering up well under a series of strikes from Tavares.
Tavares misses with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waclaw Zbichowski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zbichowski clinches up against the cage.
Zbichowski drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zbichowski is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tavares gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tavares tries for a takedown. No joy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zbichowski.
Zbichowski is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Estevan Tavares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Waclaw Zbichowski.
Tavares wants to break free but Zbichowski has control.
Tavares is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zbichowski pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tavares wants to get back to striking at distance but Zbichowski won't allow it.
Zbichowski drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tavares gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tavares can't get the takedown.
Tavares jumps guard but Zbichowski stands there with Tavares around his waist. Tavares gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zbichowski is trying to break free.
Tavares fails to pull guard.
Zbichowski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Tavares jumps guard but Zbichowski stands there with Tavares around his waist. Tavares gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Tavares decides to pull guard.
Zbichowski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tavares is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tavares trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Tavares tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tavares lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zbichowski!
Zbichowski is looking to get to half guard.
Zbichowski holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Tavares tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

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.
Zbichowski is working to get back to half guard.
Tavares looking to control but Zbichowski is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zbichowski wants to hold on but Tavares pushes him away.
Tavares can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zbichowski is looking to escape.
Zbichowski tries to lock up and control but Tavares gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tavares with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zbichowski avoids a series of strikes thrown by Tavares.
Tavares 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.
Tavares trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tavares throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Tavares tries to control but Zbichowski wriggling away.
Zbichowski is desperately trying to improve his position but Tavares has a good base and remains in mount.

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.
Zbichowski is squirming around, avoiding Tavares's attempts to control the action.
Zbichowski blocking the ground and pound.
Zbichowski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tavares unloads with some shots from mount but Zbichowski bucks and avoids them well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tavares content just to control the position here.
Waclaw Zbichowski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tavares trying to control but Zbichowski is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Estevan Tavares showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zbichowski has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Waclaw Zbichowski!