PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kris Tarbois (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Rexile (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kris Tarbois has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tarbois
vs
Rexile

185 cm
24
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

150 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kris Tarbois!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tom Rexile!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rexile feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tarbois will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Rexile postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tarbois is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rexile, into his guard.
Tarbois would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rexile keeping moving, preventing Tarbois from controlling successfully.

Rexile scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarbois shoots and misses

and Rexile counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rexile is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tarbois is just riding it out for now. Rexile eventually gives up the hold.
Rexile should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Tarbois is defending against the submission attempts here by Rexile.

Rexile is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Rexile is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tarbois doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rexile.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Rexile has eaten all the pies!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rexile is working for a kimura here but Tarbois manages to reverse the position and he's now in Rexile's guard.
Rexile looks gassed!
Tarbois looking to pass the guard.
Tarbois with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarbois works over Rexile with some ground and pound from guard.
Tarbois stops Rexile from standing up.
Rexile can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tarbois controls the pace.

Rexile uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rexile tries for a takedown but Tarbois circles away easily
and Tarbois counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Tom Rexile has been cut.
Rexile shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tarbois counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tarbois stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tarbois darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tarbois content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
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 Kris Tarbois will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tom Rexile's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tarbois feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tarbois stands up over Rexile, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rexile wants to get back to his feet but Tarbois is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rexile keeping full guard, as Tarbois tries to pass.

Tarbois stands and steps away. Rexile gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarbois chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Tarbois darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tarbois seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rexile does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rexile is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarbois is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tarbois uses his free foot to push down on Rexile's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rexile.
Tarbois sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tarbois lands a big shot there that rocks Rexile but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarbois takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tarbois tries to control but Rexile wriggling away.
Tarbois with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rexile is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Rexile wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Tarbois.
Rexile is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Tarbois tries to control but Rexile wriggling away.
Tarbois throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kris Tarbois dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Rexile's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tarbois displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tarbois with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rexile counters with a shoot takedown. Tarbois fights it but they end up in guard.
Kris Tarbois overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rexileis looking to pass into half guard but Tarbois pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tarbois is in guard.

Tarbois drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rexile dives on top into guard.

Rexile drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tarbois dives on top into guard.
Tarbois trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rexile takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tarbois throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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

Rexile uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Tarbois shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rexile is refusing to be controlled, as Tarbois sits in half guard.
Tarbois stalling away here and it's allowed Rexile to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Tarbois content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarbois trying to control the position from guard on top but Rexile is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tarbois loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tarbois looking to sit in guard and control but Rexile gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four 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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kris Tarbois just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Tarbois with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rexile counters with a takedown into side control.

Rexile swings around for an armbar but Tarbois sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rexile's guard.
Rexile wants to stand and escape but Tarbois is having none of it.
Tarbois tries to stand but Rexile is controlling from the bottom.
Tom Rexile has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kris Tarbois is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tarbois not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tarbois postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Rexile comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tarbois 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kris Tarbois!