PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Best Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleg Taktarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oleg Taktarov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fighter
vs
Taktarov

170 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Best Fighter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oleg Taktarov!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Lou da Vinci and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taktarov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Taktarov is taking a breather. Fighter 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.
Fighter moves into full guard.
Fighter keeping full guard, as Taktarov tries to pass.
Taktarov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taktarov postures up.
Taktarov thows a big elbow that misses.
Fighter 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.
Taktarov looking to sit in guard and control but Fighter gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fighter won't allow Taktarov to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taktarov trying to control the position.
Taktarov wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Taktarov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Taktarov takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Oleg Taktarov has been cut.
Fighter doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Taktarov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fighter wants to stand up but Taktarov is controlling him.
Fighter keeping full guard, as Taktarov tries to pass.
Taktarov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fighter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taktarov controls the pace.
Fighter controls Taktarov momentarily but Taktarov frees himself.
Taktarov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Taktarov passes Fighter's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Taktarov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Taktarov looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter is looking for a sweep. Taktarov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fighter trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taktarov prevents Fighter from improving his position.

Taktarov seems to be looking for submissions.
Fighter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fighter.
Fighter can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taktarov controls the pace.

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.
Taktarov throwing strikes from guard but Fighter blocks nicely.

Taktarov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Fighter dives on top into guard.
Fighter wants to pass the guard but Taktarov is keeping the position.
Fighter stopping the sweep attempt from Taktarov.

Taktarov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fighter defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Taktarov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oleg Taktarov's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fighter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taktarov.
Fighter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Taktarov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fighter trying to keep a closed guard but Taktarov is proving a slippery customer.
Taktarov wants to stand but Fighter has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Fighter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Taktarov defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fighter working a defensive guard but Taktarov manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Taktarov is chipping away with strikes.
Taktarov lands an elbow.

Taktarov tries for a kimura but Fighter is defending well.

That's two 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.

Taktarov decides to stand back up. Taktarov steps back and let's Fighter get back to his feet.
Fighter has his takedown stuffed

and Taktarov counters with a shoot takedown. Fighter fights it but they end up in guard.
Fighter keeping moving, preventing Taktarov from controlling successfully.
Taktarov is in close to Fighter's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Taktarov preventing the sweep.
Taktarov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taktarov wants to get up but he can't break Fighter's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Taktarov won't allow Fighter to get back to his feet.

Taktarov stands up from Fighter's guard - Taktarov perhaps looking for a knockout.
A combination from Taktarov does no damage.
Taktarov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fighter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Taktarov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Best Fighter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taktarov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fighter is looking for a triangle but Taktarov pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taktarov wants to pass the guard but Fighter is keeping the position.
Taktarov preventing the sweep.
Oleg Taktarov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Taktarov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

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

Fighter goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Taktarov is on top in guard.
Taktarov trying to control but Fighter is working from the bottom.
Fighter trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fighter striking off his back but it's not causing Taktarov any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taktarov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fighter is keeping the position for now.
Taktarov trying to control but Fighter is working from the bottom.
Taktarov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Taktarov preventing the sweep.
Taktarov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taktarov swats away the attempt to clinch by Fighter.
Taktarov tries to clinch but Fighter moves out of range.
Taktarov darts in trying to clinch

and Fighter counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taktarov won't be happy with that.
Taktarov is not content to let Fighter control the position.
Taktarov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taktarov can't do much from the bottom here.
Taktarov stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

Fighter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Taktarov, who protects the arm well.
Taktarov struggling a bit here.

That's four 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.
Fighter misses with the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Taktarov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taktarov misses with a body kick.
Taktarov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Fighter decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Taktarov's guard.
Taktarov wants to stand and escape but Fighter is having none of it.
Taktarov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fighter pushing down on Taktarov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Best Fighter showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taktarov 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleg Taktarov!