PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jolas Bautista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rahj Tirado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tirado has chosen Heroes to us as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bautista
vs
Tirado

200 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 Los Angeles, Jolas Bautista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rahj Tirado!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bautista tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tirado swivels and escapes.
Bautista shoots in but Tirado avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bautista shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jolas Bautista. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bautista tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tirado paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bautista moves in looking to clinch but Tirado pushes him off.
Bautista is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tirado sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Bautista shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tirado is controlling Bautista's trapped leg to prevent Bautista from advancing to side control.

Bautista is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tirado sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tirado wants to get back to full guard.
Bautista seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tirado does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bautista lands with a punch from half guard.
Tirado makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tirado.
Tirado wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tirado manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bautista is desperately trying to improve his position but Tirado has a good base and remains in mount.
Bautista is breathing heavily.
Tirado has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bautista's face.
Bautista in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Tirado looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tirado wants to control the pace but Bautista is squirming around nicely.
Tirado with shots to the head and body - Bautista looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bautista is desperately trying to improve his position but Tirado has a good base and remains in mount.

Tirado is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Bautista can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Tirado raining down shots from the mount!
Tirado unloading with bombs!
Tirado really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bautista. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tirado looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Tirado controlling his opponent.
Tirado punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tirado jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bautista manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Bautista wants to control but Tirado postures up.

Tirado tries for a kimura but Bautista is defending well.
Tirado working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tirado 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.
Tirado preventing the sweep.
Bautista will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tirado postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bautista utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tirado works over Bautista with some ground and pound from guard.
Bautista wants to stand up but Tirado is controlling him.
Tirado scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tirado must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bautista looking to control.
Bautista looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tirado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bautista swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tirado is working Bautista over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bautista is trying to keep Tirado in close.
Tirado makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bautista has momentary wrist control but Tirado slips an elbow through the middle.
Tirado scoring with some ground and pound.
Tirado controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Tirado gets to his feet. Bautista looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Tirado closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bautista did well to prevent Tirado getting side control.
Bautista really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tirado takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tirado is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bautista defends it well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tirado connects with a nice short shot to Bautista's temple.

Tirado is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bautista is just riding it out for now. Tirado eventually gives up the hold.

Tirado is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bautista defends it well.
Tirado prevents Bautista from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tirado looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tirado lands with a punch from half guard.
Ground and pound from Tirado.
Tirado scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Tirado is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bautista wants to control but Tirado is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Tirado takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Tirado is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bautista sees it coming and defends easily.
Bautista trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Tirado is landing with some decent strikes but Bautista is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tirado lands with some strikes.
Tirado dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rahj Tirado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tirado feints and as Bautista raises his hands in defense, Tirado changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bautista preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bautista keeping full guard, as Tirado tries to pass.
Bautista is pulling down on Tirado's head. It's preventing any offense from Tirado, at least for the moment.
Tirado with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tirado postures up.
Tirado slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tirado decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bautista, up you get!
Bautista shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tirado counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bautista's guard now.
Tirado scoring with some ground and pound.
Bautista keeping full guard, as Tirado tries to pass.
Tirado working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Bautista has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Tirado off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Jolas Bautista is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bautista throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tirado.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tirado shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bautista keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bautista is working hard here to advance position.

Tirado is working for a guillotine from mount but Bautista frees his head quite easily.
Bautista is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tirado looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Tirado lands a big shot there that rocks Bautista but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bautista tries to lock up and control but Tirado gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tirado landing strikes from the mount and Bautista is in trouble!
Tirado pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rahj Tirado has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bautista really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bautista regains half guard.
Tirado is trying to control the action in half guard but Bautista is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tirado not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Tirado is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bautista sees it coming and defends easily.
Tirado not doing much here.

Bautista manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Bautista tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Tirado counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bautista won't be happy with that.
Jolas Bautista has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rahj Tirado is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tirado taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rahj Tirado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tirado has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rahj Tirado!