PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Remy Bonjasky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexey Tarasov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Remy Bonjasky has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Bonjasky
vs
Tarasov

186 cm
18
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Remy Bonjasky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Tarasov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tarasov moves into the clinch.
Bonjasky tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tarasov smiles and moves away.
Bonjasky shoots for a double leg takedown but Tarasov sprawls well. He's pushed Bonjasky's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Bonjasky fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tarasov sprawls well initially but Bonjasky persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tarasov is trying to stand up here but Bonjasky is controlling him well.
Bonjasky looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bonjasky wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tarasov keeps working.
Tarasov is in trouble now - Bonjasky has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarasov is squirming around, avoiding Bonjasky's attempts to control the action.
Tarasov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bonjasky. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tarasov tries to lock up and control but Bonjasky gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tarasov can do anything to dispel that myth.

Bonjasky jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Tarasov is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Tarasov and Bonjasky has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Tarasov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

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.
Bonjasky tries to kick Tarasov off but Tarasov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tarasov is looking to take a break and control but Bonjasky is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bonjasky is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bonjasky is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tarasov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tarasov throwing shots but Bonjasky is blocking nicely.
Bonjasky wants to get back to his feet.
Bonjasky is staying active underneath Tarasov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tarasov wants to stand up but Bonjasky has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tarasov is working for a kimura but Bonjasky is defending it quite comfortably.
Tarasov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bonjasky looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tarasov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bonjasky with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tarasov thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Bonjasky to regain full guard.
Tarasov passes Bonjasky's left leg - he's now in half guard.

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.
Bonjasky tries to get to full guard but Tarasov has control of the leg.
Bonjasky manages to get to full guard.
Tarasov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tarasov thows a big elbow that misses.
Bonjasky wants to sweep here but Tarasov controlling him for the moment.
Bonjasky looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexey Tarasov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tarasov rushes Bonjasky and presses him up against the cage.

Bonjasky breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bonjasky has a takedown stuffed.
Tarasov throws a head kick that Bonjasky semi-blocks.
Bonjasky looks to land a body kick but Tarasov moved away.
Nice sprawl there from Tarasov as Bonjasky shoots in.
Alexey Tarasov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bonjasky shoots in for a takedown but Tarasov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Remy Bonjasky. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bonjasky checks a leg kick.
Tarasov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bonjasky fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tarasov avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tarasov swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarasov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bonjasky tries for a takedown but Tarasov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tarasov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bonjasky swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tarasov throws a series of punches but Bonjasky avoids them all with ease.
Bonjasky avoids a punch combination nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bonjasky.
Tarasov scores with a kick to the body.
Tarasov fails to land with a series of punches.
Bonjasky shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tarasov but Tarasov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tarasov clinches with his opponent.

Tarasov breaks the clinch.
Tarasov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Tarasov pushes Bonjasky up against the cage in a clinch.

Tarasov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tarasov looks to land a combination but Bonjasky avoids it well.
Danga de danga de dang - Tarasov scores with a four punch combination!
Tarasov looks to land a combination but Bonjasky avoids it well.

Tarasov clinches.

Tarasov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tarasov throws a head kick but Bonjasky moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Tarasov.
Tarasov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alexey Tarasov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov throws a push kick but Bonjasky slaps the foot to one side.
Bonjasky closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tarasov circles away.
Tarasov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tarasov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tarasov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tarasov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tarasov fails to land with a series of punches.
Bonjasky blocks a head kick by Tarasov.
Tarasov throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick by Bonjasky misses
and Tarasov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tarasov throws the kick towards the body but Bonjasky avoids it.
Tarasov swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonjasky shoots in looking for a takedown. Tarasov tries to sprawl out of it but Bonjasky keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tarasov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tarasov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bonjasky swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tarasov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bonjasky manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tarasov tries to clinch but Bonjasky is having none of it.
Tarasov lands a nice shot to the body.
Tarasov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tarasov tries a head kick but it misses.
Bonjasky dodges the punch combination from Tarasov.
Tarasov throws a sloppy head kick and Bonjasky moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Tarasov 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. And we move into the final round!

Bonjasky clinches up against the cage.
Bonjasky drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tarasov is trying to break the clinch but Bonjasky is controlling him.

Bonjasky successfully pulls guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tarasov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bonjasky is pulling down on Tarasov's head to control his posture.
Tarasov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bonjasky is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarasov stays in close to Bonjasky's body and controls the position.

Bonjasky looking for a guillotine here but Tarasov defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonjasky avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tarasov looking to sit in guard and control but Bonjasky gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tarasov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tarasov slows the pace down in half guard.

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.
Bonjasky is trying to stand back up but Tarasov is controlling him
Tarasov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bonjasky throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bonjasky is refusing to be controlled, as Tarasov sits in half guard.
Bonjasky regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Tarasov.
Tarasov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tarasov throws a strike but Bonjasky rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bonjaskyis looking to pass into half guard but Tarasov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tarasov is in guard.
Bonjasky utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tarasov throws and elbow that misses. Bonjasky uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tarasov's guard. Nice move by Bonjasky!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bonjasky trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.

Bonjasky postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tarasov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bonjasky, into his guard.
Tarasov won't allow Bonjasky to sweep him here.
Tarasov tries to free his leg and advance position but Bonjasky is retaining full guard.
Tarasov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bonjasky pulls Tarasov in close to prevent any damage.
Bonjasky is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexey Tarasov.
Well Tarasov 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexey Tarasov!