PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Savo Tieros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theo Girard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tieros
vs
Girard

161 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Savo Tieros!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Theo Girard!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Girard blocks a jab.

Girard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Girard is stalling here. Tieros is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Girard seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Tieros has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Girard prevents Tieros from moving into mount.
Girard tries to bench press Tieros off him but Tieros keeps the position.

Tieros stands up and beckons Girard to his feet.
Girard avoids a kick to the body.

Girard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Girard tries to push Tieros's head away but Tieros is holding on tight.
Tieros might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Girard is trying to control here but Tieros has managed to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tieros wants to get back to full guard.
Girard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tieros. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Girard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tieros does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Girard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Girard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tieros doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Girard.
Tieros could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tieros moves into full guard.
Tieros pulls Girard in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tieros has a closed guard, preventing Girard from standing up.
Girard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Girard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tieros has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Girard has managed to get both his arms back between Tieros's legs - danger averted.
Girard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tieros is controlling Girard's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Girard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tieros is trying to keep Girard in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tieros is on top in guard.
Tieros is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Girard is trying to control the position but Tieros postures up.
Girard being controlled here, momentarily.
Girard keeping moving, preventing Tieros from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Savo Tieros.
Girard wants to clinch up but Tieros keeps it at a distance.

Tieros gets the takedown into side control.
Girard trying his best to control but Tieros has mounted him.
Girard looks gassed!

Tieros working for a submission but Girard is keeping him at bay.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tieros cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tieros sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Girard tries to reverse the position but Tieros maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Savo Tieros dominated that round.
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.

Girard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tieros.
Tieros fails in his attempt to clinch.
Girard tries to clinch but Tieros moves out of range.
Tieros tries to score a power double leg takedown but Girard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tieros somewhat.
Girard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tieros as he avoids it easily.
Tieros shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Girard but Girard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Horrible takedown by Tieros or perhaps it was just good defense by Girard which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Savo Tieros. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Girard doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tieros decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Girard's guard.
Tieros passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tieros advances nicely into full mount.
Tieros takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Girard gets back to half guard.
Girard trying to control but Tieros postures up.

Girard looking for a kimura from the bottom but Tieros passes into side control!
You can see the frustration on Girard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tieros decides to stand back up. Tieros steps back and let's Girard get back to his feet.
Tieros throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Girard lands with a kick to the temple. Tieros shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Tieros 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tieros controlling from the top position.
Tieros passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Tieros decides to stand up, so the ref orders Girard to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tieros gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tieros turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Tieros staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tieros seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Girard for as long as he can get away with.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tieros wants to control but Girard is keeping him busy.

Savo Tieros has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A head kick misses from Tieros.
Girard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tieros.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tieros looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tieros takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Savo Tieros dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Girard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tieros sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Girard somewhat.

Tieros closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tieros lands in his opponent's guard.

Girard working for a triangle but Tieros defends it easily.
Girard is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Tieros dives into side control.
Girard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tieros controls the position from side control.
Tieros lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tieros is staying tight to Girard's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Tieros working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Girard tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Girard taking punishment in the form of punches.

Tieros stands up and beckons Girard to his feet.

Tieros closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tieros sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tieros moves into full mount! Girard won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tieros with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Tieros is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Girard is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Savo Tieros!