PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Tennant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ashley Tanner (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.

Tennant
vs
Tanner

185 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Tennant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ashley Tanner!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tennant looks for a takedown but Tanner sprawls well.
Tanner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tennant as he jumps to the side.
Tennant avoids the head kick by Tanner.
Tanner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tanner tries to clinch but Tennant is having none of it.
A combination from Tennant does no damage.
Tanner shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tennant defends it nicely.
Sam Tennant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ashley Tanner.
Tennant shoots in looking for a takedown but Tanner manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tennant's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tennant scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Ashley Tanner has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tennant shoots in and drives through. Tanner sprawls well.
Tanner tries to clinch but Tennant is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner fails with the takedown.
Tennant scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Tennant closes the distance and clinches.
Tennant tries to break the clinch but Tanner is controlling the position.
Tennant misses with an elbow over the top.
Tennant stalls.
Tanner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tanner tries to score a body lock takedown but Tennant shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Tennant manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner looking to sit in guard and control but Tennant gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tennant working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tennant decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tanner, up you get!
Tanner looks gassed!

Tennant takes the fight into the clinch.
Tanner landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tennant lands a left hand.
Tanner tries to land knees in the clinch but Tennant avoids the damage to the body.
Tanner managing to block the knees to the body from Tennant.

Tennant jumps guard and drags Tanner to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Tennant is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner jumps guard but Tennant stands there with Tanner around his waist. Tanner gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Tennant ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tennant no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tanner trying to control the position from guard on top but Tennant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tennant wants to stand and escape but Tanner is having none of it.
Tennant has a closed guard, preventing Tanner from standing up.
Tanner wants to control from the top but Tennant keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ashley Tanner was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Tennant keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An inside leg kick from Tennant misses.

Tanner gets tackled into the cage by Tennant. Tennant maintains the clinch.
Tennant misses with a knee to the head.
Tennant is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tanner tries to circle away but Tennant has him pinned against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanner fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Tennant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ashley Tanner's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tennant forces Tanner back against the cage and clinches.
Tanner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tanner is trying to pull guard but Tennant has him pressed against the cage.
Tennant looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tennant is trying to break the clinch but Tanner has him pressed against the cage.
Tennant has had enough of the clinch but Tanner keeps him there for the moment.

Tennant successfully pulls guard.
Tennant tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanner looking to pass the guard.
Tennant keeping moving, preventing Tanner from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner wants to pass the guard but Tennant is keeping the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Tanner trying to move into half guard but instead Tennant has managed to sweep!

Tanner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tennant is aware though and is defending well.
Tennant trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tanner manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Tennant is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Tennant utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanner is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tennant is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tennant has escaped and now he's on top!
Tanner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tennant with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tanner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tennant has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tanner is breathing heavily.
Tennant is looking to work some ground and pound but Tanner has wrist control.
Tanner tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tennant in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tennant looking to pass the guard.
Tennant would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Tanner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tennant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tanner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tennant working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tennant knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tanner on the ground.
Tennant postures up in Tanner's guard and throws a big left but Tanner blocks it.
Tennant is looking to advance position but Tanner has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Tennant is controlling an arm, preventing Tanner from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner trying to control but Tennant is having none of it.
Tanner won't let Tennant get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanner wants to take his opponent's back but Tennant doesn't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sam Tennant will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ashley Tanner's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Tanner. No joy for Tennant on that attempt.
Tennant leaves Tanner with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tanner throws a head kick but Tennant moves out of range.
Tennant misses with a head kick.
Tanner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tennant sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tanner somewhat.
Tennant lands a jab.
Tennant misses with a series of wild punches.
Sam Tennant is winning the standup battle so far.
Tanner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tennant gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tanner is trying to break the clinch but Tennant has him pressed against the cage.

Tennant manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tanner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tennant is keeping the position for now.
Tanner trying to control the position from guard on top but Tennant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tanner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tennant looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sam Tennant just wasn't active enough.
Tanner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tennant.
Tanner misses with a takedown attempt - Tennant sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sam Tennant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ashley Tanner.
Tanner tried to score with a low kick but Tennant checks it.
Sam Tennant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tennant forces Tanner back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tennant is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tanner to keep the fight standing.
Tennant pushes Tanner back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tennant jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tanner walks away with a smile on his face. Tennant gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tanner avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tennant misses with a two punch combination.
Tanner throws a wild body kick that Tennant sees coming a mile off.
Tennant tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tanner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tennant somewhat.
Tanner is trying desperately to land a takedown but Tennant is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Tanner.
Tennant stuffs the takedown attempt from Tanner. Tanner gets slowly back to his feet.
Ashley Tanner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Tennant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Tennant finds it's way through Tanner's defenses.

Tennant moves into range and clinches up with Tanner.
Tanner's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tanner keeps control of Tennant as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tanner keeps control of Tennant as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Tennant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tennant tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tanner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tennant somewhat.
Tennant dives in and grabs Tanner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tanner pushes down on Tennant's head and hops out.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Tennant showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tennant 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Tennant!
A very excited looking Sam Tennant rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.