PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dedo Tarasov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Belnick Riva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tarasov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Ice Cube-Today Was A Good Day. Riva has chosen Holymen - The Last Universe as his entrance music. Dedo Tarasov looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Tarasov
vs
Riva

194 cm
21
285 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight 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, Dedo Tarasov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Belnick Riva!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarasov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tarasov misses with a takedown attempt - Riva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Riva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tarasov.
Riva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Riva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Riva looks to land a combination but Tarasov avoids it well.
A combination from Riva does no damage.
Tarasov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dedo Tarasov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Riva drives through and clinches with Tarasov against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Riva breaks the clinch.
Tarasov looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Riva as Tarasov shoots in.

Tarasov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Riva is looking to get back to is feet but Tarasov passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riva gets back to half guard.
Tarasov stops Riva from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Riva has one foot on Tarasov's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Tarasov closes the distance and clinches up with Riva, looking for a takedown. Tarasov pushes Riva against the cage but Riva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tarasov is breathing heavily.
Tarasov looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Riva fails with a takedown attempt.
Tarasov misses with a takedown
and Riva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tarasov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Riva counters with a takedown into side control.
Riva looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tarasov is avoiding damage well.

Riva has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Riva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tarasov doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Riva counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov misses with a takedown attempt
and Riva counters with a three punch combo that has Tarasov backing up. Tarasov nods at Riva to acknowledge the strikes.
Tarasov misses with a takedown

and Riva counters with a shoot takedown. Tarasov fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Tarasov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tarasov is on top in guard.
Tarasov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Riva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tarasov advances position into side control!
Tarasov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tarasov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Riva some visible discomfort.
Tarasov is looking to take a break and control but Riva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Riva is trying to get back to half guard.
Riva is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Tarasov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Riva tries to escape but Tarasov is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov looks up at the clock and then as Riva takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Tarasov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Riva tries to improve position but can't.
Riva wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tarasov misses with the ground and pound.
Riva is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Riva is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tarasov off and has taken his back!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Riva trying to control.
Riva throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Tarasov!
Riva is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Riva gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Riva gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Riva apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Riva throws a right hand that Tarasov ducks under and follows up with a left that Tarasov also avoids with ease.

Riva instigates a clinch.
Riva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Riva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tarasov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riva gets through Tarasov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Tarasov jumps into guard, dragging Riva to the mat.
Tarasov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Riva!
Tarasov lands a nice shot to the head.

Tarasov looking for a guillotine from mount but Riva is having none of it.
Riva wants to hold on but Tarasov pushes him away.
Riva sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tarasov is keen to just control but Riva is a slippery customer.
Riva has hold of Tarasov's hands but Tarasov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tarasov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Riva is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riva is trying to maintain the position but Tarasov is very close to passing his half guard.
Tarasov winds up and cracks Riva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Riva wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Belnick Riva will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

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

Riva pushes Tarasov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Tarasov misses with a takedown attempt
and Riva counters with a left and a right that stings Tarasov.
Tarasov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Riva counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Riva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Riva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Riva is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Riva stands up from Tarasov's guard - Riva perhaps looking for a knockout.
Riva throws a right and a left that Tarasov avoids nicely.
Tarasov misses with a takedown

and Riva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dedo Tarasov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tarasov's head.
Tarasov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Belnick Riva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riva is breathing heavily.
Tarasov wants to sweep here but Riva controlling him for the moment.
Tarasov keeping full guard, as Riva tries to pass.
Riva stopping the sweep attempt from Tarasov.
Riva postures up.
Tarasov looking for a sweep. Not yet Tarasov, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tarasov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Riva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Riva's corner calls for a 1-2. Riva obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Riva scores with a decent looking hook.

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.
Riva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Riva throws a right and a left that Tarasov avoids nicely.
Tarasov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Riva lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Tarasov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Riva connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Riva scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Tarasov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Riva counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tarasov wants to sweep but no luck.
Riva is looking to stand up but Tarasov won't let him.
Tarasov looking for a sweep. Not yet Tarasov, not yet.
Riva trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tarasov's guard.

Tarasov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Riva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Riva has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tarasov is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riva trying to control but Tarasov is working from the bottom.
Riva looking to sit in guard and control but Tarasov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tarasov wants to pass the guard but Riva is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tarasov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Riva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Riva.

Riva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Riva tries to bum rush Tarasov with a series of wild strikes but Tarasov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Tarasov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tarasov scoring with some ground and pound.
Riva keeping moving, preventing Tarasov from controlling successfully.
Tarasov distracts Riva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Riva is rocked!
Riva is looking to stand up but Tarasov isn't so interested in that idea.
Riva is still in real trouble! Can Tarasov finish him?
Tarasov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tarasov prevents Riva from getting back to his feet.
Tarasov lands a couple of digs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tarasov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tarasov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Riva can't keep his opponent in guard - Tarasov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Tarasov wants to work for an arm triangle but Riva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riva gets full guard.
Tarasov distracts Riva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tarasov 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Belnick Riva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tarasov closes the distance looking for a takedown. Tarasov picks Riva up and slams him brutally to the floor. Riva is out! He's out cold! Wow, you don't see a finish like that every day!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Slam). Dedo Tarasov!