PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vito Roy (ranked 5878 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Tavares (ranked 5876 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.

Roy
vs
Tavares

177 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Decent wrestler
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 Rio de Janeiro, Vito Roy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Tavares!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tavares looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Roy!
Roy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Roy wants to control but Tavares postures up.
Roy stops Tavares from passing to mount.
Roy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tavares wants to stand but Roy is controlling his arm.
Roy defending against the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares working away.

Tavares tries for a kimura but Roy is defending well.

Tavares stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tavares drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Roy keeping moving, preventing Tavares from controlling successfully.
Tavares has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Roy is proving hard to escape from.

Tavares is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Roy is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Roy has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roy is in close to Tavares's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Roy throws a big right hand that misses.
Roy connects with a couple of short punches.
Tavares is pulling down on Roy's head. It's preventing any offense from Roy, at least for the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Roy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tavares tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roy throws a big right hand that misses.
Tavares wants to sweep here but Roy controlling him for the moment.
Roy tries to stand but Tavares is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Roy.
Tavares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Roy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tavares has momentary wrist control but Roy slips an elbow through the middle.
Tavares is trying to control the position but Roy postures up.
Tavares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roy is one step ahead there.
Roy wants to stand but Tavares has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Tavares escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Roy throws a big right hand that misses.
Tavares is pulling down on Roy's head. It's preventing any offense from Roy, at least for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Roy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tavares swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Tavares looking to score a takedown here. Roy is defending well but Tavares drives through and ends up in Roy's guard.
Roy is striking off his back. Tavares thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Nice strikes from Tavares there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roy trying to control from the bottom.

Roy kicks Tavares off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vito Roy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Roy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tavares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tavares moves into range and connects with a jab.
Roy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Roy wants it to stay on the feet.
Roy is looking to clinch.
Roy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Tavares closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares is taking a breather. Roy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Roy 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.
Tavares throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares is thwarting Roy's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tavares wants to take a breather but Roy is having none of it.

Roy looking for submissions off his back.

Tavares is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Roy is just riding it out for now. Tavares eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two 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.
Tavares shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Roy tries to counter by clinching up but Tavares breaks away and moves out of range.
Tavares misses with a two punch combination.
Roy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tavares sprawls well. Tavares wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Roy gets slowly back to his feet.
Tavares tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tavares fails with a takedown attempt.
Roy tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tavares manages to circle out of the way.
Vito Roy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Tavares.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares shoots for a takedown but Roy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Tavares clinches with his opponent.
Roy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tavares to keep the fight standing.
Roy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Roy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tavares misses with a hook to the ribs.

Tavares gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Roy regains guard.

Roy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares trying to control the position from guard on top but Roy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roy keeping full guard, as Tavares tries to pass.

Roy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tavares doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tavares manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Roy throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Tavares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tavares has Roy up against the cage in a clinch.

Tavares breaks the clinch.
Bruno Tavares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roy tries to clinch but Tavares is having none of it.
Roy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tavares.

Tavares closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tavares decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Tavares takes a swing at Roy's ribcage but misses.

Tavares closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tavares breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tavares or perhaps it was just good defense by Roy, which made it look bad.
Tavares closes this distance looking for a takedown but Roy circles away.
Roy thinks about countering with a head kick.
Vito Roy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Tavares.
Tavares takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tavares avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Roy closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Roy thows a huge punch but Tavares dodges it nicely.
Tavares has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Roy is working away from the top position though.

Roy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tavares defends it well.

Roy seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Roy.
Roy preventing the sweep.
Tavares trying to keep a closed guard but Roy is proving a slippery customer.
Roy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tavares working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Roy.

Tavares has his foot on Roy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Roy works his way back into a safe position though.
Tavares trying to keep a closed guard but Roy is proving a slippery customer.
Bruno Tavares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Roy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tavares works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roy lands a couple of elbows.
Roy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tavares can do anything to dispel that myth.
Roy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tavares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tavares tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Roy works over Tavares with some ground and pound from guard.
Roy is looking to work some ground and pound but Tavares has wrist control.
Tavares preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Roy landing some decent shots from guard.
Roy won't allow Tavares to get back to his feet.
Roy distracts Tavares with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tavares trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roy postures up in Tavares's guard and throws a big left but Tavares blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Roy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Roy tries to keep at a distance but Tavares has taken the fight into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Tavares.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roy fails to pull guard.
Tavares throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Roys head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bruno Tavares.
I think Tavares has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Tavares!