PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Azar Weinstein (ranked 22615 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Taison (ranked 4727 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Weinstein
vs
Taison

192 cm
21
230 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Azar Weinstein!
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, Mike Taison!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taison has closed the distance and engaged Weinstein in a clinch.
Weinstein wants to get back to striking at distance but Taison won't allow it.
Our sources have told us that Weinstein has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Taison tries to throw a body punch but Weinstein avoids it by throwing Taison back against the cage.
Taison lands with a short head shot on the inside.

It looks like Azar Weinstein has been cut.

Taison jumps guard.

Weinstein stands up and waves to Taison to follow him.
Weinstein fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And Taison responds with a good body kick, but Weinstein manages to step out the way in time.
Weinstein misses with a double jab

and Taison counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taison.
Taison won't allow Weinstein to sweep him here.
Taison looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taison trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taison content to stall in guard here.
It looks like Taison might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Taison pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Weinstein is keeping the position for now.
Weinstein will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Taison thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Taison's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Taison gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Taison throws a leg kick

and Weinstein counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Taison!

Taison sneaks out the side door and pushes Weinstein away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taison gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Taison's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taison throws a head kick but Weinstein moves out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Weinstein.
Taison walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Taison lands a head kick. Weinstein smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Weinstein is breathing heavily.
Taison fails with a takedown attempt.

Taison instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taison is trying to pull guard but Weinstein has him pressed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Taison takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Taison breaks the clinch.
Weinstein dodges the punch combination from Taison.
Weinstein cracks a nice hook into Taison's ribs.
Taison closes the distance and clinches up with Weinstein, looking for a takedown. Taison pushes Weinstein against the cage but Weinstein circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Weinstein drops down looking for a counter takedown but Taison sprawls and moves away.
Azar Weinstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Taison.
Taison shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Weinstein as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Taison dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Azar Weinstein's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taison takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Taison clinches.
Weinstein is trying to break free.
Weinstein being controlled against the cage.
Taison is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Weinstein to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taison manages to break the clinch.
Weinstein shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taison defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weinstein misses with a wild combination.

Taison closes the distance and clinches.
Weinstein working hard to break the clinch.

Taison breaks the clinch.
Weinstein bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Taison's head.
Weinstein lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taison circles away quickly and effectively.
Taison tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Taison showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Weinstein.
Azar Weinstein is winning the standup battle so far.

Weinstein tries to keep at a distance but Taison has taken the fight into the clinch.
Taison has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weinstein avoids a wild elbow strike from Taison.
Weinstein prevents a takedown attempt there.

Taison manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Weinstein preventing the sweep.

Taison uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taison is defended easily by Weinstein.
Azar Weinstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Taison.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taison has closed the distance and engaged Weinstein in a clinch.
Taison wants a takedown.
Weinstein jumps guard but Taison stands there with Weinstein around his waist. Weinstein gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Taison - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Taison tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Weinstein smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Weinstein shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Taison pushes Weinstein off and gets back to his feet.
Taison shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Weinstein but Weinstein pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Weinstein is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Taison clinches up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taison drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Weinstein gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Taison is breathing heavily.

Taison has clasped his hands together around Weinstein's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Taison showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Azar Weinstein's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Taison tries to clinch up.
Weinstein drops down looking for a counter takedown but Taison sprawls and moves away.

Taison closes the distance and clinches.

Taison breaks the clinch.
Taison has his takedown stuffed
and Weinstein makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Taison tries for a takedown but Weinstein sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Weinstein stuffs the takedown attempt from Taison. Taison gets slowly back to his feet.
Azar Weinstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Taison.
Taison throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weinstein closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taison circles away.
Taison takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taison fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Weinstein throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taison fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Weinstein rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taison moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Azar Weinstein is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Weinstein.
Weinstein tries to clinch up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taison or perhaps it was just good defense by Weinstein, which made it look bad.
Weinstein wants to clinch.
Weinstein tries to bum rush Taison with a series of wild strikes but Taison uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Weinstein, as that shot connected.

It looks like Mike Taison has been cut.
Taison closes this distance looking for a takedown but Weinstein circles away.
Weinstein tries to counter with a takedown but Taison is quick to defend against it.
Taison swats away the attempt to clinch by Weinstein.
Taison closes this distance looking for a takedown but Weinstein circles away.
Weinstein scores with a one two! Taison had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Weinstein fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Weinstein scoring well with a low kick there.
Weinstein cracks Taison with an open hand slap.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Weinstein shoots and misses
and Taison counters with a left to the body.
Taison walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taison closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Taison lands in his opponent's guard.
Taison controls from within his opponent's guard.
Taison is pushing down on Weinstein's leg trying to pass to half guard. Weinstein is fighting to maintain full guard but Taison has managed to sneak the leg through.
Taison trying to mount his opponent but Weinstein defends it.
Taison content to control rather than advance.
Mike Taison has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weinstein tries to kick Taison off but Taison keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Taison lands a nice short elbow.
Taison takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Azar Weinstein showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taison 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Taison!