PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Micah Tavern (ranked 5845 p4p, 570 weight class) and Dom Diego (ranked 6128 p4p, 592 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.

Tavern
vs
Diego

194 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Excellent MT
Powerful

Hardcore Nutrition 160Q ($150)

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Micah Tavern!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dom Diego!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavern throws a looping overhand right but Diego ducks down to avoid it.
Diego steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Tavern.
Diego ducks under a wild hook from Tavern.
Diego throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tavern sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diego looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tavern throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tavern throws a hook but Diego blocks it.
Diego scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tavern misses with a wild body shot.
It seemed like Diego was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Diego fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tavern, pushing him back against the ropes.
Tavern takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Micah Tavern has been cut.
Diego misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tavern.
Diego blocks an uppercut.
Tavern is trying to force a seperation but Diego has the dominant position.
Tavern can't break the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Come on Diego - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Diego receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Diego breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tavern misses with a body shot.
Diego slips a jab from Tavern.
Tavern looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tavern loads up on a big right hand but Diego slips the punch.
Diego waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tavern.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavern.
Tavern takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tavern swings widly with a right hand
and Diego counters with a stiff right hand.
Diego ducks under a wild hook from Tavern.
Tavern jabs Diego right on the nose. Diego blinks but takes it well.
Tavern on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Diego scores with a body shot.
Diego works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Tavern ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diego moves away.
Tavern gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Diego ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tavern ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diego moves away.
Tavern takes one on the button.
Tavern defending well as Diego loads up on a big left hand.
Diego wants to clinch.
Diego blocks a jab.
It seemed like Diego was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tavern misses with a wild body shot.
Diego avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tavern throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diego moves into the clinch.
Tavern tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Diego's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Diego gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tavern.
Diego prevents Tavern from breaking the clinch.
Diego is trying to maintain a safe position but Tavern gets an underhook and turns Diego into the ropes.
Diego lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tavern.
Tavern blocks an uppercut.
Tavern misses with some punches.
Tavern lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Diego throws a knee to the head but misses.
Diego tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tavern.
Tavern avoiding damage as Diego throws knees to the body.
Tavern swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tavern doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tavern throws a head punch that misses.
Diego prevents Tavern from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Tavern's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Diego misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavern is trying to force a seperation but Diego has the dominant position.
Diego misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tavern lands a hook that snaps the head of Diego backwards.

Diego breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tavern needs to keep his hands up - Diego had a free shot at his head there.
Diego lands the left hand.
Diego closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tavern lands with a straight right. Diego didn't see that one coming.
Diego takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Diego closes the distance and pushes Tavern back into the ropes.
Tavern lands with a left to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diego trying to stall but Tavern improves his position.
Tavern managing to block the knees to the body from Diego.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Diego landing knees to the body.
Tavern lands a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Tavern.
Tavern lands a nice shot to the body.
Tavern lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavern swings wildly with an uppercut but Diego uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tavern lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Diego lands a body punch.
Diego trying to land knees to the body.
Diego doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tavern.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diego.
Diego is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tavern is defending well for now.
Tavern misses with some punches.
Diego is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tavern is defending well for now.
Diego blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tavern lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Diego backwards.
Tavern lands an uppercut.
Diego doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavern misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diego misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tavern.

Diego manages to break the clinch.
Diego cracks Tavern with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Diego has closed the distance and engaged Tavern in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Diego dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Micah Tavern's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diego wants to clinch.
Tavern throws a big shot that misses.
Diego scores with a one two! Tavern had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Diego staying out of range there.
Diego connects with a right hand. Tavern shakes it off.
Diego takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tavern throws a lazy right hand but Diego sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tavern jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little jabbing left from Diego on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Diego clinches up with Tavern and pushes him back against the ropes.
Tavern working hard to break the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Tavern.
Tavern avoiding damage as Diego throws knees to the body.

Diego escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diego fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tavern lands an overhand right.

It looks like Dom Diego has been cut.
Diego uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tavern.
The fighters circling - Tavern throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slow jab from Diego misses its intended target.
Diego takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavern has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Diego throws a body punch but Tavern moves out of range.
Diego connects with the punch.
Diego fails in his attempt to clinch.
Diego keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tavern.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Diego! But no joy.
Diego fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tavern moves out of range as Diego strikes.
Diego throws a body punch but Tavern moves out of range.
Diego moves forwards but Tavern connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Tavern circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dom Diego seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tavern misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diego.
Tavern throws a shot from downtown. Diego moves away and avoids it.
Diego is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Diego feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Taverns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Tavern looks to score with a jab to the body but Diego is just out of range.
Tavern misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diego. Tavern does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diego slips a straight right by Tavern.
Tavern slips a jab and a cross from Diego.
Tavern loads up on a big right hand but Diego slips the punch.
Tavern throws a looping overhand right but Diego ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tavern.
Diego tries to counter by closing the distance.
Tavern takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Diego jabs Tavern right on the nose. Tavern blinks but takes it well.
Diego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Tavern paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tavern throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Tavern takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Diego moves into the clinch successfully.
Tavern avoiding damage as Diego throws knees to the body.
Diego tries to land knees in the clinch but Tavern avoids the damage to the body.
Diego lands a knee to the body.
Tavern blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Diego misses with a punch to the body.
Tavern looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Diego prevents a body shot from Tavern.
Diego misses with a knee strike.
Tavern is trying to break the clinch but Diego is controlling him.
Diego tries to throw a body punch but Tavern avoids it by throwing Diego back against the ropes.
Diego blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tavern is looking to break free of the clinch but Diego has double underhooks.
Diego stalling in the clinch but Tavern improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Diego throws a punch but it's blocked by Tavern.
Diego throws a head punch that misses.
Tavern letting Diego take a breather here.
Tavern tries a body shot but Diego blocks it.
A short right from Diego.
Tavern blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Tavern pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diego misses with a jab, cross combination.
A lazy left from Diego finds it's target.
Diego with a jab.
Tavern bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diego uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tavern.
Diego tries to counter with a clinch but Tavern shakes him off and moves away.
Tavern steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diego.
A big left from Tavern misses.
Diego swinging wildly here.
Tavern swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tavern dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Tavern misses.
Diego on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd cheers as Tavern lands an impressive looking overhand right. Diego doesn't seem phased though.
Tavern throws a hook to the side of Diego's head but Diego sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - Diego throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tavern is looking to counter punch.
Tavern misses with a body shot.
Diego has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diego lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Diego misses with a looping right.
Diego wants to clinch up but Tavern keeps it at a distance.
Diego cracks Tavern with a good jab.
Tavern swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diego misses with a series of wild punches.
Tavern looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavern misses the jab.
Tavern throws a hook but Diego avoids it easily.
Diego avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tavern's jab looks to have found its range, popping Diego under the eye.
Diego displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tavern throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Diego showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Tavern's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Diego moves into the clinch.
Diego blocking some punches.
Tavern swings wildly with an uppercut but Diego uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diego misses with a punch to the body.
Tavern goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diego wants to stall.
Diego tries to work over Tavern's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tavern lands a right hand.
Tavern is trying to break the clinch but Diego has him pressed against the ropes.

Diego's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Diego takes the fight into the clinch.
Tavern tries a body shot but Diego blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tavern.

Diego's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tavern keeps the fight on the outside.
Tavern cracks Diego with an open hand slap.
Tavern throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tavern.
Tavern scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tavern fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diego manages to avoid it.
Tavern swats away the attempt to clinch by Diego.
Tavern lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A slow jab from Tavern misses its intended target.
Tavern uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diego.
Tavern connects with a jab.
Diego displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tavern throws out the jab.
Tavern throws a jab when Diego was well out of range.
Diego steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Tavern.
Tavern shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Diego avoids the body shot from Tavern.
A little jabbing left from Diego on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Diego misses with a straight left.
Tavern moves into range and connects with a jab.
Diego keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diego misses with a hook.
Tavern is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Tavern throws a body shot but no joy.
Diego throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tavern on the side of the head.
Micah Tavern has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diego might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diego gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diego.
Diego lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tavern misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diego pushes Tavern back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Tavern can't find room to land a body shot as Diego controls the action.
Diego blocking some punches.
Diego is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tavern is defending well for now.
Tavern fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Diego missing with knees to the body.
Diego lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tavern lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tavern avoiding damage as Diego throws knees to the body.
A body shot lands from Diego.
Diego misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tavern.
Dom Diego seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Tavern wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tavern wants to break free but Diego has control.
Diego lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tavern.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A knee to the head by Diego.
Diego is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tavern is defending well for now.
Tavern working aggressively here.
Tavern tries to throw a body punch but Diego avoids it by throwing Tavern back against the ropes.
Tavern is trying to force a seperation but Diego has the dominant position.
Tavern blocks a body shot from Diego.
Diego tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Diego blocks a body shot from Tavern.
Diego's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tavern goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tavern lands with a right to the head.

Tavern's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tavern throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tavern throws a shot from downtown. Diego moves away and avoids it.
Diego displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tavern throws out the jab.
Diego swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tavern slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Diego has Tavern up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavern blocks a body shot from Diego.
Tavern managing to block the knees to the body from Diego.

Diego breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diego fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tavern keeps the fight on the outside.
Tavern takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Tavern's jab looks to have found its range, popping Diego under the eye.
Tavern throws a big shot that misses.
Diego ducks under a wild hook from Tavern.
Diego keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tavern.
Tavern jabs at Diego's body.
Tavern throws an overhand right that lands on Diego's shoulder, as Diego tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters circling - Tavern throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tavern misses with a straight left.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diego takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Diego uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tavern.
Diego lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Dom Diego is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diego tries to bum rush Tavern with a series of wild strikes but Tavern uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Micah Tavern.
Well Diego has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dom Diego!