PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sega Israel (ranked 5738 p4p, 2669 weight class) and Henry Tacos (ranked 425 p4p, 268 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Israel
vs
Tacos

180 cm
27
150
5 - 4 - 0

177 cm
25
145
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sega Israel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Henry Tacos!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Israel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Israel moves into range and clinches up with Tacos.
Israel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Israel is struggling to control the position.
Israel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Israel as Tacos tries to tie him up.
Israel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tacos avoids the elbow strike from Israel, against the cage.
Tacos looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
With the fighters up against the cage, Israel throws an elbow but misses.
Israel just leaning against Tacos, taking a breather.
Israel misses with an elbow over the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Israel to work.
Israel slowing the pace effectively.
Tacos letting Israel take a breather here.
Israel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tacos avoids a wild elbow strike from Israel.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike.
A bit of stalling here from Israel.
Israel lands an elbow that stopped Tacos in his tracks for a moment.
Israel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tacos avoids the elbow strike from Israel, against the cage.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike.
Tacos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Israel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Israel pressing his opponent against the cage.
Israel effectively controlling the action here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sega Israel.
Israel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tacos misses with a wild combination.

Israel closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Israel's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Israel is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Israel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Israel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tacos's defenses.
Israel lands an elbow just above Tacos 's eye.
Tacos blocks the elbow strike.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike from Israel.
Israel lands an elbow inside that Tacos shrugs off.
Tacos is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Israel.
Israel lands an elbow inside that Tacos shrugs off.
Tacos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike.
Israel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tacos up against the cage.
Israel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Israel avoiding damage as Tacos throws knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Israel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tacos's brow.
Tacos is trying to maintain a safe position but Israel gets an underhook and turns Tacos into the cage.
Israel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sega Israel dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tacos is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Israel.
Israel tries to clinch but Tacos is having none of it.
Tacos fails to land with a series of punches.
Israel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tacos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tacos lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Tacos in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Tacos circles away from the clinch attempt.
Israel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Israel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tacos misses with a wild combination.
Israel slips under a jab.

Israel has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Israel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tacos takes an elbow to the temple.
Israel lands a nice shot to the body.
Israel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tacos can do to turn this around?
Israel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tacos is looking to control Israel's arms but Israel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tacos has his back to the cage.
Sega Israel has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Israel lands a damaging elbow.
Israel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Israel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Israel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Israel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tacos avoids the elbow strike from Israel, against the cage.
Israel lands a damaging elbow.
Israel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Israel throws an elbow but misses.
Israel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Israel misses with an elbow strike.
Israel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tacos's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Israel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Israel pushes off an throws an elbow but Tacos leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Tacos is looking to control Israel's arms but Israel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tacos has his back to the cage.
Israel misses with an elbow over the top.
Come on Israel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Israel throws an elbow that misses.
Israel lands a damaging elbow.
Tacos is trying to break the clinch but Israel has him pressed against the cage.
Israel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Israel lands an elbow inside.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike from Israel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Israel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tacos's defenses.
Israel lands an elbow inside.
Tacos wants to stall.
Tacos tries to throw a body punch but Israel avoids it by throwing Tacos back against the cage.
Tacos blocks the elbow strike.
Israel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tacos's defenses.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike from Israel.
Tacos avoids a wild elbow strike from Israel.
Tacos misses with an elbow over the top.
Israel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tacos blocks the elbow strike.
Israel throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike.
Come on Israel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tacos dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Israel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Israel.
Israel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Israel lands a nice elbow.
Israel pressing his opponent against the cage.
Israel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sega Israel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Tacos throws a body shot but no joy.

Israel forces Tacos back against the cage and clinches.
Israel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike from Israel.
Israel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Israel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tacos tries to stall but Israel uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Israel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Israel effectively controlling the action here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Israel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Israel lands a nice elbow.
Israel lands an elbow inside.
Israel lands an elbow that stopped Tacos in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tacos avoids the elbow strike from Israel, against the cage.
Israel lands a damaging elbow.
Israel pushes off an throws an elbow but Tacos leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Tacos taking a breather.
Tacos takes an elbow to the temple.
Tacos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Tacos blocks the elbow strike.
Israel comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Israel.
Israel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tacos's defenses.
Israel slows down the pace here.
Israel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Israel seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Israel lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Israel.
Tacos takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tacos takes an elbow to the forehead.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tacos avoids the elbow strike from Israel, against the cage.
Israel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Tacos is rocked!
Tacos is trying to maintain a safe position but Israel gets an underhook and turns Tacos into the cage.
Israel throws an elbow but it misses.
Israel tries to throw a body punch but Tacos avoids it by throwing Israel back against the cage.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Israel is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Israel comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Israel takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Israel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sega Israel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Israel throws an elbow but it misses.
Israel lands a nice elbow.
Tacos blocks an elbow strike.
Tacos takes an elbow to the temple.
Israel taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Israel misses with an elbow over the top.
Israel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tacos is trying to maintain a safe position but Israel gets an underhook and turns Tacos into the cage.
Israel controlling the action here for a moment.
Israel is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Henry Tacos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Israel lands an elbow inside.
Israel lands an elbow just above Tacos 's eye.
Israel comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sega Israel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Israel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sega Israel!