PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nathaniel Tabares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kewin Bielak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tabares comes to the cage accompanied by your a jerk. Bielak has chosen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AShaUsj8HkI as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Nathaniel Tabares had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.7lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Nathaniel Tabares has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tabares
vs
Bielak

180 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathaniel Tabares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kewin Bielak!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bielak.

Tabares shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bielak taking some punishment here, with Tabares in his half guard.
Bielak is looking to control Tabares's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bielak avoid being mounted?
Bielak manages to get to full guard.
Tabares content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bielak wants to stand but Tabares is controlling the position.

Bielak is looking for a triangle but Tabares pushes his legs off easily.
Tabares works over Bielak with some ground and pound from guard.
Tabares is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Tabares decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bielak, up you get!
Bielak misses with a takedown attempt

and Tabares counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabares drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Tabares jumps guard.

Tabares looking for a guillotine here but Bielak defends easily.
Tabares is breathing heavily.
Bielak with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tabares tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bielak must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tabares will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bielak makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Tabares is looking for a triangle but Bielak pushes his legs off easily.
Bielak trying to control the position from guard on top but Tabares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bielak stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tabares swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bielak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Bielak feints and as Tabares raises his hands in defense, Bielak changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tabares throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Bielak pushes down on Tabares's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bielak takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bielak lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bielak wants to free his trapped foot but Tabares is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bielak lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bielak scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tabares looking for a kimura from the bottom but Bielak passes into side control!
Tabares tries to improve position but can't.
Bielak lands a few punches from side control.
Tabares striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Bielak wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tabares, who protects the arm well.
Tabares is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bielak's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Tabares is trying to escape back to his feet but Bielak uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Bielak connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Tabares some visible discomfort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tabares regains half guard.
Bielak is looking to advance position but Tabares won't allow it.

Tabares actively working from the bottom here.
Tabares is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bielak scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tabares landing strikes from the bottom.
Tabares is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bielak scores with a couple of nice shots.

Tabares actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bielak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tabares keeps working.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bielak decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tabares is trying to stand back up but Bielak is controlling him
Bielak looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
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 Nathaniel Tabares will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tabares gets caught flat footed, as Bielak shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tabares striking from his own guard.
Bielak stands up over Tabares, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tabares is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tabares thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Bielak trying to control but Tabares is working from the bottom.
Bielak wants to pass the guard but Tabares is keeping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tabares throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tabares trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bielak trying to control but Tabares is working from the bottom.
Bielak postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Bielak got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tabares has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bielak has managed to get both his arms back between Tabares's legs - danger averted.
Tabares trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bielak cracks Tabares with a solid left hand.
Bielak working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bielak won't allow Tabares to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bielak doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tabares counters with a shoot takedown. Bielak fights it but they end up in guard.
Bielak trying to strike off his back.
Bielak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bielak wants to stand up but Tabares is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tabares lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Bielak has his foot on Tabares's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tabares works his way back into a safe position though.
Bielak wants to sweep here but Tabares controlling him for the moment.
Bielak throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bielak working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tabares.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tabares changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bielak tries to avoid it but Tabares manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bielak to the ground. Bielak escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bielak looks to land a combination but Tabares avoids it well.
Kewin Bielak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bielak gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tabares counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bielak avoiding damage as Tabares throws knees to the body.
Tabares misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bielak.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bielak fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nathaniel Tabares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kewin Bielak.

Bielak has clasped his hands together around Tabares's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Tabares takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Nathaniel Tabares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tabares is trying to get back to his feet.
Bielak in side control, throwing shots but Tabares defends.
Bielak throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bielak working the ground and pound but Tabares is defending the strikes.
Bielak throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Bielak tries for a kimura but Tabares is defending well.
Tabares sneaks back into half guard.
Tabares striking from half guard on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bielak fails with the takedown

and Tabares counters with a single leg into guard. Bielak didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bielak manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tabares manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bielak accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Tabares looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bielak looking to pass the guard.

Tabares escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bielak gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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!
Tabares keeping full guard, as Bielak tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tabares throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Tabares can't keep his opponent in guard - Bielak advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Tabares dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tabares is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bielak sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bielak with a lazy takedown attempt

so Tabares counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tabares won't allow Bielak to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tabares accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tabares landing with the ground and pound.
Tabares 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.
Tabares chips away with some ground and pound.
Tabares content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tabares landing with the ground and pound.
Tabares with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bielak is on top in guard.
Bielak makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bielak is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bielak stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tabares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tabares throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Bielak wants to control from the top but Tabares keeps moving.
Bielak connects with a couple of short punches.
Tabares keeping moving, preventing Bielak from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bielak is looking to clinch.

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.
Bielak fails to land the takedown.
Tabares looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bielak is fending him off so far but Tabares persists. Nope, Bielak circles away and we're back to standing.

Bielak closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tabares tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Bielak presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Bielak lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Tabares is in a horrible position here. Bielak smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tabares throwing hammer fists to the chest of Bielak. What's that going to do exactly?
Bielak sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bielak tries to control but Tabares wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabares slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bielak blocks the strikes from Tabares.
Bielak looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bielak is trying to control the action in half guard but Tabares is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Tabares looking for submissions off his back.

Bielak escapes and gets back to his feet.
Bielak has his takedown stuffed

and Tabares counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bielak!
Nathaniel Tabares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kewin Bielak.
Bielak is desperately trying to improve his position but Tabares has a good base and remains in mount.
Tabares working Bielak over with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Tabares.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bielak bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Bielak stands up over Tabares, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tabares tries to strike from the bottom.
Tabares trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bielak looking to pass the guard.

Tabares escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bielak gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bielak throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Tabares looking for a guillotine here but Bielak defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tabares striking off his back but it's not causing Bielak any problems.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathaniel Tabares showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tabares, 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathaniel Tabares!