PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Tarkovsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Tatum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tarkovsky comes into the arena with Sergei Rachmaninov- Bells of Moscow blaring out of the sound system. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Tarkovsky
vs
Tatum

176 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
161 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexandr Tarkovsky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Tatum!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tatum ducks under a wild hook from Tarkovsky.
Good shot there by Tarkovsky.
Alexandr Tarkovsky seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tarkovsky throws a jab but it's blocked by Tatum.
Tarkovsky scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Tatum keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tarkovsky.
Tarkovsky lands a jab to the nose.
Tarkovsky throws a big shot that misses.
Tarkovsky misses with a hook.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tatum.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tarkovsky struggling a bit here.
Tatum tries to advance to mount but Tarkovsky denies him.
Tarkovsky is trying to control Tatum's posture but Tatum avoids it.

Tatum tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tarkovsky takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatum in side control, throwing shots but Tarkovsky defends.

Tatum working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tatum tries to advance to mount but Tarkovsky denies him.
Tarkovsky is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tatum trying to control the position but Tarkovsky is working away.

Tatum tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tatum has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tatum tries to score with some ground and pound. Tarkovsky controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tatum swings around for an armbar but Tarkovsky sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tatum's guard.
Tarkovsky sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tatum's guard.
Tarkovsky wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tatum keeps working.

Tarkovsky is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tatum has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tarkovsky wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tatum keeps working.

Tarkovsky is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tatum doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tarkovsky.
Tatum tries to get to full guard but Tarkovsky has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Tarkovsky is looking for a kimura here.

Tarkovsky is looking for a kimura here.
Tarkovsky is keen to just control but Tatum is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatum is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tarkovsky's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tarkovsky's back!
Tatum landing with strikes.
Tarkovsky tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Tarkovsky can't escape the position.
Tarkovsky is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tatum trying to control but Tarkovsky is having none of it.
Tarkovsky regains half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tarkovsky is pressing down on Tatum's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tarkovsky can't keep his opponent in guard - Tatum advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tatum tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tarkovsky knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tarkovsky is trying to maintain the position but Tatum is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandr Tarkovsky dominated that 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.

Tarkovsky misses with a straight right.
Tarkovsky scores with a hook.
Tatum avoids the body shot from Tarkovsky.

Tatum fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tarkovsky sprawls well initially but Tatum persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tatum wants to advance to full mount but Tarkovsky doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Tatum trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tarkovsky looking to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Tarkovsky throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tatum escapes and throws Tarkovsky's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Tarkovsky is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tatum off and has taken his back!
Tarkovsky has the hooks in. Tatum is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Tatum has hold of Tarkovsky's leg, trying to break free but it's let Tarkovsky lock up a rear naked choke! This could be big trouble! Tatum is turning an unusual color here… he's out! Tarkovsky throws him to one side and jumps onto the cage to celebrate with his fans.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Alexandr Tarkovsky!
A very excited looking Alexandr Tarkovsky made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.