PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanner comes to the ring accompanied by Hooty Tooty. Rogers has chosen Shock by Fear Factory as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tanner
vs
Rogers

184 cm
32
199 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

190 cm
42
193 lbs
36 - 35 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Master Lee's One Stop

Urban Savage

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 35 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steve Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers misses with a kick to the body
and Tanner counters with a series of strikes. Rogers will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rogers is looking to chop away at Tanner's legs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rogers. Tanner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rogers throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tanner connects with a right hand. Rogers shakes it off.
Rogers misses with a straight left.
Tanner misses with a straight left.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tanner.
Rogers displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tanner throws out the jab.
Rogers keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tanner.
Tanner looks to throw the jab but Rogers is out of range.
Tanner connects with a jab.
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!
Tanner lunges at Rogers with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rogers's hand.

Tanner clinches.
Tanner lands with a right to the head.
Tanner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tanner lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tanner pushes Rogers back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tanner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rogers changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tanner fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rogers swings for the body but Tanner moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tanner darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Steve Rogers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rogers. Tanner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tanner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rogers displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tanner throws out the jab.
Tanner waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rogers.
Rogers throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Tanner's head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rogers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tanner manages to avoid it.
A jab from Tanner does it's job there.

Tanner looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rogers!
Rogers tries to buck Tanner off but Tanner is having none of it.
Rogers sneaks back into half guard.
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!
Rogers blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tanner.
We've been hearing good reports from Tanner's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Tanner working over Rogers with some ground and pound. Rogers looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tanner is nestled in close to Rogers, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Tanner seems to be working for a kimura but Rogers defends the submission attempt.

Tanner is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner trying to control the action but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Rogers is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tanner's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tanner's back!
Rogers struggling to land strikes to the head as Tanner covers up.
Rogers is trying to stick to Tanner's back but Tanner is turning into Rogers. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rogers's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Tanner.
Rogers wants to stand up but Tanner is controlling him.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tanner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tanner wants to pass the guard but Rogers is keeping the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Tanner thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tanner with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Rogers throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tanner forces his way into half guard.
Rogers trying to hold on to Tanner's head to control him but Tanner postures up.
Rogers makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rogers.
Tanner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rogers 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.
Tanner is in close to Rogers's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tanner looking to sit in guard and control but Rogers gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rogers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanner is keeping the position for now.
Tanner has momentary wrist control but Rogers slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanner throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tanner wants to get back to his feet but Rogers is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tanner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tanner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tanner working a defensive guard here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rogers's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Tanner is retaining full guard.
Tanner throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rogers looking to pass the guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tanner tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Tanner manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Tanner is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rogers throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Tanner dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rogers throws out a loose jab but Tanner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mark Tanner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanner throws a lazy right hand but Rogers sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rogers blocks a head kick by Tanner.
A shot to the liver by Rogers. Beautiful body shot.
Rogers throws a nice looking combination but Tanner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tanner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tanner throws a good cross that connects.
Tanner lands a head kick. Rogers smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Tanner throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rogers stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rogers staying out of range there.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rogers.
Rogers swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tanner.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanner lands a right hook to the body.
Tanner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rogers looks to score with a jab to the body but Tanner is just out of range.
Tanner throws a leg kick but Rogers sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Steve Rogers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanner connects with the punch.
Rogers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tanner.
Tanner misses with an uppercut
and Rogers counters with a good low kick that Tanner was not able to check.
Danga de danga de dang - Tanner scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tanner. Rogers does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch but Rogers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tanner dodges the punch combination from Rogers.
Tanner misses with a hook

and Rogers counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rogers preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tanner is on top in guard.
Tanner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rogers looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tanner postures up and lands a big shot to Rogers's brow.

Tanner thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Rogers escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tanner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rogers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tanner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rogers is trying to control the position but Tanner postures up.
Rogers thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Tanner decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rogers, up you get!
Rogers lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rogers connects with a body shot that sends Tanner's belly button to the back.
Rogers closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tanner tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Rogers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tanner dodges the punch combination from Rogers.
Rogers misses the shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from Tanner.
Tanner scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tanner. Tanner obviously looking to wear him down.
Tanner clobbers Rogers with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rogers jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rogers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tanner manages to avoid it.
Rogers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tanner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mark Tanner is winning the standup battle so far.
Rogers gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rogers takes a swing at Tanner's ribcage but misses.
Tanner throws a shot from downtown. Rogers moves away and avoids it.
Tanner throws an off balance right hand
and Rogers counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tanner tries to clinch but Rogers is having none of it.
Tanner missing with a left hand there. Rogers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rogers.
Tanner takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rogers tries to land a leg kick but Tanner saw it coming and moves away.
Rogers swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rogers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tanner.
Tanner throws a sloppy head kick and Rogers moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rogers is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tanner rather than just go for the knockout.
Rogers misses with an uppercut.
Tanner bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rogers's head.
Tanner is looking to slow Rogers down with leg kicks.
Rogers avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tanner moves out of range of the body kick.
Rogers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rogers throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tanner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rogers swings for the body but Tanner moves out of range.
Tanner scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rogers lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tanner has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tanner and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rogers gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tanner.
Rogers is looking to land body kicks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rogers looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Tanner cracks a nice hook into Rogers's ribs.
Nice straight punches there by Rogers. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rogers.
Rogers avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Rogers will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rogers swings for the body but Tanner moves out of range.
Tanner misses with an uppercut.
Tanner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rogers.
A punch combination from Rogers misses.
A shot to the liver by Tanner. Beautiful body shot.

Tanner fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rogers to the ground. Tanner is now in Rogers's guard.

Rogers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tanner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tanner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tanner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanner landing with the ground and pound.
Rogers looking for a sweep. Not yet Rogers, not yet.
Rogers will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Tanner trying to control the position from guard on top but Rogers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rogers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rogers is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tanner tries to kick Rogers off but Rogers keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rogers missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mark Tanner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tanner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rogers pulls his head out easily.
Rogers wants to free his trapped foot but Tanner is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tanner looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tanner is trying to get back to full guard.
Tanner is not content to let Rogers control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rogers's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rogers's back!
Rogers tries to escape the position.

Tanner working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Tanner is hanging on to Rogers's back as he tries to escape.
Tanner lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rogers tries to escape the position.

Tanner working for the choke.

Tanner looking for the choke from the back.

Rogers defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tanner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rogers defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tanner is looking to reverse the position.

Rogers wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tanner, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Tanner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rogers trying to control the action but Tanner is working from the bottom.
Rogers scoring with punches from side control.
Rogers trying to control the action but Tanner is working from the bottom.
Tanner misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers scores with a couple of short elbows.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rogers working his ground and pound in the gym.
Rogers trying to control the position but Tanner is working away.
Tanner is trying to get back to half guard.
Tanner taking a bit of punishment here - Rogers scoring with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Rogers stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Tanner rushes Rogers and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rogers changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tanner fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Some wild striking there from Rogers.

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 Mark Tanner.
Well Tanner has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Tanner!
After winning the bout, Mark Tanner thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Steve Rogers was interviewed post fight and said 'Thanks to everyone that's supported me..the AFLC you guys are the best!, Urban Savage..you guys are awesome sponsors!, and all the fans I couldn't have gotten this far without your love and support, thank you!!! '.