PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Tarasov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Berry Bluethurty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Tarasov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tarasov
vs
Bluethurty

184 cm
19
215 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

194 cm
25
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Sun-Tzu
Mohito Fightwear

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Tarasov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Berry Bluethurty!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bluethurty lands a lovely overhand right.
Tarasov shoots in for a takedown but Bluethurty shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bluethurty misses with a wild combination.
Tarasov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tarasov shoots in but no luck this time.
Bluethurty misses the jab.
Bluethurty misses with a looping right.

Tarasov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Tarasov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Bluethurty explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bluethurty looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bluethurty lands a jab.
Bluethurty throws the left hand but Tarasov avoids the punch easily.
Tarasov attempts a counter takedown but Bluethurty avoids it well and moves away.
Bluethurty looks to land a right hand but Tarasov moved out of range.
Tarasov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bluethurty defends it nicely.
As Tarasov backs off Bluethurty throws a huge counter combo but Tarasov manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Tarasov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bluethurty ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tarasov moves away.
Bluethurty scores with the left hand. Tarasov knows he should have avoided that one.
A big right from Bluethurty misses.
Bluethurty throws a lazy right hand but Tarasov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bluethurty throws a hook but Tarasov blocks it.
Bluethurty 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.
Tarasov slips a straight right by Bluethurty.
Tarasov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bluethurty sprawls and moves away.
Berry Bluethurty is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tarasov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bluethurty.

Tarasov feints and as Bluethurty raises his hands in defense, Tarasov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tarasov trying to control but Bluethurty is working from the bottom.
Bluethurty is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov pushing down on Bluethurty's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bluethurty pushes Tarasov off looking to stand but Tarasov dives back in and keeps control.
Bluethurty looks winded!

Tarasov is looking for a kimura but Bluethurty is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tarasov to get the leverage.
Tarasov works his way into side control.

Tarasov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tarasov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tarasov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Tarasov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Tarasov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tarasov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tarasov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bluethurty is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bluethurty is trying to get back to his feet.
Tarasov throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Bluethurty is not content to let Tarasov control the position.

Tarasov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bluethurty is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Tarasov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bluethurty has escaped the position, nice work there.

Tarasov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tarasov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bluethurty is trying to buck Tarasov off.

Tarasov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bluethurty, who protects the arm well.
Bluethurty is trying to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bluethurty can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sloppy strikes there by Tarasov.

Tarasov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bluethurty is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Tarasov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bluethurty has escaped the position, nice work there.
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 Ivan Tarasov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bluethurty looks to land a right hand but Tarasov moved out of range.
Tarasov shoots for a double leg takedown but Bluethurty sprawls well. He's pushed Tarasov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bluethurty rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tarasov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tarasov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bluethurty misses with an uppercut. Tarasov saw that one coming.
Tarasov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bluethurty avoids it really well and circles away.
Bluethurty lands a head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bluethurty throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from Bluethurty misses.
Bluethurty throws a right and a left that Tarasov avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarasov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Tarasov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tarasov throws a series of punches but Bluethurty avoids them all with ease.
Tarasov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tarasov staying out of range there.
Bluethurty scores with a nice right hand.
The fighters circling - Bluethurty throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bluethurty. Tarasov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bluethurty misses with a few strikes there.
Bluethurty is breathing heavily.
Tarasov fails with a takedown attempt.

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

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov stops Bluethurty from standing up.
Tarasov trying to control but Bluethurty is working from the bottom.
Bluethurty wants to stand and escape but Tarasov is having none of it.
Our spies down at at Russian Fighting Community Gym inform us that Bluethurty has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Tarasov is standing up over Bluethurty. Bluethurty looks to escape but Tarasov dives into side control.

Tarasov tries for a kimura but Bluethurty is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tarasov working the ground and pound but Bluethurty is defending the strikes.
Bluethurty is letting Tarasov control him for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tarasov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bluethurty is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Tarasov asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bluethurty avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tarasov.
The strikes coming from Tarasov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tarasov trying to control the action but Bluethurty is working from the bottom.
Bluethurty really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tarasov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bluethurty wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Tarasov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Tarasov has hold of Bluethurty's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Bluethurty seems comfortable defending it but Tarasov has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Bluethurty is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Bluethurty is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Tarasov couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ivan Tarasov!
Ivan Tarasov retains his light heavyweight title!
Ivan Tarasov really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Mohito Fightwear logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.