PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tarzan Taborda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Taborda
vs
Craig

195 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tarzan Taborda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zach Craig!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taborda dodges the punch combination from Craig.
Taborda closes this distance looking for a takedown but Craig circles away.
Taborda shoots in for a takedown but Craig shows good takedown defense.
Craig thows a body shot but no joy.
Taborda tries to close the distance and clinch but Craig swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Craig misses with a two punch combination.
Craig throws a series of punches but Taborda moves out of range.
Taborda has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarzan Taborda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Craig fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taborda shoots in and drives through. Craig sprawls well.
Craig lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taborda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Craig pinned against the cage. Craig gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Craig throws a series of punches but Taborda avoids them all with ease.
Craig stuffs the takedown attempt from Taborda. Taborda gets slowly back to his feet.
Tarzan Taborda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taborda walks into a stiff left hand from Craig.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Craig goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Taborda wants to clinch.
Craig looks to land a combination but Taborda avoids it well.
Taborda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Craig's waist but Craig gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taborda off to one side.
Craig rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taborda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Craig throws a series of strikes that have Taborda backpedaling.
Taborda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taborda is breathing heavily.
Craig swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taborda fails with a takedown attempt.
Craig keeps the fight on the outside.
Craig lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Craig.
Taborda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Craig's hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Craig bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Taborda's head backwards.
Taborda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Craig lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A combination from Craig does no damage.
Taborda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Craig pinned against the cage. Craig gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Taborda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Craig's waist but Craig gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taborda off to one side.
Taborda tries to clinch but Craig moves out of range.
Craig misses with a few strikes there.
Taborda shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Craig but Craig pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taborda.
Taborda takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Taborda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Craig stuffs the takedown.
Craig rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taborda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Craig throws a right hand that Taborda ducks under and follows up with a left that Taborda also avoids with ease.
Taborda avoids a punch combination nicely.
A combination from Craig does no damage.
Craig swings for the body but Taborda moves out of range.
Taborda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Craig's waist but Craig gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taborda off to one side.
Taborda tries to clinch up but Craig circles away and keeps his distance.
Taborda changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Craig tries to avoid it but Taborda manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Craig to the ground. Craig escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig misses with a wild combination.
Taborda shoots in but no luck this time.
Craig swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taborda fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zach Craig is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Craig misses with a series of wild punches.

Taborda clinches up with Craig and pushes him back against the cage.
Taborda is struggling to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taborda lands a body punch in the clinch.
Taborda slowing the pace effectively.

Taborda breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Craig dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A punch combination from Craig misses.
Craig throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taborda.
Taborda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taborda.
Taborda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Craig swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taborda has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarzan Taborda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Craig keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Craig throws out a loose jab but Taborda uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig lands a jab to the head.
Craig misses with a series of wild punches.
Taborda dodges the punch combination from Craig.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taborda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Craig paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Craig. No joy for Taborda on that attempt.
Craig misses with a two punch combination.
Craig rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taborda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Taborda darts in and clinches Craig up against the cage.
Taborda lands a left hand that snaps the head of Craig backwards.
Taborda lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Taborda lands with a light punch inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Taborda takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taborda.
Taborda is trying to drag Craig to the mat but Craig just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Taborda is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Craig gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Taborda has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Craig avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Taborda has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Craig avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Craig wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taborda has him pressed against the cage.
Taborda pushes Craig back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Taborda lands a body punch.
A hook to the body from Taborda.
A short uppercut from Taborda.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Taborda. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Taborda drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Craig gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Taborda tries for a takedown. No joy.
Taborda can't get the takedown.
Taborda drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Craig gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Taborda has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Craig avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Taborda goes for a takedown attempt but Craig pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A right-left combo lands from Craig.
The crowd cheers as Craig lands an impressive looking overhand right. Taborda doesn't seem phased though.
Taborda shoots in for a double leg but Craig sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taborda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Craig lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Taborda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Craig swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Craig misses with a wild combination.
Taborda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taborda has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A slow jab from Craig misses its intended target.
Taborda shoots in and drives through. Craig sprawls well.
Taborda gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Taborda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Craig will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taborda tries for a takedown but Craig sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Craig fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taborda changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Craig tries to avoid it but Taborda manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Craig to the ground. Craig escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Craig throws a combination. Taborda tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Horrible takedown by Taborda or perhaps it was just good defense by Craig which made him look bad.
Craig displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taborda throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Craig showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Craig.
Zach Craig seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taborda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Craig.
A punch combination from Craig misses.
Taborda looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Craig is fending him off so far but Taborda persists. Nope, Craig circles away and we're back to standing.
Craig 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.
Craig connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The fighters circle momentarily. Taborda darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Craig works the jab nicely.
Taborda misses with a takedown attempt - Craig sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Craig throws an overhand right that lands on Taborda's shoulder, as Taborda tries to avoid the shot.

Taborda drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Taborda has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Craig!
Taborda controlling his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Craig is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Taborda controlling from mount.
Taborda throws some wild stikes that Craig manages to avoid easily.
Taborda controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taborda throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Craig is trying to stand up.
Taborda content just to control the position here.
Taborda misses with a head shot.
Taborda throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Craig is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taborda lands a nice shot to the head.

Craig is rocked!
Taborda postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Craig badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Taborda around the waist but Taborda pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Taborda is the winner by TKO! Taborda jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tarzan Taborda!