PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Gutierrez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Tafari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tafari has chosen Buffalo Soldier - Bob Marley as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gutierrez
vs
Tafari

186 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Gutierrez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hector Tafari!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tafari decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tafari passes the guard and advances to mount!
Tafari can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gutierrez is looking to escape.
Gutierrez working to try and regain half guard.
Gutierrez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Tafari looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gutierrez is pressing down on Tafari's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gutierrez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Tafari decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gutierrez, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tafari misses the shot to the body.
Tafari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gutierrez.

Tafari closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Tafari seems to be working for a kimura but Gutierrez defends the submission attempt.
Tafari is trying to control the action in half guard but Gutierrez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tafari seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Tafari has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Gutierrez wants to improve his position but Tafari is controlling well.
Tafari wants to pass the guard but Gutierrez is defending well.
Gutierrez tries to get to full guard but Tafari has control of the leg.
Tafari content to control rather than advance.
Tafari passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gutierrez!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tafari trying to control but Gutierrez is having none of it.
Gutierrez is looking to improve his position but Tafari isn't that keen on the idea.

Tafari jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gutierrez manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Tafari wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gutierrez, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tafari stands up.
Gutierrez doesn't manage to clinch there - Tafari circles away.

Tafari looking to score a takedown here. Gutierrez is defending well but Tafari drives through and ends up in Gutierrez's guard.
Tafari trying to control the position from guard on top but Gutierrez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gutierrez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tafari on the ground.
Tafari showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Tafari dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tafari throws a body kick that misses.
Tafari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tafari shapes to counter with a head kick.
Tafari misses with a head kick.
Gutierrez tries to clinch but Tafari moves out of range.
Gutierrez shoots in for a double leg but Tafari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tafari keeps the fight on the outside.

Tafari looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tafari won't allow Gutierrez to sweep him here.

Tafari gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tafari closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gutierrez quickly recovers to half guard.

Tafari postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Gutierrez to stand up.
Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick from Tafari lands but Gutierrez takes it in his stride.

It looks like Mark Gutierrez has been cut.
Gutierrez blocks a head kick by Tafari.
Hector Tafari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tafari looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tafari is breathing heavily.
Tafari looking to pass the guard.
Tafari wants to control from the top but Gutierrez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tafari controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gutierrez trying to control the position.
Tafari is stalling in the full guard.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Tafari.
Tafari wants to control from the top but Gutierrez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gutierrez 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.

Tafari drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tafari jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gutierrez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tafari gets to his feet. Gutierrez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Tafari closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tafari lands in his opponent's guard.
Gutierrez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tafari stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tafari throws a one two combo.
Tafari misses with a head kick.
Tafari tries a head kick but it misses.
Tafari throws a sloppy head kick and Gutierrez moves out of range easily.
Tafari stuffs the takedown attempt from Gutierrez. Gutierrez gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Gutierrez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gutierrez shoots for a takedown but Tafari saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tafari lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Tafari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Gutierrez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tafari gets a takedown into half guard.
Tafari trying to mount his opponent but Gutierrez defends it.

Tafari stands up from half guard.

Tafari looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gutierrez!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tafari is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gutierrez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tafari is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Tafari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutierrez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tafari's best efforts.
Gutierrez throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Tafari is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tafari trying to control the pace.
Tafari trying to pass the guard but Gutierrez defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tafari stalling away here and it's allowed Gutierrez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gutierrez 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.
Gutierrez has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Tafari has passed into side control.
Gutierrez tries to bench press Tafari off him but Tafari keeps the position.
Tafari works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Gutierrez is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tafari works to advance to full mount. Gutierrez defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Tafari is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Gutierrez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Tafari counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tafari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gutierrez went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Tafari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tafari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Tafari throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gutierrez was covering up waiting for the punch and Tafari finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Tafari gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tafari but Tafari pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gutierrez avoids the head kick by Tafari.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tafari keeps Gutierrez at a distance using the push kick.
A head kick misses from Tafari.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Tafari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tafari has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 25:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 25:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hector Tafari!
An intense looking Hector Tafari took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Hey Yo! Thanks to everyone fi being here. Mi fight wid a pure heart - mi ave no hate fi mi opponents. Mi wa fi tank Shinto Elite MMA gym fi taking mi inna an helping mi tek mi game to di next level. Peace out!'.