PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jesperson Knudsen (ranked 6447 p4p, 5821 weight class) and Matt Tarrent (ranked 248 p4p, 235 weight class). Matt Tarrent will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Knudsen
vs
Tarrent

177 cm
24
140
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
136
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jesperson Knudsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Tarrent!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Chris Dean and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tarrent moves into range and clinches up with Knudsen.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tarrent takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Knudsen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Knudsen pulls guard.

Knudsen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Knudsen wants to get back to his feet but Tarrent is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Knudsen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Tarrent got a little sloppy there for a moment and Knudsen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tarrent has managed to get both his arms back between Knudsen's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarrent forces his way into half guard.
Tarrent wants to take a breather but Knudsen is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarrent looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Knudsen tries to get to full guard but Tarrent has control of the leg.
Tarrent is thwarting Knudsen's attempts to control the position.
Knudsen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Knudsen tries to get out of the position.
Tarrent looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tarrent wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sloppy strikes from Knudsen. Those never looked like landing.

Knudsen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Knudsen prevents Tarrent from improving his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Knudsen in particular looking to stall.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knudsen is looking for a kimura here.
Tarrent is trying to stand.
Tarrent is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Knudsen trying to control the pace.
Knudsen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tarrent with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Knudsen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tarrent has hold of Knudsen's hands but Knudsen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knudsen content to control rather than advance.
Tarrent pushes Knudsen off looking to stand but Knudsen dives back in and keeps control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tarrent darts in trying to clinch
and Knudsen counters with a straight right hand.

Knudsen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tarrent is trying to defend but Knudsen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Knudsen controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarrent wants to control but Knudsen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tarrent tries to roll over but Knudsen keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarrent has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Knudsen is working away from the top position though.
Tarrent is breathing heavily.
Knudsen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Knudsen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tarrent defends it well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tarrent is trying hard to land a takedown here. Knudsen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Knudsen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tarrent!
Knudsen working the ground and pound.
Jesperson Knudsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tarrent can't do much from the bottom here.
Knudsen working the ground and pound from side control.
Knudsen wants to stand but Tarrent is controlling his arm.
Tarrent is trying to escape the position but Knudsen is controlling the position.
Tarrent is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knudsen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Knudsen wants to stand but Tarrent has his arm trapped.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Knudsen closes the distance and clinches.

Knudsen breaks from the clinch.
Tarrent darts in looking for a takedown but Knudsen gets double underhooks and turns Tarrent into the cage.
Knudsen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Tarrent manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Knudsen on his heels. He'll look to pass Knudsen's guard now, I'm sure.
Knudsen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tarrent manages to get himself to full guard.

Knudsen distracts Tarrent with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knudsen is looking to stand up but Tarrent won't let him.
Knudsen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jesperson Knudsen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tarrent avoids the head kick by Knudsen.

Knudsen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Knudsen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Knudsen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tarrent circles away.
Tarrent staying out of range there.
Tarrent is trying hard to land a takedown here. Knudsen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Knudsen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Knudsen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Tarrent checks it well.
Jesperson Knudsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown attempt by Knudsen or perhaps it was just good defense by Tarrent, which made it look bad.
Tarrent takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarrent throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knudsen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knudsen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Knudsen rushes Tarrent and presses him up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Knudsen.
Tarrent goes for a takedown in the clinch but Knudsen prevents it.

Knudsen pulls guard successfully.

Knudsen working for a triangle but Tarrent defends it easily.

Knudsen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tarrent defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knudsen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tarrent stopping the sweep attempt from Knudsen.
Tarrent wants to stand but Knudsen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Knudsen holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tarrent tries to land a front kick but Knudsen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Knudsen rushes Tarrent and presses him up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Knudsen as Tarrent tries to tie him up.
Knudsen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tarrent fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesperson Knudsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knudsen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tarrent as he jumps to the side.
Knudsen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tarrent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knudsen clinches.

Knudsen successfully pulls guard.
Tarrent wants to stand but Knudsen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Knudsen wants to sweep here but Tarrent controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tarrent wants to control from the top but Knudsen keeps moving.
Matt Tarrent has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jesperson Knudsen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tarrent throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesperson Knudsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Knudsen 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesperson Knudsen!
A victorious Jesperson Knudsen thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Matt Tarrent spoke after the fight, saying 'My opponent was the better man tonight, respect to Him, i'm going to learn from this'.