PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Dean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Tarasenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dean kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Gravemakers & Gunslingers. Tarasenko has chosen Johnny Cash - When The Man Comes Around as his entrance music. Vladimir Tarasenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dean
vs
Tarasenko

179 cm
20
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
186 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Rocha Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eddie Dean!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Tarasenko!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarasenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dean.
Dean keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dean throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tarasenko shoots in for a double leg but Dean sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tarasenko throws a hook but Dean blocks it.
Tarasenko moves in looking to clinch but Dean pushes him off.
Dean lands a two punch combo.
A combination from Dean does no damage.
Dean stuffs the takedown.
Eddie Dean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Tarasenko.
Tarasenko tries to clinch up but Dean circles away and keeps his distance.
Tarasenko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tarasenko throws a right and a left that Dean avoids nicely.

Tarasenko rushes Dean and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tarasenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dean pulls his leg out and moves away.

Dean moves into the clinch.

Dean breaks the clinch.

Dean has taken the fight to the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Dean takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Tarasenko looking for a takedown.
Tarasenko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tarasenko is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Tarasenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dean rushes Tarasenko and presses him up against the cage.
Dean is working Tarasenko over against the cage.
Dean lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tarasenko.
Tarasenko looks gassed!
Dean lands with a right to the head.
Dean lands a body punch.
Dean scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Dean.
Dean lands with a light punch inside.
Dean lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tarasenko or not.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice right hand lands inside from Dean.
Dean works on Tarasenko's body with a couple of short punches.
A hook to the body from Dean.
Dean scores with a nice hook to the head.

It looks like Vladimir Tarasenko has been cut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dean.
Dean stalling the fight.

Dean pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Dean moves into the clinch.
Dean lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Dean makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Dean just leaning against Tarasenko, taking a breather.
Dean prevents Tarasenko from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Dean - that landed with a thud.
A hook to the body from Dean.
A right hand to the body from Dean.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Dean lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tarasenko backwards.
Dean works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Good body shot from Dean.
Dean pushes Tarasenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Dean will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tarasenko up against the cage.
Dean pushes Tarasenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Dean breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tarasenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Tarasenko tries to keep at a distance but Dean has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tarasenko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Dean pushes Tarasenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tarasenko looking to slow down the pace here.
Dean digs a right hand underneath Tarasenko's ribcage. Tarasenko let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Dean's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tarasenko tries to keep at a distance but Dean has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarasenko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Dean is working Tarasenko over against the cage.

Dean breaks from the clinch.
Dean throws a series of strikes that have Tarasenko backpedaling.

Dean closes the distance and pushes Tarasenko back into the cage.
Dean is working Tarasenko over against the cage.
Dean avoiding damage.

Dean breaks the clinch.
Tarasenko misses with a double jab

and Dean counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dean.
Dean lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Dean lands with a left to the head.
Dean lands a shot to the body.

Dean pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Dean closes the distance and clinches.
Dean working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Dean - that landed with a thud.
Dean lands a shoulder strike.
Dean is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarasenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dean just leaning against Tarasenko, taking a breather.
Dean lands a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dean stalling against the cage.
Dean lands a nice shot to the body.
Dean lands a body punch in the clinch.
Dean scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Dean breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Dean clinches with his opponent.
Dean lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tarasenko backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dean.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dean.
Dean effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A right hook to the body lands for Dean.
Tarasenko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dean pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tarasenko being controlled against the cage.

Dean escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Dean dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Tarasenko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dean wants to clinch up but Tarasenko keeps it at a distance.
A punch combination from Tarasenko misses.
Tarasenko throws a combination that misses

and Dean counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A short uppercut from Dean.
Dean lands a nice uppercut.
Tarasenko jumps guard but Dean stands there with Tarasenko around his waist. Tarasenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Tarasenko manages to pull guard.

Tarasenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dean can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dean wanted to stand there but Tarasenko had control of the position.

Dean stands and steps away. Tarasenko gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Dean gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Dean has picked Tarasenko up - he's going for a ride! Dean dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tarasenko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarasenko had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Dean is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Tarasenko Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Dean's back instead.
Dean is trying to get back to his feet but Tarasenko has full control of the position and if anything, Dean has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Tarasenko is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Dean taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Tarasenko.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Vladimir Tarasenko!
Vladimir Tarasenko is the new middleweight champion!