PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aiko San (ranked 66 p4p, 96 weight class) and Antonio Tarver (ranked 8 p4p, 12 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

San
vs
Tarver

178 cm
31
158
17 - 4 - 0

169 cm
30
145
16 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

HELLBENT
New Standard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Aiko San!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antonio Tarver!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarver misses with a wild body shot.
Aiko San seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
San throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice cross by San.
San throws a body shot but no joy.
Tarver is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Tarver steps to the side to avoid the strikes from San.
San throws an overhand right that lands on Tarver's shoulder, as Tarver tries to avoid the shot.
San looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tarver tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. San manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
San throws a lazy uppercut

and Tarver counters by moving into the clinch.
Tarver misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
San misses with a body punch.
Tarver misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tarver looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nice body punch from San.
San blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
San lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from San as the two fighters clinch.
San works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Tarver throws an elbow but misses.
San swings wildly with an uppercut but Tarver uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tarver tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. San smiles and moves away.
San scores with a jab to the head.
San lands a jab to the nose.
San misses with a straight right.
Tarver tries to counter with a clinch but San shakes him off and moves away.
Tarver defending well as San loads up on a big left hand.
Tarver tries to counter by closing the distance.
Tarver takes one on the chin but seems OK.
San's corner calls for a 1-2. San obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
San bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tarver's head.

Tarver is rocked!
San pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - San throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
San misses with a straight left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tarver tries to clinch up but San circles away and keeps his distance.
San is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Tarver connects with a good right hand that stumbles San. San circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by San.
Tarver slips under a jab from San.
Tarver defending well as San loads up on a big left hand.
Tarver just misses with a punch to the body.

San tries to keep at a distance but Tarver has taken the fight into the clinch.

San's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
San thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by San.
A punch lands to the side of Tarver 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tarver uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from San.
Tarver is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
San throws a hook but Tarver avoids it easily.
Tarver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but San paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It looked like San wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
San throws an overhand right that lands on Tarver's shoulder, as Tarver tries to avoid the shot.
San throws out a loose jab but Tarver uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tarver moves away from the strike by San.
Tarver wants to counter the offense by San and move into the clinch position.
San loads up on a big right hand but Tarver slips the punch.
Tarver tries to clinch but San moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from San misses its target.
San scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarver moves out of range of the strikes.
San circles away from the clinch attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tarver. San does a little dance to reset his feet.
San connects with a right hand. Tarver shakes it off.
San scores with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
San looks to land a right hand but Tarver moved out of range.
San just misses with a punch to the body.
San lands with a right hand.
The fighters circling - San throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
San sets himself, and Tarver steps forward looking for the clinch! San avoids it this time.
Tarver blocks a jab.
San just misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aiko San dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

San misses with a straight left.
Tarver throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tarver misses with a left hand
and San counters with a right hand to the body.
San loads up on a big right hand but Tarver slips the punch.
Tarver keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from San.
Tarver is looking to clinch.
San is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tarver can do to turn this around?
San misses with a straight left.
San sets himself, and Tarver steps forward looking for the clinch! San avoids it this time.
Tarver slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
San throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Tarver counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tarver.
Come on Tarver - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tarver's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tarver continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A nice right hand lands inside from San.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for San.
Tarver jumps guard but San stands there with Tarver around his waist. Tarver gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by San.
Tarver misses with a knee to the head.
San pushes Tarver back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
San misses with a hook from the clinch.

San escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tarver staying out of range there.
Tarver takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tarver ducks under a wild hook from San.
Tarver wants to counter with a clinch but San pushes him away.
San throws a big shot that misses.
Tarver swings for the body but San moves out of range.
San uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tarver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarver moves away from the strike by San.
Tarver is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Tarver keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from San.
Tarver tries to counter with a clinch but San shakes him off and moves away.
Tarver takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
San ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
San is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tarver.
San throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tarver steps to the side to avoid the strikes from San.
A lazy left from San finds it's target.
San misses with a body shot.
Tarver steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from San.

Tarver moves into range and clinches up with San.

San breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarver slips under a jab from San.
San ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
San avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tarver connects with a jab.
Tarver ducks under a wild hook from San.
San misses with a straight right.
Tarver wants to counter with a clinch but San pushes him away.
San lands a really nice looking cross but Tarver seems unphased.
San paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
San throws a hook but Tarver blocks it.
Tarver keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tarver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
San throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
San loads up on a big right hand but Tarver slips the punch.
Tarver uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from San.
San sets himself, and Tarver steps forward looking for the clinch! San avoids it this time.
San clobbers Tarver with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tarver slips under a jab.
Tarver keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tarver ducks under a wild hook from San.
A slow jab from San misses its intended target.
Tarver keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from San.
San takes a swing at Tarver's ribcage but misses.
Tarver tries to counter by closing the distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aiko San dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice cross by San.
San misses with a looping right.
Tarver uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from San.
Tarver tries to counter by closing the distance.
San jabs Tarver right on the nose. Tarver blinks but takes it well.
Tarver is looking to clinch but San is avoiding it.
Tarver slips under a jab from San.
A looping hook to the body misses from San. Tarver does a little dance to reset his feet.
San throws a hook but Tarver blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarver moves out of range as San strikes.
Tarver slips a straight right by San.
San throws a hook but Tarver blocks it.
Tarver wants to counter with a clinch but San pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
San throws a hook to the side of Tarver's head but Tarver sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
San throws a hook to the side of Tarver's head but Tarver sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tarver avoids the body shot from San.
Tarver tries to counter with a clinch but San shakes him off and moves away.
San looks to land a right hand but Tarver moved out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from San misses the target.
Tarver tries to counter with a clinch but San shakes him off and moves away.
San jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tarver moves in looking to clinch but San pushes him off.
A telegraphed right hand from Tarver misses the target.
Tarver slips under a jab from San.
Tarver tries to counter with a clinch but San shakes him off and moves away.
San looks to land a right hand but Tarver moved out of range.
San tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tarver was well out of range. Poor timing from San.
Tarver steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from San.
Aiko San is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarver avoids the body shot from San.
Tarver moves out of range of the strikes.
Tarver is looking to clinch but San is avoiding it.
Tarver takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
San misses with a looping left.
San throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
San throws a shot from downtown. Tarver moves away and avoids it.
Tarver takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Tarver uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from San.
Tarver is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tarver clinches up with San and pushes him back against the cage.

Tarver has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics San uses from the top position.

Tarver is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
San has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

San got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tarver has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, San has managed to get both his arms back between Tarver's legs - danger averted.

Tarver looking for a guillotine here but San defends easily.
Tarver is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tarver keeping moving, preventing San from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

San has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Tarver to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! San is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Tarver pulls down on the head and he's put San to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Antonio Tarver!
An out of breath Antonio Tarver thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.