PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dixon Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Taverez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taverez has chosen Take it to the top as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cox
vs
Taverez

182 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dixon Cox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Victor Taverez!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Cox.
Taverez stuffs the takedown.

Taverez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cox's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cox has his foot on Taverez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taverez works his way back into a safe position though.

Taverez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taverez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Cox is looking for a triangle but Taverez pushes his legs off easily.
Cox keeping full guard, as Taverez tries to pass.

Cox had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Taverez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Cox Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Taverez's back instead.
Taverez can't escape the position.
Cox throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Taverez!

Taverez is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Cox gets his way!
Taverez tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taverez tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Cox misses with a head shot.
Taverez regains half guard.

Cox is working for a submission of some sort.
Cox is breathing heavily.

Taverez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Taverez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Cox pulls his head out easily.
Cox looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cox prevents Taverez from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taverez won't allow Cox to pass to mount.

Taverez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Taverez actively working from the bottom here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taverez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cox counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Taverez's guard now.

Taverez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Taverez keeping moving, preventing Cox from controlling successfully.

Cox is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taverez is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taverez has momentary wrist control but Cox slips an elbow through the middle.

Taverez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Taverez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Taverez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Taverez is looking for a triangle but Cox pushes his legs off easily.

Cox drops back looking for a leg! Taverez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Taverez manages to kick Cox off! Cox jumps back into Taverez's guard.
Cox in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taverez has his foot on Cox's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cox works his way back into a safe position though.

Taverez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cox doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cox manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cox is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cox sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Taverez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cox postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Taverez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cox gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Taverez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cox closes the distance and clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Cox.
Taverez goes for a takedown attempt but Cox pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cox doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Taverez counters with a single leg into guard. Cox didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cox looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taverez is one step ahead there.
Cox controls Taverez momentarily but Taverez frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cox has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taverez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Taverez drops back looking for a leg! Cox is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cox manages to kick Taverez off! Taverez jumps back into Cox's guard.
Taverez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Taverez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taverez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Cox working for a triangle but Taverez defends it easily.

Taverez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taverez shoots and misses

and Cox counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taverez won't be happy with that.
Cox trying to control the action but Taverez is working from the bottom.
Taverez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Taverez actively working from the bottom here.
Cox lands with a punch from half guard.

Cox is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Taverez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cox.

Taverez actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taverez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cox wants to pass the guard but Taverez is defending well.
Taverez gets full guard.

Taverez working for submissions but it's allowed Cox to get to half guard.
Cox wants to free his trapped foot but Taverez is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Cox is working for a submission of some sort.

Cox seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four 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.

Taverez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Taverez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cox is keen to just control but Taverez is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cox misses with a takedown attempt

and Taverez counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Taverez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Cox has his takedown stuffed

so Taverez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Taverez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cox looking for a sweep. Not yet Cox, not yet.

Taverez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Cox had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Taverez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Cox Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Taverez's back instead.
Cox is trying to stick to Taverez's back but Taverez is turning into Cox. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cox's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Taverez.

Taverez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cox is looking for a triangle but Taverez pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Taverez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Taverez has gone for a leg lock! Cox slips out almost immediately though and dives into Taverez's guard.
Cox wants to control from the top but Taverez keeps moving.
Cox thows a big elbow that misses.

Taverez has his foot on Cox's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cox works his way back into a safe position though.

Taverez has his foot on Cox's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cox works his way back into a safe position though.
Victor Taverez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cox trying to control the position from guard on top but Taverez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taverez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cox trying to control but Taverez is working from the bottom.

Taverez working for a triangle but Cox defends it easily.

Taverez has his foot on Cox's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cox works his way back into a safe position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cox connects with a couple of short punches.
Cox trying to control but Taverez is working from the bottom.
Taverez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox trying to control but Taverez is working from the bottom.
Taverez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cox manages to get himself to full guard.

Cox is looking for a triangle but Taverez pushes his legs off easily.

Taverez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taverez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Cox is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Taverez frees his head nicely. Oh but Cox has switched to an armbar! Taverez is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Dixon Cox!