PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Tarver (ranked 891 p4p, 1396 weight class) and Vudu Sims (ranked 45 p4p, 75 weight class). Vudu Sims told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Tarver
vs
Sims

169 cm
28
145
11 - 1 - 0

172 cm
28
140
8 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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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 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Antonio Tarver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vudu Sims!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tarver moves into the clinch successfully.
Tarver jumps guard but Sims stands there with Tarver around his waist. Tarver gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tarver fails to pull guard.
Sims is trying to pull guard but Tarver has him pressed against the cage.
Tarver tries to pull guard but Sims forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Tarver. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tarver pulls guard.
Sims tries to stand but Tarver is controlling from the bottom.

Tarver escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sims gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sims postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sims is looking to stand up but Tarver won't let him.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sims has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tarver is proving hard to escape from.

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

Tarver looking for subs off his back but Sims has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sims wants to stand up but Tarver has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Tarver is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sims tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Tarver.
Tarver trying to control but Sims postures up.
Tarver makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tarver.
Sims wants to get up but he can't break Tarver's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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

Tarver closes the distance and clinches.
Tarver tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sims smiles and moves away.
Tarver looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Tarver has closed the distance and engaged Sims in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarver tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sims just stands there and leans against the cage.

Tarver pulls Sims into guard.

Tarver is looking for a triangle here but Sims uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Tarver is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sims working away.

Sims decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Sims throws a leg kick that misses.
Tarver ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sims scores with a jab. Tarver acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Tarver gets a clinch.

Tarver gets control of Sims's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tarver will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sims is looking to stand up but Tarver won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sims decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tarver doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sims scores with a jab to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tarver pushes Sims up against the cage in a clinch.
Tarver fails to pull guard.

Tarver pulls Sims into guard.
Tarver is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Tarver looking for a guillotine here but Sims defends easily.
Sims would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Antonio Tarver will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tarver has managed to clinch.
Vudu Sims has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Tarver jumps guard and drags Sims to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Tarver working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sims doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sims manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tarver working for a triangle but Sims defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tarver looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tarver working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sims is looking to stand up but Tarver won't let him.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarver gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tarver fails to pull guard.
Tarver jumps guard but Sims stands there with Tarver around his waist. Tarver gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tarver is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sims to keep the fight standing.
We've been informed that Sims has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Tarver. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tarver pulls guard effortlessly.
Sims wanted to stand there but Tarver had control of the position.

Tarver is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sims is aware though and is defending well.

Sims throws a sloppy strike and Tarver has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Sims is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Tarver!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Antonio Tarver!
A relieved looking Antonio Tarver thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.