PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Saul Tacarante (ranked 1973 p4p, 1859 weight class) and Yaroslav Rurik (ranked 133 p4p, 127 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Tacarante
vs
Rurik

172 cm
23
137
10 - 6 - 0

165 cm
24
140
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Saul Tacarante!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yaroslav Rurik!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rurik takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tacarante fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rurik manages to avoid it.
Rurik is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Tacarante scores with a decent looking hook.
Tacarante definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Rurik moves into the clinch.
Rurik fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tacarante tries to pull guard but Rurik holds him up against the cage and eventually Tacarante drops back down to his feet.
Rurik throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tacarante scores with a hook to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rurik.
Tacarante can't break the clinch.
Tacarante working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rurik throws a punch but it's blocked by Tacarante.
A right handed body shot lands from Rurik.
Tacarante's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rurik scores with a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tacarante.
Rurik working aggressively here.
Rurik misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rurik swings wildly with an uppercut but Tacarante uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tacarante is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tacarante is looking to break free of the clinch but Rurik has double underhooks.
Rurik lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tacarante tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rurik just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rurik misses with the head strike.

Tacarante's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rurik throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tacarante circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice uppercut there from Rurik.
Rurik wants to clinch.
Tacarante throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tacarante misses with a straight left.
Tacarante misses with a lunging right hand
and Rurik counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tacarante looks to land a right hand but Rurik moved out of range.
Tacarante throws a lazy right hand but Rurik sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Tacarante. That snapped Rurik's head back.
Tacarante slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tacarante swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rurik connects with a single shot there.
Rurik slips a straight right by Tacarante.
Rurik defending well as Tacarante loads up on a big left hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Tacarante misses the target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rurik. Tacarante does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tacarante wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A left and a right from Tacarante both land. Nice combination.
Tacarante throws a lazy right hand but Rurik sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yaroslav Rurik is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rurik moves into the clinch.
Tacarante wants to get back to striking at distance but Rurik won't allow it.
A shot in the inside from Tacarante.
Good body shot from Rurik.
Tacarante fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rurik misses with a punch on the inside.
Tacarante blocks an uppercut.
Tacarante takes a shot to the head.
Rurik tries to throw a body punch but Tacarante avoids it by throwing Rurik back against the cage.
Rurik lands a nice uppercut.
Rurik misses with the head strike.
Tacarante blocking some punches.
Rurik doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tacarante tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rurik just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saul Tacarante. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rurik tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tacarante's elbow.
Rurik swings wildly with an uppercut but Tacarante uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rurik.
Nice body punch from Rurik.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rurik swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tacarante.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rurik tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rurik.
Rurik lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tacarante.
Rurik can't find room to land a body shot as Tacarante controls the action.
Rurik tries to work over Tacarante's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Tacarante pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tacarante connects with a body shot.
Rurik feints and then cracks Tacarante's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tacarante down.
Tacarante misses with a wild body shot.
A nice side step and Rurik releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Tacarante throws an overhand right that lands on Rurik's shoulder, as Rurik tries to avoid the shot.
A big right from Tacarante misses.
Rurik only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tacarante checks a leg kick.
Rurik misses with a wild body shot.
Tacarante takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yaroslav Rurik dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tacarante misses with a left hand
and Rurik counters with a nice leg kick.
Saul Tacarante seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rurik tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tacarante counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rurik throws a wild body kick that Tacarante sees coming a mile off.
Rurik throws the kick towards the body but Tacarante avoids it.

Rurik darts in and clinches Tacarante up against the cage.
Rurik misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rurik misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tacarante blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rurik swings wildly with an uppercut but Tacarante uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tacarante has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rurik uses from the top position.
Rurik content to stall in guard here.
Tacarante is looking to sweep but instead, Rurik has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rurik in particular looking to stall.
Tacarante is looking for a sweep. Rurik is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rurik sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rurik's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tacarante trying to control from the bottom.
Rurik controlling the action here.
Tacarante is trying to maintain the position but Rurik is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rurik has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rurik with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rurik tries to clinch but Tacarante is having none of it.

Rurik rushes Tacarante and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rurik tries to throw a body punch but Tacarante avoids it by throwing Rurik back against the cage.
Rurik misses with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Tacarante's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rurik struggles to land a body shot inside as Tacarante controls his hands.
Rurik lands a body punch.
Rurik lands a hook that snaps the head of Tacarante backwards.

Tacarante breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tacarante moves out of range of the body kick.
Tacarante looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tacarante throws a hook but Rurik blocks it.
Tacarante misses with a body shot.
Rurik throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rurik takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rurik lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Saul Tacarante is winning the standup battle so far.
Tacarante looks to land a combination. Rurik sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rurik clinches up against the cage.
Rurik tries to work over Tacarante's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rurik tries to work over Tacarante's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rurik working aggressively here.

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

Rurik pushes Tacarante up against the cage in a clinch.
Tacarante wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rurik has him pressed against the cage.
Tacarante blocking some punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tacarante misses with a hook to the ribs.
A hook to the body from Tacarante.
Rurik throws a punch but it's blocked by Tacarante.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tacarante.
Tacarante jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rurik walks away with a smile on his face. Tacarante gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yaroslav Rurik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rurik throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tacarante waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rurik.
A good leg kick by Rurik.
Rurik misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tacarante stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tacarante throws the left hand but Rurik avoids the punch easily.
Rurik steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Rurik connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rurik misses with a head kick.
Tacarante with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rurik. That's going to slow Tacarante down.
Tacarante throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Rurik in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Tacarante missing with a left hand there. Rurik was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slow jab from Tacarante misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tacarante will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tacarante swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big right from Tacarante misses.
Rurik blocks a jab.
Rurik throws a shot from downtown. Tacarante moves away and avoids it.
Saul Tacarante has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tacarante pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rurik with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tacarante to score with a decent uppercut.
Rurik fakes the leg kick and cracks Tacarante in the body.
Tacarante swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rurik blocks a jab.
Tacarante ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tacarante misses with an uppercut. Rurik saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rurik throws a lazy head kick
and Tacarante counters with a one-two to the body.
A slow jab from Tacarante misses its intended target.
Rurik lands a glancing blow to the side of Tacarante's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rurik uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tacarante.
Rurik appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tacarante moves away from the strike by Rurik.
Tacarante misses with a hook
and Rurik counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rurik keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tacarante.
Rurik slips a straight right by Tacarante.
Rurik is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Tacarante swings away with a body shot that misses

and Rurik counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tacarante has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rurik blocks an uppercut.

Tacarante breaks from the clinch.
Rurik misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tacarante misses with a left hand
and Rurik counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Rurik instigates a clinch.
Tacarante blocks an uppercut.

Tacarante drags the fight down to the ground.
Yaroslav Rurik is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tacarante trying to keep a closed guard but Rurik is proving a slippery customer.
Rurik passes Tacarante's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rurik is controlling the pace.
Tacarante is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tacarante is controlling Rurik's trapped leg to prevent Rurik from advancing to side control.
Tacarante is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rurik scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Tacarante looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rurik looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yaroslav Rurik.
I've got Rurik winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yaroslav Rurik!