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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Malo Tavara (ranked 1291 p4p, 1014 weight class) and Bryson Whitehead (ranked 142 p4p, 110 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!
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| 180 cm
21
155
10 - 3 - 0 |
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170 cm
21
160
7 - 1 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Malo Tavara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bryson Whitehead!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitehead misses with a straight left.
We've been told by Tavara's head coaches at Bushido Martial Arts that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Tavara defending well as Whitehead loads up on a big left hand.
Whitehead lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nice defenses there by Tavara.
Whitehead tests Tavara's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Whitehead misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tavara.
It looked like Tavara was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Whitehead.
Whitehead shoots in for a double leg but Tavara sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It looked like Tavara was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Whitehead misses with a wild body shot.
Whitehead throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehead connects with the punch.
Whitehead dodges the punch combination from Tavara.
Whitehead throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tavara counters with a stiff right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead throws a hook to the side of Tavara's head but Tavara sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tavara throws a combination. Whitehead tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Whitehead drives through and clinches with Tavara against the cage.
Tavara misses with a punch on the inside.
Whitehead swings wildly with an uppercut but Tavara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Whitehead misses with the head strike.
Whitehead breaks from the clinch.
Whitehead throws a body punch but Tavara moves out of range.
Tavara swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Whitehead comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tavara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Whitehead throws a predictable looking body shot
and Whitehead takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Whitehead throws a lazy uppercut
and Tavara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Whitehead has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead missing with a left hand there. Tavara was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Whitehead throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A little feinted left hand from Tavara on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tavara keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Whitehead.
Whitehead misses the shot to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Whitehead, as that shot connected.
Tavara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tavara darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tavara looks to throw the jab but Whitehead is out of range.
Tavara walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tavara takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tavara takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Whitehead connects with a crisp jab.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead misses with a straight right.
Good standup being displayed there by Tavara as he connects with a hook.
Whitehead throws an overhand right that lands on Tavara's shoulder, as Tavara tries to avoid the shot.
Tavara ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tavara takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Whitehead looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
It looked like Tavara wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tavara moves away from the strike by Whitehead.
Tavara is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Whitehead throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Whitehead misses with a series of wild punches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Whitehead misses with a hook
and Tavara counters with a nice uppercut.
Tavara throws a lazy right hand but Whitehead sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Whitehead lands a jab to the head.
Tavara with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Whitehead to score with a decent uppercut.
Tavara is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Whitehead with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whitehead scores with a nice strike.
Whitehead throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Whitehead throws out a powerful jab.
Whitehead throws a combination that misses
and Tavara counters with a nice body shot.
Whitehead jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Whitehead waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tavara.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Bryson Whitehead dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Whitehead throws a good cross that connects.
Whitehead throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Whitehead scores with a decent looking hook.
Whitehead slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jab by Whitehead.
Whitehead throws the left hand but Tavara avoids the punch easily.
Whitehead shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tavara but Tavara pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehead lands a nice shot to the body.
Tavara thows a left - swing and a miss!
Whitehead throws an off balance right hand
and Tavara counters with a nice uppercut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavara takes one on the button.
A shot to the body from Whitehead misses
and Tavara counters with a nice uppercut.
Whitehead thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tavara missing with a left hand there. Whitehead was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Whitehead throws a nice looking combination but Tavara bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Whitehead lands a nice hook to Tavara's body. Tavara takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A punch lands to the side of Tavara 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Whitehead shoots in and drives through. Tavara sprawls well.
A shot to the body from Whitehead misses
and Tavara counters with a nice uppercut.
A shot to the body from Whitehead misses
letting Tavara counter with a right hand.
Whitehead looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tavara seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavara missing with a left hand there. Whitehead was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tavara displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Whitehead throws out the jab.
Whitehead moves into range and clinches up with Tavara.
Whitehead is trying to drag Tavara to the mat but Tavara just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Malo Tavara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryson Whitehead.
Whitehead dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tavara pushes Whitehead back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Whitehead avoiding damage.
Tavara doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tavara lands a shot to the body.
Tavara scores with a shoulder strike.
Tavara prevents a takedown attempt there.
The referee calls for Whitehead to work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tavara swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Tavara.
Whitehead presses Tavara against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short body shot lands from Tavara as the two fighters clinch.
Whitehead is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A body shot lands from Tavara.
Tavara gets through Whitehead's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tavara throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Whiteheads head.
A head punch on the inside from Tavara fails to land.
Whitehead blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Whitehead is trying to maintain a safe position but Tavara gets an underhook and turns Whitehead into the cage.
Whitehead blocks an uppercut.
Whitehead misses with the head strike.
Whitehead doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tavara misses with a shot to the kidneys.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Whitehead.
Tavara goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tavara fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tavara pushes Whitehead back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tavara throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Whiteheads head.
Tavara stops a takedown attempt from Whitehead.
Tavara misses with a short punch on the inside.
Whitehead lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tavara backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tavara struggles to land a body shot inside as Whitehead controls his hands.
A right hand to the body from Whitehead.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tavara.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tavara.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tavara tries to work over Whitehead's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Whitehead digs a right hand underneath Tavara's ribcage. Tavara let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Whitehead is trying to stall.
Tavara lands a left hand.
Whitehead misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Malo Tavara will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Tavara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tavara wants it to stay on the feet.
Tavara walks into a straight right hand from Whitehead.
Tavara blocks a jab.
Tavara is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Whitehead misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tavara.
Tavara swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A shot to the liver by Whitehead. Beautiful body shot.
Tavara looks to throw the jab but Whitehead is out of range.
Whitehead looks to throw the jab but Tavara is out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Tavara on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tavara takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehead looks to throw the jab but Tavara is out of range.
Tavara was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Tavara looks to score with a jab to the body but Whitehead is just out of range.
Whitehead feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Tavaras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavara.
Whitehead tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tavara defends well and Whitehead ends up having to push Tavara into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tavara is looking to counter punch.
Bryson Whitehead seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Whitehead dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Whitehead tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tavara was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Whitehead misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Tavara to counter with a crisp jab.
Whitehead fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Whitehead lands an overhand right.
Malo Tavara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Whitehead shoots in but no luck this time.
Malo Tavara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryson Whitehead.
Tavara scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Whitehead looks to land a left hand but Tavara moved out of range nicely.
Tavara is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Whitehead doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tavara counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tavara.
Tavara is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tavara gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Whitehead.
Whitehead with a poor takedown
and Tavara counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tavara moves out of range as Whitehead strikes.
Whitehead rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tavara counters with a nice uppercut.
Tavara looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Whitehead lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Tavara throws out a loose jab but Whitehead uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tavara walks into a straight right hand from Whitehead.
Tavara misses with a looping left.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Whitehead does no damage.
Tavara is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Tavara scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Tavara throws a body punch but Whitehead moves out of range.
Whitehead fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Tavara misses its target.
Whitehead with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Tavara to counter with a crisp jab.
Whitehead takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Whitehead fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tavara manages to avoid it.
Tavara showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Whitehead.
Whitehead is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tavara.
A quick step to the side and Tavara tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A shot to the liver by Whitehead. Beautiful body shot.
Whitehead swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bryson Whitehead seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead misses with an uppercut.
Tavara slips under a jab from Whitehead.
Tavara blocks a jab.
Tavara swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Whitehead throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Whitehead pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tavara connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Tavara tries to move into range but Whitehead moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tavara swinging wildly here.
Whitehead misses the body punch
enabling Tavara to counter with a crisp jab.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bryson Whitehead.
I think Whitehead has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryson Whitehead!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
60% |
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