PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tayeb Taheri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex McHugh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Alex McHugh enters the ring!

Taheri
vs
McHugh

185 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

BLKOUT Clothing

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tayeb Taheri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex McHugh!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taheri fails to land the takedown.
McHugh throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Taheri scores a takedown into full mount!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
McHugh is just holding on here. Taheri manages to take his back.
Taheri throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
McHugh is covering up but some of the strikes from Taheri are getting through and doing damage.
McHugh really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taheri. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taheri has the hooks in. McHugh is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

McHugh defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
McHugh is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Taheri off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Taheri is persistently looking for the submission but McHugh is defending it well.
McHugh turns into Taheri and is now in his guard.
McHugh must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McHugh slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
McHugh wants to control from the top but Taheri keeps moving.

McHugh avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

McHugh postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Taheri is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of McHugh, into his guard.
McHugh is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taheri trying to control the position from guard on top but McHugh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McHugh is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two 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.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McHugh holds on and takes a little breather.
Taheri wants to stand but McHugh is controlling his posture from full guard.
Taheri is breathing heavily.
Taheri trying to control the position from guard on top but McHugh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McHugh is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Taheri trying to control the position from guard on top but McHugh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

McHugh has an active guard here but Taheri has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McHugh wants to control but Taheri is keeping busy.
Taheri prevents McHugh from improving his position.
Taheri wants to take a breather but McHugh is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Taheri shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McHugh napping and manages to drive through into side control!
McHugh is looking to reverse the position.

Taheri stands up and beckons McHugh to his feet.
A head kick misses from McHugh.
McHugh shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Taheri counters with a shoot takedown. McHugh fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McHugh wants to get back to his feet but Taheri is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McHugh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McHugh can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taheri controls the pace.
Taheri trying to control the position from guard on top but McHugh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McHugh working a defensive guard here.
McHugh is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tayeb Taheri dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taheri moves in looking to clinch but McHugh pushes him off.
Taheri tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but McHugh paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McHugh.
Taheri is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked McHugh off and has taken his back!
Taheri is trying to stick to McHugh's back but McHugh is turning into Taheri. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Taheri's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by McHugh.
McHugh wants to control from the top but Taheri keeps moving.
Taheri working a defensive guard here.
McHugh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taheri is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McHugh trying to control the position from guard on top but Taheri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McHugh is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Taheri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McHugh scores with a head kick.

It looks like Tayeb Taheri has been cut.
McHugh misses with an attempted mid kick.

McHugh shoots in and bounces Taheri off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Taheri working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McHugh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McHugh won't allow Taheri to sweep him here.
Taheri keeping moving, preventing McHugh from controlling successfully.
McHugh makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Taheri is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McHugh is controlling him.

Taheri looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McHugh passes into half guard.
McHugh wants to control but Taheri is keeping him busy.
McHugh might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Taheri kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taheri throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Taheri is staying active underneath McHugh, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McHugh lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
McHugh is taking a breather. Taheri says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
McHugh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taheri keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taheri wants to get back to his feet.
McHugh wants to take a breather but Taheri is having none of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alex McHugh just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McHugh closes the distance and pushes Taheri back into the ropes.

McHugh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

McHugh gets caught flat footed, as Taheri shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McHugh is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
McHugh is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tayeb Taheri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taheri stops McHugh from standing up.
Taheri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taheri's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex McHugh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tayeb Taheri's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Taheri misses with a takedown

and McHugh counters by clinching up.
McHugh tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taheri's elbow.
McHugh stalling in the clinch.
McHugh tries a body shot but Taheri blocks it.

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

Taheri shoots in and bounces McHugh off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
McHugh trying to keep a closed guard but Taheri is proving a slippery customer.
McHugh wants to sweep but no luck.
McHugh trying to keep a closed guard but Taheri is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
McHugh is pulling down on Taheri's head. It's preventing any offense from Taheri, at least for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taheri wants to control from the top but McHugh keeps moving.
McHugh manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

McHugh jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Taheri is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Taheri and McHugh has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Taheri tries to control but McHugh manages to take his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McHugh has good solid back control here.

Taheri preventing the rear naked choke attempt from McHugh.
Taheri has hold of McHugh's arm. He needs to escape this position sooner or later but for now he's happy enough to control the position and prevent the submission attempts.
Taheri is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taheri manages to reverse the position and now he's in McHugh's guard. Nice work there by Taheri.
Taheri trying to control the position from guard on top but McHugh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McHugh tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taheri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McHugh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McHugh gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Taheri counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taheri.
McHugh looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Taheri puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McHugh tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Taheri has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
McHugh taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taheri tries to control but McHugh wriggling away.
McHugh wants to hold on but Taheri pushes him away.
McHugh is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Taheri is staying active.
Taheri tries to control but McHugh wriggling away.
McHugh sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tayeb Taheri showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taheri has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tayeb Taheri!