PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Skinny Boy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iron Tager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tager is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: MOTOR HEAD. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Boy
vs
Tager

225 cm
28
300 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

225 cm
24
300 lbs
7 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Skinny Boy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Iron Tager!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tager is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Boy's half guard.
Tager is thwarting Boy's attempts to control the position.
Boy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tager.
Boy trying to control here.
Tager working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tager is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Boy is trying to stand back up but Tager is controlling him
Tager is keen to just control but Boy is a slippery customer.

Tager is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Boy pushes Tager off and gets back to his feet.

Tager closes the distance and pushes Boy back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boy is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tager is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Boy to the mat. Boy regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Tager trying to control but Boy is working from the bottom.
Tager trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tager loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tager trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tager is trying to get back to full guard.
It looks like Boy is going to stand back up.
Tager is refusing to be controlled, as Boy sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tager is holding on to half guard well.
Boy is thwarting Tager's attempts to control the position.
Tager is refusing to be controlled, as Boy sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Skinny Boy just wasn't active enough.
Boy tries to bum rush Tager with a series of wild strikes but Tager uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tager circles away from the clinch attempt

and Tager counters with a single leg into guard. Boy didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tager landing with the ground and pound.
Boy pulls Tager in close to his closed guard and prevents Tager from doing any damage or advancing position.
Boy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Boy keeping full guard, as Tager tries to pass.
Tager postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tager landing some decent shots from guard.
Tager pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Boy is keeping the position for now.
Tager lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tager postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tager working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tager working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tager with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tager's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tager postures up.
Tager is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tager tries to free his leg and advance position but Boy is retaining full guard.
Boy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tager working some strikes from top position.
Tager trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Boy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tager postures up and lands a big shot to Boy's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iron Tager dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Boy tries a head kick but it misses.

Tager closes the distance and pushes Boy back into the cage.

Tager is trying to trip Boy. He has hold of a leg but Boy is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Tager persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Tager trying to control the position from guard on top but Boy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tager distracts Boy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Boy wants to stand but Tager is controlling the position.
Tager trying to control the position from guard on top but Boy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tager drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Boy dives on top into guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tager trying to keep a closed guard but Boy is proving a slippery customer.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tager holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tager is keeping the position for now.

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.
Tager looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boy trying to control but Tager is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Skinny Boy wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Tager is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Boy's half guard.
Tager trying to control the action but Boy is working from the bottom.
Boy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tager.
Boy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tager passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Boy!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boy wants to control but Tager is having none of it.

Tager looking to secure an arm triangle but Boy defends it well.
Boy regains half guard.
Tager is nestled in close to Boy, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Boy is looking to improve his position.
Boy is refusing to be controlled, as Tager sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Boy pushes Tager off and gets back to his feet.
Skinny Boy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boy thows a left - swing and a miss!

Boy tries to sprawl but Tager drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Boy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tager.
Tager wants to control but Boy is keeping him busy.
Tager throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tager wants to advance to full mount but Boy doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Boy wants to stand up but Tager is controlling him.
Tager lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Boy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tager postures up in Boy's guard and throws a big left but Boy blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iron Tager showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Boy with a poor takedown

and Tager counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tager accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tager.
Boy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tager!
Boy punching from mount but Tager doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Tager is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tager is squirming around, avoiding Boy's attempts to control the action.
Tager is trying to reverse the position but instead Boy has taken his back - oops!
Tager looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Boy tries to keep control of the position but Tager is staying busy.
Skinny Boy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Tager defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Boy throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boy keeps control of the position as Tager tries to break free.

Tager defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Even with his hooks in, Boy manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Boy struggling to land strikes to the head as Tager covers up.
Boy controlling well, preventing Tager from escaping the position.

Boy looking for the RNC.
Boy throws strikes from the back but Tager rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Tager.

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.

Tager looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tager seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tager looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Skinny Boy.
Well Tager has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iron Tager!