PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Patricio Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donald Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tavares comes into the arena with Armin van Buuren - Sail blaring out of the sound system. Donald Stewart will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tavares
vs
Stewart

175 cm
27
171 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
170 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Patricio Tavares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Donald Stewart!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavares moves in looking to clinch but Stewart pushes him off.
Tavares tries to clinch but Stewart moves out of range.
Tavares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stewart shoots in for a double leg but Tavares sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tavares tries to clinch there but Stewart circles away.
Stewart misses with a few strikes there.
Tavares misses with a body shot.

Tavares drops Stewart with a nice combination! Tavares dives into Stewart's guard, looking to finish!

Stewart is rocked!
Tavares might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stewart wants to sweep here but Tavares controlling him for the moment.
Stewart is still in real trouble! Can Tavares finish him?
Tavares wants to stand but Stewart is controlling his posture from full guard.
Stewart seems to have recovered his senses.
Tavares is pushing down on Stewart's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stewart is fighting to maintain full guard but Tavares has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stewart manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares trying to control but Stewart is working from the bottom.
Tavares wants to stand but Stewart is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tavares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tavares postures up.
Tavares wants to pass the guard but Stewart is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stewart is trying to control the position but Tavares postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stewart keeping moving, preventing Tavares from controlling successfully.
Stewart is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

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

Stewart decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stewart trying to control the pace.
Tavares slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Stewart got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tavares has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stewart has managed to get both his arms back between Tavares's legs - danger averted.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tavares sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stewart somewhat.
Stewart avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tavares tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stewart swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stewart is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stewart.
Patricio Tavares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donald Stewart.
Tavares lands a jab-cross combination.
Stewart avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stewart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stewart misses with the combination.
Tavares tries to clinch but Stewart is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart misses with a wild combination.
Nice sprawl there from Tavares as Stewart shoots in.
Stewart avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tavares tries to clinch but Stewart moves out of range.
Tavares scores with a three punch combo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tavares drives through and clinches with Stewart against the cage.
Tavares misses with a knee strike.
Tavares misses with a knee to the head.
Tavares looking to stall.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tavares stalling the fight.
Tavares tries to land a knee to the head but Stewart blocks with his arms.
Tavares scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patricio Tavares dominated that round.
That's time! Tavares's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tavares fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Stewart circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stewart counters with a takedown into side control.
Tavares pushes Stewart away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Stewart gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tavares gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Tavares tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Stewart manages to move to mount!
Tavares trying desperately to get to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tavares is looking to get to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stewart breaks from Tavares's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tavares really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stewart has control of Tavares's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tavares regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Stewart takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stewart landing shots from mount.
Tavares squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Stewart takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tavares is in all sorts of trouble here.
Stewart with a couple of short strikes.
Tavares tries to lock up and control but Stewart gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart tries to control but Tavares wriggling away.
Stewart controlling from mount.
Tavares is desperately trying to improve his position but Stewart has a good base and remains in mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tavares has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Stewart's lack of action.
Tavares is staying active underneath Stewart, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Stewart decides to stand up.
Tavares is looking to clinch but Stewart is avoiding it.
Patricio Tavares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tavares tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stewart paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tavares is looking to clinch but Stewart is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stewart looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tavares dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stewart. That did some damage!
Stewart looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stewart keeps the fight on the outside.
Tavares tries to clinch up but Stewart circles away and keeps his distance.
Tavares misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tavares is looking to clinch but Stewart is avoiding it.
Stewart avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Patricio Tavares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stewart avoids a kick to the body.
Stewart fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Stewart shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tavares's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares keeping moving, preventing Stewart from controlling successfully.
Stewart pushes down on Tavares's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tavares is trying to stand up here but Stewart is controlling him well.
Ground and pound from Stewart.
Stewart winds up and cracks Tavares with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tavares is trying to maintain the position but Stewart is very close to passing his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stewart looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tavares is not content to let Stewart control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donald Stewart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A combination from Tavares does no damage.

Tavares moves into the clinch.
Stewart tries for a takedown but Tavares manages to get underhooks.
Tavares looking to throw knees to the head but Stewart is blocking nicely.
Tavares with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tavares throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stewart blocks it with crossed arms.
Stewart misses with a knee strike.
Tavares throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stewart blocks it with crossed arms.
Tavares throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stewart blocks it with crossed arms.
Tavares misses with a knee to the head.

Stewart has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tavares uses from the top position.
Stewart manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tavares manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stewart stands and steps away. Tavares gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart shoots for a double leg takedown but Tavares sprawls well. He's pushed Stewart's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tavares tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Stewart counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stewart.
Tavares wants to stand but Stewart is controlling the position.
Stewart showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Tavares is looking for a triangle but Stewart pushes his legs off easily.
Stewart with a nice head shot there.

Tavares is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stewart is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart trying to control the position from guard on top but Tavares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stewart engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stewart preventing the sweep.
Stewartis looking to pass into half guard but Tavares pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tavares is in guard.
Tavares trying to control the position from guard on top but Stewart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tavares stopping the sweep attempt from Stewart.
Tavares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tavares's guard.
Tavares looking to control.

Tavares has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Stewart is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Tavares.
Stewart controls the position.
Tavares is looking to regain half guard here but Stewart keeps moving and retains side control.
Stewart controls the position.

Stewart has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tavares pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares tries to clinch

so Stewart counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stewart gets to his feet - Tavares follows without any prompting.
Stewart is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tavares keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Patricio Tavares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donald Stewart.
Tavares throws a jab when Stewart was well out of range.

Stewart shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Stewart perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stewart trying to control the action but Tavares is working from the bottom.
Tavares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donald Stewart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stewart 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Donald Stewart!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Donald Stewart!

Donald Stewart wins by majority decision!