PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tom Tatam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ehud Barak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ehud Barak told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Tatam
vs
Barak

160 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tom Tatam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ehud Barak!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tatam shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Barak napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Barak is trying to get back to half guard.
Tatam content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Barak's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Barak manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Barak trying to control the action but Tatam is working from the bottom.
Barak should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Barak seems to be working for a kimura but Tatam defends the submission attempt.
Barak is keen to just control but Tatam is a slippery customer.
Tatam is looking for a sweep. Barak is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tatam wants to control but Barak is keeping busy.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Barak has eaten all the pies!
Tatam tries to get to full guard but Barak has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatam moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Barak won't allow Tatam to sweep him here.
Barak looking to pass the guard.
Barak trying to control but Tatam is working from the bottom.
Tatam keeping full guard, as Barak tries to pass.
Barak trying to control but Tatam is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ehud Barak.

Barak gets caught flat footed, as Tatam shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Barak wants to sweep but no luck.

Barak working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tatam doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tatam manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barak trying to keep a closed guard but Tatam is proving a slippery customer.
Tatam looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
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!
Barak wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Tatam is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barak is looking to control Tatam's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barak avoid being mounted?
Tatam is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Barak gets full guard.
Tatam won't allow Barak to sweep him here.
Tatam has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tatam is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tatam makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Barak working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Tatam has passed into half guard!
Tatam keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barak is looking for a sweep. Tatam is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barak taking some punishment here, with Tatam in his half guard.
Tatam is looking to stall here but Barak recovers full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barak is on top in guard.
Tatam not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tatam working a defensive guard but Barak passes into half guard.

Barak is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tatam is just riding it out for now. Barak eventually gives up the hold.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Barak is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tatam doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tom Tatam will probably get the nod.
That's time! Tatam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tatam shoots in and gets a takedown into Barak's guard.
Barak is trying to control the position but Tatam postures up.
Tatam's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Barak working for a triangle but Tatam defends it easily.
Tatam trying to control but Barak is working from the bottom.
Tatam is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tatam trying to control the position from guard on top but Barak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tom Tatam has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Tatam looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Barak wants to improve his position but Tatam is controlling well.

Barak looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barak is looking for a sweep. Tatam is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barak gets full guard.
Tatam looking to pass the guard.
Tatam trying to control but Barak is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatam controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tatam wants to control from the top but Barak keeps moving.

Barak had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tatam defends it easily.
Barak is looking to sweep but instead, Tatam has passed into half guard.
Tatam perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Barak is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tatam takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barak controlling the position for now.
Barak trying to control but Tatam postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ehud Barak.
Barak steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tatam.

Tatam looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Barak!
Barak looks to move to half guard but instead Tatam has passed into mount! Damn!
Tatam with the ground and pound from mount.
Barak sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatam sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tatam prevents Barak from improving his position.
Tom Tatam overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tatam is trying to control the action in half guard but Barak is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barak is trying to get back to full guard.
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!
Barak regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tatam cracks Barak with a solid left hand.
Tatam trying to control but Barak is working from the bottom.

Barak is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tatam is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Tatam dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tatam fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Barak to the ground. Tatam is now in Barak's guard.
Tatam controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barak 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.
Tatam cracks Barak with a solid left hand.
Tatam trying to control the position from guard on top but Barak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tom Tatam just wasn't active enough.
Tatam looks to land a left hand but Barak moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tatam looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tatam looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barak looking to control.

Barak working for a triangle but Tatam defends it easily.
Tatam trying to control the position from guard on top but Barak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barak looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatam with a nice head shot there.
Tom Tatam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tatam trying to control the position from guard on top but Barak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tatam controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tatam has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Tom Tatam has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Barak tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tatam swivels and escapes.

Tatam closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Barak's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tatam sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barak controls Tatam momentarily but Tatam frees himself.

Tatam avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tatam 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barak wants to control the position but Tatam says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Barak is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tatam is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tom Tatam.

Tatam changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barak looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ehud Barak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Tatam showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tatam has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Tatam!