PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cristian Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Altair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Altair comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Assassin's Creed kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Tavares
vs
Altair

173 cm
22
150 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
150 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Sydney Fight Gear
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cristian Tavares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anton Altair!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavares looks to land a combination but Altair avoids it well.
Altair misses with a wild body shot.
Tavares misses with a lunging right hand
and Altair counters with a right hand to the body.
Tavares checks a low kick from Altair.
Tavares tried to counter with a leg kick but Altair avoided it.
A clash of legs there as Tavares blocks the low kick.
Tavares dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tavares paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Tavares blocks a leg kick.
Tavares moves out of range of the body kick.
Tavares lands a nice leg kick that just misses Altair's sensitive parts.
Tavares scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Altair lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tavares at a distance.
Altair scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tavares doesn't seem bothered though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tavares scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tavares cracks Altair with an open hand slap.
Altair fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tavares has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tavares misses with an uppercut
and Altair connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tavares pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tavares seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares misses with a hook. Altair ducked under it nicely.
Altair tries to land a body kick
and Tavares counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tavares lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Altair has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Altair and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tavares ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Altair moves away.
Altair throws a body punch but Tavares moves out of range.
Altair stuns Tavares with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tavares misses with a straight left.
As Tavares backs off Altair throws a huge counter combo but Tavares manages to avoid it all.
Tavares dips to his left and cracks Altair with an uppercut!
Tavares misses with a body shot
and Altair counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tavares's knee momentarily.
Tavares connects with an inside leg kick.
Tavares lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tavares. Altair does a little dance to reset his feet.
Altair tries a quick counter leg kick but Tavares is wise to it.
Tavares swings for the body but Altair moves out of range.
Tavares moves out of range of the body kick from Altair.
Altair throws a head kick that half lands.
Altair is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tavares rather than just go for the knockout.
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!
Tavares with a jab.
Tavares takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares looks to land a right hand but Altair moved out of range.
Altair uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tavares.
Altair shapes to counter with a head kick.
Altair waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tavares.
Altair throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Altair looks to land a right hand but Tavares moved out of range.
Altair ducks right into an uppercut from Tavares.
Tavares looks to land a right hand but Altair moved out of range.
Altair checks a leg kick.
Tavares slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tavares attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Altair takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tavares fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Altair checks it well.
Altair throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Altair scores with a push kick.
Tavares turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tavares misses with a wild body shot.
Altair replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Tavares blocks it well.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Altair.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares throws a shot to the body.
Altair blocks a jab.
Tavares avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Altair throws a half hearted mid kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Tavares.
Altair slips under a jab.
Altair takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tavares looks to score with a jab to the body but Altair is just out of range.
Altair throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Altair lands with a straight right. Tavares didn't see that one coming.
A jab from Altair misses.
Tavares thows a leg kick but Altair checks it
and Altair counters with a left to the body.
Tavares feints and then cracks Altair's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Altair down.
Tavares throws a predictable looking body shot
and Altair counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tavares looks to throw the jab but Altair is out of range.
Tavares misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tavares throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Altair counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Altair slips under a jab from Tavares.
Tavares moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Altair fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tavares on the side of the head.
Altair lands a leg kick that knocks Tavares off balance momentarily.
Tavares is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Altair tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tavares pivots, looking for a leg kick but Altair is out of range and Tavares settles back down.
Tavares lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cristian Tavares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tavares walks forward, straight into a front kick from Altair.
Altair wants to land a leg kick but Tavares is out of range.
Altair dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tavares. That did some damage!
Altair fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tavares.
A leg kick checked by Tavares.
Tavares scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Altair doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Altair connects with a leg kick. Tavares looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Altair connects with a nice looking jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Tavares checks a leg kick.
Tavares lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
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 Cristian Tavares will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tavares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tavares throws a front kick aimed at Altair's knee but Altair avoids it well.
Altair looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A big right from Altair misses.
Tavares lands a jab to the nose.
Altair showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tavares.
Altair tried to score with a low kick but Tavares checks it.
Altair moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Cristian Tavares has been cut.
Tavares throws a body shot but no joy.
Altair connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tavares's hands.
Good work by Tavares as he checks the leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Altair.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bone on bone clash there as Altair blocks the leg kick.
Altair moves out of range of the body kick from Tavares.
Tavares lands a nice looking body shot.
Altair has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tavares pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tavares scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Altair throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Altair takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tavares misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Tavares misses
and Altair counters with a thumping low kick.
Altair stuns Tavares with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tavares cracks Altair with a right hand to the side of the head.
Altair misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Altair misses its intended target.
Tavares throws a body punch but Altair moves out of range.
Altair keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tavares.
Altair misses with a wild body shot.
Altair throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tavares takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Altair scores with a nice right hand.
Tavares looks to throw the jab but Altair is out of range.
Altair throws a sloppy head kick and Tavares moves out of range easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Altair throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Altair scores with the left hand. Tavares knows he should have avoided that one.
Tavares with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tavares is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tavares lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tavares has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Tavares uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Altair.
An attempted straight right counter from Tavares misses the target.
Tavares throws a hook but Altair avoids it easily.
Altair throws out a counter right but Tavares avoids it with no problem.
Cristian Tavares is winning the standup battle so far.
A leg kick checked by Altair.
Altair looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Altair looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tavares was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Altair thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Tavares if he has to take too many more of those.
Altair takes a swing at Tavares's ribcage but misses.
Tavares throws a body punch but Altair moves out of range.
Tavares throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tavares scores with a punch to the head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tavares. That's going to slow Altair down.
Altair ducks under a wild hook from Tavares.
Altair pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Altair walks into a stiff left hand from Tavares.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Altair misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tavares.
Tavares misses with an uppercut. Altair saw that one coming.
Tavares looks to land a left hand but Altair moved out of range nicely.
Altair swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tavares misses with a body shot.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Altair moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Altair takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Altair misses with a wild body shot.
Tavares bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Altair's head backwards.
Tavares lands a two punch combo.
A good leg kick by Altair.
Altair misses with a hook.
Tavares scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Altair keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tavares.
Both fighters circling a little - Altair finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tavares moves out of range of the body kick.
Tavares throws a hook but Altair blocks it.
Altair has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares lands a jab to the head.
Altair throws a leg kick but Tavares sees it coming and moves out of range.
Tavares throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Tavares misses the target.
Tavares looks to land a left hand but Altair moved out of range nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Altair.
Altair lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Altair throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tavares stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Altair throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tavares sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Altair throws out a loose jab but Tavares uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tavares will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Altair throws a right hand that misses
and Tavares counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tavares misses with a hook to the body
letting Altair counter with a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavares takes a jab right on the kisser.
Altair throws a body shot but no joy.
Tavares tests Altair's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Decent striking displayed by Tavares there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cristian Tavares will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cristian Tavares's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tavares bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Altair lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Tavares moves out of range of the body kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Altair checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A clash of legs there as Altair blocks the low kick.
A shot to the body from Tavares misses
and Altair counters with a nice body shot.
Tavares fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Altair manages to avoid it.
Altair dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tavares. That did some damage!
Tavares swings away with a body shot that misses
and Altair counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Tavares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Altair was well out of range. Poor timing from Tavares.
Tavares swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Altair counters with a slapping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares misses with a low kick.
Tavares cracks Altair with a good jab.
Tavares misses with a looping right.
The fighters circling - Tavares throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A big right from Tavares misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tavares fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Altair.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares avoids the body shot from Altair.
Tavares misses with a low kick as Altair jumps back.
Altair tries to land a front kick but Tavares steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tavares defending well as Altair loads up on a big left hand.
Tavares avoids the body shot from Altair.
Altair throws a lazy head kick
and Tavares counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tavares misses with a body shot.
Tavares swings widly with a right hand
and Altair counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Altair throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Altair thumps Tavares with a low kick.
A jab from Tavares misses.
Tavares rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Altair makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Tavares checks a leg kick.
Tavares scores with a jab. Altair acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Tavares checks a low kick from Altair.
Altair throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares connects with a crisp jab.
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!
A looping hook to the body misses from Altair. Tavares does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tavares throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Altair connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tavares. Tavares circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Altair comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tavares takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Altair takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Altair bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Tavares connects with the punch.
Altair explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Tavares wants to land a leg kick but Altair is out of range.
Tavares walks into a stiff left hand from Altair.
A low kick from Tavares misses
and Altair counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
An inside leg kick from Tavares misses.
Tavares swings for the body but Altair moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares throws a leg kick that is checked
and Altair counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Altair misses with a body shot.
Altair throws a poor cross that misses
and Tavares counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Altair throws a low kick, looking for Tavares's leg but Tavares calmly moves out of range.
Tavares swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Altair misses with a wild body shot.
A quick step to the side and Tavares tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tavares on the wrong end of a nice jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tavares.
Tavares throws a right hand that misses
and Altair counters with a nice uppercut.
Altair staying out of range there.
Altair looks to land a right hand but Tavares moved out of range.
Tavares smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Altair jabs at Tavares's body.
Altair throws a body punch but Tavares moves out of range.
Tavares staying out of range there.
Tavares lands with a straight right. Altair didn't see that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tavares throws a body punch but Altair moves out of range.
Tavares blocks a head kick by Altair.
Altair throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Altair defending well as Tavares loads up on a big left hand.
Altair scores with a nice body kick.
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
Altair thumps Tavares with a low kick.
Tavares misses with a left hand
and Altair counters with a low kick, right behind Tavares 's knee.
Altair keeps Tavares at a distance using the push kick.
Tavares fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Anton Altair has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tavares checks a leg kick.
Altair takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavares thuds his right hand into Altair's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tavares checks a leg kick nicely.
Tavares misses with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Altair comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tavares 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Cristian Tavares!
Cristian Tavares thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Anton Altair spoke after the fight, saying 'Newcombe had luck this time. Next time I will Knock out his head. '.