PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between EJ Tap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teppo Tuhoaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tap kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Pop Lock and Drop It. This should be fireworks!

Tap
vs
Tuhoaja

170 cm
24
180 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
182 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Poweful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, EJ Tap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Teppo Tuhoaja!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuhoaja ducks under a wild hook from Tap.
Tuhoaja has a takedown stuffed.
Good work by Tap as he checks the leg kick.
No luck for Tuhoaja with that takedown attempt.
Tap throws a jab but it's blocked by Tuhoaja.
Tap lands a right hook to the body.
Tap fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Tap shoots in and bounces Tuhoaja off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tap trying to control but Tuhoaja is working from the bottom.
Tap is pushing down on Tuhoaja's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tuhoaja is fighting to maintain full guard but Tap has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tap throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tuhoaja has a hand on Tap's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Tap takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Tap thowing shots but they're missing.
Tap throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tap throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Tuhoaja is looking to get to half guard.
Tap with a couple of short strikes.
Tuhoaja wants to hold on but Tap pushes him away.

Tap has control of Tuhoaja's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tuhoaja regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Tuhoaja tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tap has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tap trying to control but Tuhoaja is having none of it.
Tuhoaja tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tuhoaja wants to hold on but Tap pushes him away.

Tap looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tuhoaja working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tuhoaja is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tuhoaja looks gassed!
Tap throws some wild stikes that Tuhoaja manages to avoid easily.
Tap wants to control the pace but Tuhoaja is squirming around nicely.
Tuhoaja sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Tap is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Tuhoaja has managed to free his arm - good work.

Tap is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Tuhoaja has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tap thows a huge punch but Tuhoaja dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tap is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tuhoaja sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tuhoaja makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tuhoaja.
Tap won't allow Tuhoaja to sweep him here.
Tap pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tuhoaja is keeping the position for now.
Tuhoaja trying to keep a closed guard but Tap is proving a slippery customer.

Tuhoaja has his foot on Tap's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tap works his way back into a safe position though.
Tap trying to control the position from guard on top but Tuhoaja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tuhoaja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tap wants to control from the top but Tuhoaja keeps moving.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tap jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tap throws a body punch but Tuhoaja moves out of range.
Tuhoaja will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tuhoaja scores with a hook.
Tap takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tap ducks under a wild hook from Tuhoaja.
Tuhoaja stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like EJ Tap has been cut.
Tap throws a big shot that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Tuhoaja. No joy for Tap on that attempt.
Tuhoaja walks into a stiff left hand from Tap.
Tap with a nice cross.
A bone on bone clash there as Tap blocks the leg kick.
Tap shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tuhoaja as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for EJ Tap. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A cross from Tap lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tap gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tap keeping moving, preventing Tuhoaja from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

EJ Tap dominated that round.
The cut man is working on EJ Tap's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tuhoaja misses with a shot to the body

and Tap counters with a single leg into guard. Tuhoaja didn't expect that.
Tap throws a big right hand that misses.

Tuhoaja is looking for a triangle here but Tap uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Tuhoaja is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Tap looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tap landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Tap tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tap has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tuhoaja regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuhoaja is looking for a sweep. Tap is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tap thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tap tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tuhoaja knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tuhoaja works his way to full guard. Good work.
Tuhoaja is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tap postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tuhoaja looking for a sweep. Not yet Tuhoaja, not yet.

Tap is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tuhoaja misses with a low kick.
Tuhoaja misses with a wild body shot.

Tap gets the takedown into side control.
Tap working the ground and pound from side control.

Tap thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuhoaja is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Tuhoaja makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tuhoaja.

Tap is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tuhoaja is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tuhoaja has escaped and now he's on top!

Tuhoaja drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tuhoaja jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tuhoaja trying to move into half guard but instead Tap has managed to sweep!

Tuhoaja has his foot on Tap's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tap works his way back into a safe position though.
Tuhoaja keeping moving, preventing Tap from controlling successfully.
EJ Tap overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tap lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tap throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tuhoaja works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tap with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tap on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tuhoaja fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tap staying out of range there.
Tap throws a shot from downtown. Tuhoaja moves away and avoids it.
Tuhoaja keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tuhoaja shoots for a double leg takedown but Tap sprawls well. He's pushed Tuhoaja's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tap ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tap lunges at Tuhoaja with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tuhoaja's hand.
Tap swings for the body but Tuhoaja moves out of range.
Tap misses with a hook.
Tuhoaja thows a body shot but no joy.
Tap fails with a takedown attempt.
Tap shoots for a double leg takedown but Tuhoaja sprawls well. He's pushed Tap's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tap defending well as Tuhoaja loads up on a big left hand.
Tuhoaja ducks under a wild hook from Tap.

Tuhoaja decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tap manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tap wants to sweep here but Tuhoaja controlling him for the moment.
Tuhoaja slips nicely into half guard.
Tuhoaja has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tuhoaja avoids the attempt from Tap to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tap keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

EJ Tap dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on EJ Tap's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tuhoaja misses with a shot to the body

and Tap counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tuhoaja looking for a sweep. Not yet Tuhoaja, not yet.
Tap forces his way into half guard.
Tap trying to mount his opponent but Tuhoaja defends it.
Tuhoaja gets back to full guard.

Tuhoaja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tap can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tap trying to control but Tuhoaja is working from the bottom.
Tap stopping the sweep attempt from Tuhoaja.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tap loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tap in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Tuhoaja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tap trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Tap is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tap throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Tap checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A punch combination from Tuhoaja misses.
Tap swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tuhoaja scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tap doesn't seem bothered though.

Tap shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Tap is trying to work for a kimura but Tuhoaja is defending well.
Teppo Tuhoaja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tap throwing shots but Tuhoaja is blocking nicely.
Tap is pressing down on Tuhoaja's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tuhoaja is holding on for now.
Tuhoaja missing with punches from the bottom.
Tuhoaja is looking for a sweep. Tap is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tuhoaja gets full guard.
Tap throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tuhoaja works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tap postures up in Tuhoaja's guard and throws a big left but Tuhoaja blocks it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A punch lands to the side of Tap 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tap dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Tap looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tuhoaja!
Tap connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuhoaja is mounted and he's throwing punches. Is that wise?
Tap is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Tap with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Tap trying to control but he's not successful this time.
EJ Tap is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tuhoaja is trying desperately to improve position.
Tap tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tuhoaja is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.
Tap sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tuhoaja is trying to escape the mount.
Tap content just to control the position here.
Tap landing strikes, looking to finish!
Tap tries to control but Tuhoaja wriggling away.
Tuhoaja keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Tap is working for a guillotine from mount but Tuhoaja frees his head quite easily.
Tuhoaja is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
EJ Tap showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tap 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... EJ Tap!