In the first fight of Eternal 50’s heavyweight Grand Prix tonight, Brisbane’s Jack Tuave stepped into the cage across from the towering figure of Ricky ‘the Barbarian’ Biechun.

Biechun standing 6’5” was the tallest man in the lineup by far. His opponent Jack Tuave an intimidating presence, being much thicker and more muscular.

The wrestling of Biechun was the difference in this fight, as he weathered the storm of Tuave’s hellacious offense to repeatedly take him down and land ground-and-pound in each round to take a unanimous 30-27 victory.

Round 1

They touched gloves, with Ricky circling and throwing inside leg kicks. Tuave clinched and pushed him to the fence, but Ricky dug the underhook well and kept him off his hips. Ricky turned him and clasped his hands together in a body-lock, landing a knee before they separated and Tuave landed a couple of heavy punches.

Biechun was crafty, though, using head movement to evade further damage and shooting on the legs of Tuave. Tuave attempted a guillotine against the cage as Biechun kept hunting the takedown, eventually getting his hands clasped below the hips.

Tuave was able to adjust and avoid the takedown, but Biechun kept the pressure on, getting the outside trip and ending up in Tuave’s half-guard. Tuave dug an underhook and used it to stand up, pushing Biechun to the cage in turn.

Again, Biechun got the body lock and used an outside trip to end up in the mount, raining down blows on Tuave who could not get up.  Biechun kept position well, dropping short elbows and ending the round on top. 10-9 Biechun.

Round 2

Tuave took the centre, both men breathing hard. Tuave waded in with heavy punches and they were in the clinch again with Tuave pushing Biechun to the cage. Ricky turned him and kept him busy with takedown attempts, looking for that body lock again.

Biechun chased the single-leg and got itm turning Tuave into the canvas. Tuave got to his feet again quickly and qa wild exchange followed, with Tuave landing concrete fists to the head. They clinched again and this time it was Tuave who tripped Biechun, ending up on top dropping elbows of his own.

Biechun the veteran bridged and took top position again, into the half-guard briefly before passing to mount. Tuave looked like he had no answer to the suffocating top pressure of Biechun, who used ground-and-pound to look for the rear naked choke.

Tuave turned and gave the mount again, with Biechun relentless on top and immovable, landing short elbows and punches, staying active to end the round on top again.

10-9 Biechun.

ROUND 3.

They traded blows in the centre, with Biechun having more success on the feet against a tired Tuave. Biechun initiated the clinch again and pushed to the cage, the sweat pouring off both men. Biechun hunted the single-leg and delivered several knees to the thigh.

Tuave did the right things, hitting the whizzer and pulling Biechun off his hips. They were wseparated by the ref, and as Biechun shot again, Tuave timed a beautiful right knee which crashed into the chin of Biechun. The Barbarian is tough as nails, though, as it didn’t even slow him down, again getting his hands clasped and taking Tuave down against the cage into half-guard.

Inexorably, Biechun passed to the mount again and looked to isolate an arm with the two-on-one griup, with an exhausted Tuave trying in vain to get up. Biechun rained elbows from the top and stuffed Tuave’s underhook get-up attempt with good technique to again end the round on top.

10-9 Biechun.