PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maku Hiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Tachia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Hiro
vs
Tachia

180 cm
22
205 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
217 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maku Hiro!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lyoto Tachia!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hiro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tachia.
Hiro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tachia thows a body shot but no joy.
Tachia fails to land with a series of punches.
Tachia misses with a double jab.

Hiro is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tachia's half guard.
Hiro trying to pass the guard but Tachia defending well.
Tachia is trying to stand.

Tachia kicks off Hiro and gets to his feet.
Hiro misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hiro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tachia fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hiro checks it well.
Hiro tries to clinch up.
Tachia punishes Hiro's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tachia fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tachia throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hiro counters with a two punch combo.
Tachia misses with an uppercut. Hiro saw that one coming.
Tachia feints and then cracks Hiro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hiro down.
Tachia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hiro.
Tachia throws a head kick that misses.
Hiro fails with the takedown.
Tachia loads up on a big right hand but Hiro slips the punch.
Tachia throws a lazy right hand but Hiro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tachia attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tachia. Hiro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tachia lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lyoto Tachia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hiro checks a leg kick nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Hiro scores with a four punch combination!
Tachia tries a low kick but Hiro avoids it.
Tachia throws the left hand but Hiro avoids the punch easily.
Tachia with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tachia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tachia throws a sloppy head kick and Hiro moves out of range easily.
Nice shot by Tachia.
Tachia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Hiro blocks the leg kick.
Hiro takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Hiro shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hiro was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tachia's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Hiro with a couple of short strikes.
Tachia is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Hiro is landing with some decent strikes but Tachia is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tachia is squirming around, avoiding Hiro's attempts to control the action.
Tachia is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Hiro trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiro with a couple of short strikes.
Hiro looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hiro throws some wild stikes that Tachia manages to avoid easily.
Tachia is in a horrible position here. Hiro smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hiro cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hiro tries to control but Tachia wriggling away.
Tachia is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hiro working Tachia over with strikes here.
Hiro has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tachia's face.
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 Maku Hiro will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tachia lands a high kick!
Tachia scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tachia fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hiro is out of range.
Tachia swings for the body but Hiro moves out of range.

Hiro shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tachia manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tachia wants to get back to his feet but Hiro is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hiro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tachia is keeping the position for now.
Tachia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hiro is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiro loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Tachia is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hiro struggles to land a body shot inside as Tachia controls his hands.
Hiro tries to throw a body punch but Tachia avoids it by throwing Hiro back against the cage.
Hiro is trying to maintain a safe position but Tachia gets an underhook and turns Hiro into the cage.
Tachia prevents a body shot from Hiro.
Hiro can't find room to land a body shot as Tachia controls the action.
Tachia with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hiro slowing the pace effectively.

Tachia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tachia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hiro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tachia avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tachia misses with a body shot.
Lyoto Tachia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tachia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hiro.
Hiro checks a leg kick.
Tachia attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hiro looks to land a combination but Tachia avoids it well.
Tachia misses with a body punch
and Hiro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hiro checks a leg kick nicely.
Tachia lands a nice hook to Hiro's body. Hiro takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tachia swinging wildly here.
A big left from Hiro misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiro misses with a series of wild punches.
Hiro listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hiro throws a combination that misses
and Tachia counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hiro's knee momentarily.
Hiro checks a leg kick.
Tachia moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tachia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hiro takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tachia throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tachia lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tachia throws a leg kick that misses.
Tachia is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hiro.
Tachia throws out a loose jab but Hiro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hiro checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hiro bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tachia's head.
Hiro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tachia.
Tachia misses with a hook to the body

and Hiro counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tachia is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hiro scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hiro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tachia keeps working.
Hiro landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lyoto Tachia will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A bone on bone clash there as Hiro blocks the leg kick.
Hiro throws a lazy right hand but Tachia sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tachia lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hiro throws a shot from downtown. Tachia moves away and avoids it.
Tachia pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tachia finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hiro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tachia.
Tachia throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Tachia misses.
Tachia lands with an overhand left.
Hiro closes the distance and clinches up with Tachia, looking for a takedown. Hiro pushes Tachia against the cage but Tachia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lyoto Tachia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tachia steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hiro.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hiro looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hiro throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hiro lands with a punch from half guard.
Hiro seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Tachia pushes Hiro off and gets back to his feet.
Tachia throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hiro stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tachia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tachia misses the body punch
and Hiro counters with a one-two to the body.
Tachia lands a jab to the nose.
Hiro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tachia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiro scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tachia throws out a leg kick but Hiro moves out of range and Tachia only half commits.
Hiro tries to clinch
and Tachia counters with a low kick, right behind Hiro 's knee.
Hiro tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
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!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tachia, right into the meat.
Tachia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hiro was well out of range. Poor timing from Tachia.
Tachia throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hiro moves out of range as Tachia strikes.
Hiro checks a leg kick.
A punch combination from Tachia misses.
Tachia throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Hiro misses its intended target.
Tachia misses with a shot to the body

and Hiro counters with a shoot takedown. Tachia fights it but they end up in guard.
Hiro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hiro trying to control but Tachia is working from the bottom.

Tachia is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Tachia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hiro moves out of range as Tachia strikes.
Hiro shoots in but Tachia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hiro misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tachia gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hiro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hiro stops Tachia from standing up.
Hiro wants to control from the top but Tachia keeps moving.

Tachia pushes Hiro off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hiro closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Tachia really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

No luck for Hiro with that takedown attempt.
Tachia looks to land a left hand but Hiro moved out of range nicely.
Tachia throws a one two combo.
Hiro throws a hook to the side of Tachia's head but Tachia sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hiro takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tachia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hiro moves away.
Hiro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hiro is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tachia throws a shot from downtown. Hiro moves away and avoids it.
Tachia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hiro.
Tachia swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A lazy left from Tachia finds it's target.
Hiro throws an overhand right that lands on Tachia's shoulder, as Tachia tries to avoid the shot.
Tachia just misses with a punch to the body.
Tachia ducks under a wild hook from Hiro.
Tachia slips a straight right by Hiro.
Tachia misses with a low kick as Hiro jumps back.
Some wild striking there from Tachia.
A jab from Hiro misses.
Hiro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tachia.

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.
Tachia throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tachia dodges the punch combination from Hiro.
Hiro defending well as Tachia loads up on a big left hand.
Hiro shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tachia pinned against the cage. Tachia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hiro slips under a jab from Tachia.
Tachia fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tachia throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Hiro is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Tachia connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hiro. Hiro circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tachia missing with a left hand there. Hiro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tachia lands with an uppercut that bounces Hiro off the cage and back into rage.
Tachia throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tachia with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tachia misses with a body shot.
Tachia shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tachia scoring well with a low kick there.
Tachia lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tachia walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hiro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tachia falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hiro counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiro prevents Tachia from standing back up.
Hiro not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hiro stops Tachia from getting back to his feet.
Hiro seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tachia does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tachia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hiro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tachia defending well though.
Hiro is trying to control the action in half guard but Tachia is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tachia lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Tachia dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Tachia lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A punch combination from Hiro misses.
Tachia misses with a looping left.
Hiro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tachia sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hiro somewhat.
Hiro throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiro defending well as Tachia loads up on a big left hand.
Tachia takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tachia lands a lovely overhand right.
Good leg kick by Tachia there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tachia finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tachia misses with a hook.
Tachia connects with a solid leg kick.
Tachia throws a looping overhand right but Hiro ducks down to avoid it.
A big right from Tachia misses.
Tachia throws the left hand but Hiro avoids the punch easily.
Hiro slips under a jab from Tachia.
Tachia moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hiro misses with an uppercut. Tachia saw that one coming.
Tachia looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tachia will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hiro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tachia is fending him off so far but Hiro persists. Nope, Tachia circles away and we're back to standing.
Tachia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hiro manages to avoid it.
Tachia attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hiro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tachia sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tachia motions for Hiro to come forward. Tachia throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hiro throws a nice looking combination but Tachia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hiro avoids the body shot from Tachia.
A jab from Tachia misses.
Tachia looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tachia misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hiro shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hiro slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Tachia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lyoto Tachia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hiro wants to pass the guard but Tachia is keeping the position.
Tachia wants to stand but Hiro is controlling the position.
Hiro throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiro with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hiro tries to free his leg and advance position but Tachia is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tachia stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maku Hiro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tachia slips a straight right by Hiro.
Tachia throws a leg kick but Hiro moved away.
Tachia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tachia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hiro manages to avoid it.
Hiro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hiro misses with a looping left.
Maku Hiro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tachia misses with a straight left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Tachia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tachia 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:49
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 45:50
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Tachia!
Lyoto Tachia is the new light heavyweight champion!