PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yang Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrej Sharko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tao comes to the cage accompanied by Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tao
vs
Sharko

175 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

176 cm
21
161 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yang Tao!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrej Sharko!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Steve Erwin and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sharko keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sharko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tao is out of range.
Sharko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tao misses with a few strikes there.
Sharko throws out a loose jab but Tao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tao throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sharko counters with a stiff right hand.
Tao is looking to clinch but Sharko is avoiding it.
Good work by Sharko as he checks the leg kick.
Tao uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sharko.
Tao scores with a push kick.
Sharko misses with a body shot
and Tao counters with an outside leg kick.
A big right from Sharko misses.

Tao has Sharko up against the cage in a clinch.
Sharko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sharko is trying to stall.
Sharko misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tao throws an elbow that misses.
Tao prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sharko wants to get back to striking at distance but Tao won't allow it.
Tao working Sharko over with knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Sharko.
Sharko can't break the clinch.
Sharko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sharko manages to break the clinch.
Sharko misses with a straight right.
Sharko blocks a low kick nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Tao as Sharko shoots in.
Sharko walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tao checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Yang Tao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sharko shoots in but no luck this time.
Yang Tao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrej Sharko.
Sharko avoids a kick to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Tao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharko checks a leg kick.
Sharko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tao circles away.
Tao throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sharko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tao defends it nicely.
Tao displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sharko throws out the jab.
Sharko takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sharko throws a hook to the side of Tao's head but Tao sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sharko shoots in and drives through. Tao sprawls well.
Tao tries to clinch but Sharko moves away
and Sharko counters with a one-two to the body.
Sharko misses with a takedown attempt - Tao sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sharko looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharko shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tao. Sharko shrugs it off though.
Sharko avoids the head kick by Tao.
Tao pushes Sharko away with a front kick.
Tao tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sharko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sharko misses with a straight right.
Tao connects with a solid leg kick.
Tao punishes Sharko's body with a nice straight punch.
Tao with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tao scores with a leg kick.
Sharko takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tao, right into the meat.
Tao goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tao slips a jab and a cross from Sharko.
Sharko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tao avoids it really well and circles away.
Tao scores with a jab to the jaw.
Tao misses with a hook.
Sharko misses with an uppercut
letting Tao counter with a right hand.
Tao scoring well with a low kick there.
Tao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Tao dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tao is looking to land body kicks.
Tao avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sharko misses with a straight right.
Sharko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tao.
Sharko misses with a straight left.

Sharko gets tackled into the cage by Tao. Tao maintains the clinch.
Sharko lands a body punch in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Sharko.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tao obliges.
A short body shot lands from Sharko as the two fighters clinch.
Sharko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sharko avoids the elbow strike from Tao, against the cage.
Sharko avoids a wild elbow strike from Tao.
Sharko tries for a takedown but Tao manages to get underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tao just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sharko's brow.
Sharko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sharko tries a body shot but Tao blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tao lands a shoulder strike.
Sharko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tao lands an elbow just above Sharko 's eye.
A right hook to the body lands for Sharko.
A shot in the inside from Tao.
Tao lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sharko is trying to break the clinch but Tao has him pressed against the cage.
Sharko avoids a wild elbow strike from Tao.
Sharko scores with a shot to the side of Tao's head.
Tao lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sharko.
Tao pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sharko is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Tao throws a head punch that misses.
A hook to the body from Sharko.
Sharko has had enough of the clinch but Tao keeps him there for the moment.
Sharko digs a right hand underneath Tao's ribcage. Tao let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sharko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sharko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tao backwards.
Nice elbow from Tao.
Tao lands a knee to the body.

Sharko manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharko looks to throw the jab but Tao is out of range.
Sharko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tao tries to avoid it but Sharko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tao to the ground. Tao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yang Tao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrej Sharko.
Tao moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sharko avoids the head kick by Tao.
Tao looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sharko misses with an uppercut
enabling Tao to counter with a crisp jab.
Sharko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tao.
Sharko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tao looks for the body kick but Sharko saw that one coming.
Tao will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tao lands a head shot.
Tao tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sharko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tao sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tao lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sharko scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sharko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tao sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A left lands for Tao.
Sharko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tao.
Sharko has his takedown stuffed
and Tao counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tao.
Tao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sharko moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sharko throws a jab but it's blocked by Tao.
Sharko throws a jab but it's blocked by Tao.
Tao dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sharko. That did some damage!
Tao chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tao throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sharko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tao as he avoids it easily.
Yang Tao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tao throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sharko just misses with a punch to the body.
Sharko avoids the body shot from Tao.
Sharko takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sharko drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Tao dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tao scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sharko doesn't seem bothered though.
Tao keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sharko.
Tao fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sharko has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sharko misses with a straight right.
Tao throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sharko.
Sharko misses with a straight left.
Tao slips under a jab from Sharko.
Tao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharko misses with a hook. Tao ducked under it nicely.
Sharko takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Tao's corner calls for a 1-2. Tao obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sharko misses with a lunging right hand
and Tao counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao lands with a hook. Sharko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sharko misses with a lunging right hand
and Tao counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tao looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tao thumps Sharko with a low kick.
Sharko blocks a low kick nicely.
Tao misses with an uppercut
and Sharko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tao with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sharko slips under a jab from Tao.
Sharko takes a kick to the side of the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Sharko checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tao scores with a head kick. Sharko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Sharko blocks a head kick by Tao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao misses with a low kick.
Sharko misses with a looping left.
Sharko is trying desperately to land a takedown but Tao is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Sharko.
Sharko lands with a good body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tao has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tao throws a head kick that misses.
Yang Tao is winning the standup battle so far.
Tao tries to work over Sharko's front leg with a kick but Sharko checks it.
Tao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sharko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sharko misses with a double jab
and Tao makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sharko really felt that one!
Sharko's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sharko dodges the punch combination from Tao.
Tao jabs Sharko to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tao was well out of range. Poor timing from Sharko.

Tao clinches with his opponent.

Sharko gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Sharko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tao works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sharko postures up in Tao's guard and throws a big left but Tao blocks it.
Sharko trying to control the position from guard on top but Tao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tao knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sharko on the ground.
Sharko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Sharko drops back looking for a leg! Tao is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tao manages to kick Sharko off! Sharko jumps back into Tao's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sharko.
Sharko throwing strikes from guard but Tao blocks nicely.
Sharko connects with a couple of short punches.
Sharko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sharko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sharko wants to control from the top but Tao keeps moving.
Sharko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrej Sharko really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A nice inside leg kick there by Tao. That's going to slow Sharko down.
Sharko fails with a takedown attempt.
Sharko tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tao steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sharko.
Tao avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sharko has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Tao.
Sharko works Tao's body with a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharko throws a jab when Tao was well out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tao.
Sharko lands a nice shot to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tao 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 Sharko has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sharko and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao digs a good body shot into Sharko's ribs.
Sharko throws a shot from downtown. Tao moves away and avoids it.
Tao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tao fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sharko checks it well.
Tao connects with a high kick.
Tao attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Tao tries a head kick but it misses.
Sharko avoids the head kick by Tao.
Sharko avoids the head kick by Tao.
Tao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sharko moves away.
Tao lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sharko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tao.
Sharko misses with a looping right.
Sharko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tao.
Tao fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sharko fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tao on the side of the head.
Sharko ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
An inside leg kick lands from Tao.
Tao looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sharko moves out of range of the body kick from Tao.
Tao misses with a low kick.
Tao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tao ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Tao.
Sharko misses the body punch
and Tao counters with a body kick that stops Sharko in his tracks momentarily.
Tao plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sharko looks to land a body kick but Tao moved away.
Tao connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tao throws a head kick but Sharko moves out of range.
Sharko misses with a right hand
and Tao counters with a straight right hand.
Tao lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sharko's sensitive parts.
Sharko slips a jab from Tao.
Sharko lands a nice hook to Tao's body. Tao takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tao fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharko connects with the punch.
Sharko throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Tao counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sharko's knee momentarily.

Tao closes the distance and clinches.
Sharko tries to throw a body punch but Tao avoids it by throwing Sharko back against the cage.
Tao blocks a body shot from Sharko.
Sharko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sharko struggles to land a body shot inside as Tao controls his hands.
Sharko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tao lands an elbow inside.
Tao unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tao throws an elbow that misses.
Tao lands a damaging elbow.
Sharko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tao avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Good body shot from Sharko.
Sharko is trying to maintain a safe position but Tao gets an underhook and turns Sharko into the cage.
Sharko wants to get back to striking at distance but Tao won't allow it.
Sharko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tao throws an elbow but it misses.
Sharko is looking to control Tao's arms but Tao gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sharko has his back to the cage.
Tao pushes off an throws an elbow but Sharko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sharko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tao's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Yang Tao 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sharko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sharko moves out of range of the body kick from Tao.
Tao misses with a straight left.
Tao takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tao closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sharko counters with a shoot takedown. Tao fights it but they end up in guard.
Tao is trying to control the position but Sharko postures up.
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.
Sharko thows a big elbow that misses.
Tao is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sharko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sharko throws a strike but Tao rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sharko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharko looking to finish with strikes here!
Sharko thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sharko throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Tao tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sharko thowing shots but they're missing.

Sharko jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Tao is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Tao and Sharko has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Andrej Sharko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sharko is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tao is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tao takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sharko working the strikes but Tao uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Sharko passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sharko postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tao looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharko looking to ground and pound but Tao is blocking nicely.
Sharko lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sharko putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sharko throws some wild stikes that Tao manages to avoid easily.
Poor strikes thrown by Sharko there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sharko with good strikes from the mount here!
Sharko sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sharko scoring with strikes but Tao is staying in there.
Sharko raining down shots from the mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrej Sharko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tao has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 48:47
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 48:47
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yang Tao!
Yang Tao is the new lightweight champion!