PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yang Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Tao's choice of entrance music: Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Ramayan Koothrappali
vs
Tao

170 cm
22
160 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
170 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali !
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yang Tao!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tao takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Koothrappali thows a left - swing and a miss!
Koothrappali fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Koothrappali throws a lazy uppercut
and Tao counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Koothrappali misses with a left hand
and Tao counters with a leg kick.
Tao wants to slow Koothrappali down by chopping away at his legs.
A low kick from Tao is predictable there
and Koothrappali counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Koothrappali fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali checks a low kick from Tao.
Koothrappali misses with a double jab.
Koothrappali misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tao counters with a nice body kick.
Koothrappali throws an overhand right that lands on Tao's shoulder, as Tao tries to avoid the shot.
A low kick from Koothrappali is predictable there
and Tao makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Koothrappali really felt that one!
Koothrappali throws an off balance right hand
and Tao counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tao as he avoids it easily.
Koothrappali throws a right hand that misses
and Tao counters with a good, hard body kick but Koothrappali shrugs it off.
Koothrappali misses with a lunging right hand
and Tao counters with a good low kick that Koothrappali was not able to check.
Tao buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Koothrappali dives in and grabs Tao's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tao pushes down on Koothrappali 's head and hops out.
Yang Tao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koothrappali swings widly with a right hand
and Tao counters with a body kick that stops Koothrappali in his tracks momentarily.
Koothrappali swings widly with a right hand
and Tao counters with a slapping leg kick.
Koothrappali is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koothrappali throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tao counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koothrappali misses with a hook
and Tao counters with an inside leg kick.
Tao bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Koothrappali fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tao manages to avoid it.
Tao throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tao gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Tao takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A telegraphed right hand from Koothrappali misses the target.
A jab from Koothrappali finds it's way through Tao's defenses.
Koothrappali throws a solid leg kick but Tao takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Koothrappali .
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koothrappali throws a lazy uppercut
and Tao counters with an inside leg kick.
Koothrappali takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Tao dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tao connects with a leg kick. Koothrappali looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tao tries to move into range but Koothrappali moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Koothrappali throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tao chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Koothrappali can pounce on him.
Koothrappali rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tao counters with a nice body kick.
Koothrappali misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tao counters with a nice leg kick.
Koothrappali misses with a right hand
and Tao makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali throws a right hand that misses
and Tao counters with an inside leg kick.
A shot to the body from Koothrappali misses
and Tao counters with a nice body kick.
Koothrappali lands a head kick!
Koothrappali is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Koothrappali misses with a hook
and Tao counters with a low kick, right behind Koothrappali 's knee.
Koothrappali misses with a body shot
and Tao counters with a nice leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Tao. No joy for Koothrappali on that attempt.
Koothrappali misses with a right hand
and Tao counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali throws a poor cross that misses
and Tao counters with a good low kick that Koothrappali was not able to check.
Tao misses with the body kick
enabling Koothrappali to counter with a crisp jab.
Koothrappali will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Koothrappali .
Koothrappali throws a lazy body kick
and Tao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Koothrappali takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No joy there for Koothrappali , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Koothrappali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali misses with an uppercut
and Tao counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Koothrappali is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Koothrappali throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tao counters with an inside leg kick.
Tao pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Koothrappali throws a lazy uppercut
and Tao counters with a head kick. That will keep Koothrappali thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Tao moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Koothrappali shoots in looking for a takedown but Tao manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Koothrappali 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Koothrappali . He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali swings for the body but Tao moves out of range.
Koothrappali throws a right hand that misses
and Tao counters with a slapping leg kick.
Koothrappali misses with a right hand
and Tao counters with an inside leg kick.
Koothrappali misses with a lunging right hand
and Tao counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nice body kick there by Koothrappali .
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koothrappali rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tao counters with a slapping leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Koothrappali . Tao does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Tao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tao uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koothrappali .
Tao takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tao moves out of range of the strikes.
Koothrappali looks to land a body kick but Tao moved away.
Koothrappali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tao was well out of range. Poor timing from Koothrappali .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tao throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tao throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sloppy strikes from Koothrappali . Those never looked like landing.
Koothrappali feints and then cracks Tao's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tao down.
Koothrappali chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice jab there from Koothrappali .
Koothrappali swings widly with a right hand
and Tao counters with a leg kick.
Koothrappali throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tao counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali clobbers Tao with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Koothrappali throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Tao to counter with a crisp jab.
Tao with a hook.
Tao ducks under a wild hook from Koothrappali .
Koothrappali tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tao sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Koothrappali somewhat.
Koothrappali throws a looping overhand right but Tao ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali misses with a right hand
and Tao counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Koothrappali rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tao counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tao misses with an uppercut
enabling Koothrappali to counter with a crisp jab.
Koothrappali throws a right hand that misses
and Tao makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Koothrappali really felt that one!
Koothrappali turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Koothrappali misses with a lunging right hand
and Tao counters with a nice low kick that buckles Koothrappali 's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali throws a right hand that misses
and Tao counters with a nice body kick.
Koothrappali misses with a right hand
and Tao counters with a low kick, right behind Koothrappali 's knee.
Good leg kick by Tao there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Koothrappali scores with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Koothrappali .
Koothrappali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tao was well out of range. Poor timing from Koothrappali .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Yang Tao just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Koothrappali 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Koothrappali closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tao circles away.
Tao avoids the body shot from Koothrappali .
Koothrappali throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Koothrappali misses with a wild body shot.
Tao looks to throw a body kick
and Koothrappali counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koothrappali is looking to land body kicks.
Koothrappali lands a leg kick that knocks Tao off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali swings widly with a right hand
and Tao counters with a nice kick to the body.
Tao throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Koothrappali misses with a body shot
and Tao counters with a nice body kick.
Tao moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Koothrappali scoring well with a low kick there.
Koothrappali works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Tao looks to score with a jab to the body but Koothrappali is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Koothrappali . Tao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tao slips a straight right by Koothrappali .
Tao looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Koothrappali misses with a double jab
and Tao counters with a big head kick but Koothrappali shrugs it off.
Tao on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Koothrappali shoots in for a double leg but Tao sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Koothrappali throws a body punch but Tao moves out of range.
Koothrappali misses with a left hand
and Tao makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Koothrappali really felt that one!
Koothrappali thows a body shot but no joy.
Koothrappali throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tao counters with a leg kick.
Tao ducks under a wild hook from Koothrappali .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Koothrappali .
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koothrappali throws a right hand that misses
and Tao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Koothrappali misses with a body shot.
Koothrappali swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Koothrappali throws a sloppy body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Koothrappali misses with a double jab
and Tao counters with a nice leg kick.
No luck for Koothrappali with that takedown attempt.
Koothrappali misses with a hook
and Tao makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Koothrappali uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tao has time to react.
Koothrappali looks to throw a body kick
and Tao counters with a head kick. That will keep Koothrappali thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Koothrappali throws a lazy uppercut
and Tao counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Koothrappali is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali shoots for a double leg takedown but Tao sprawls well. He's pushed Koothrappali 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tao has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Koothrappali .
Koothrappali swings widly with a right hand
and Tao counters with a low kick, right behind Koothrappali 's knee.
Koothrappali throws a right and a left that both miss.
Koothrappali scores with a head kick. Tao tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Koothrappali ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tao moves away.
Koothrappali misses with a left hand
and Tao counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali lands a lovely overhand right.
Koothrappali throws a head kick that misses
and Tao counters with a stiff right hand.
Tao walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Koothrappali checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Koothrappali lands a glancing blow to the side of Tao's head.
Tao takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Good exchange - Koothrappali coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali swings widly with a right hand
and Tao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tao walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Koothrappali misses with a right hand
and Tao counters with a left to the body.
Yang Tao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tao keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tao keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koothrappali throws an overhand right that lands on Tao's shoulder, as Tao tries to avoid the shot.
Tao has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A shot to the body from Koothrappali misses
and Tao counters with a nice low kick that buckles Koothrappali 's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tao moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Koothrappali is defended easily by Tao.
Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koothrappali swings for the body but Tao moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali .
Well Tao has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 46:49
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 46:49
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 46:49

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