PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Pitt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Taker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Daniel Pitt has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Pitt
vs
Taker

185 cm
27
190 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

173 cm
25
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Daniel Pitt!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Daniel Taker!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pitt circles away.
Taker throws a nice looking combination but Pitt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taker with a poor takedown
enabling Pitt to counter with a crisp jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pitt misses with a double jab.

Taker closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pitt quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Taker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taker throwing shots but Pitt is blocking nicely.
Pitt controlling the position for now.
Pitt pushes Taker off looking to stand but Taker dives back in and keeps control.
Taker throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pitt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taker drops an elbow to the side of Pitt's head.
Pitt on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pitt tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taker trying to control from half guard but Pitt is working away.
Taker throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Taker tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pitt knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Taker trying to control from Pitt's half guard. Pitt has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Taker is working Pitt over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pitt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Taker looking to pass the guard.
Taker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pitt keeping moving, preventing Taker from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taker postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Pitt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Taker, into his guard.
Taker manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Taker looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pitt is bucking up trying to escape but Taker cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Pitt is working to get back to half guard.
Taker throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Taker controlling the pace for now.
Taker misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Taker thowing shots but they're missing.
Pitt is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taker pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Taker punching from mount but Pitt doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Taker unloads with some shots from mount but Pitt bucks and avoids them well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taker throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Taker landing strikes from the mount and Pitt is in trouble!
Pitt tries to lock up and control but Taker gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Taker throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Taker looking to ground and pound but Pitt is blocking nicely.
The referee warns Pitt that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taker cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pitt is in a horrible position here. Taker smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Taker punching from mount but Pitt doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pitt scores with a hook.
Daniel Pitt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taker misses with the combination.
A jab from Pitt misses.
Pitt scores with a nice strike.
Taker shoots in and drives through. Pitt sprawls well.
Pitt throws a right hand that Taker ducks under and follows up with a left that Taker also avoids with ease.
A big right from Taker misses.
Taker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pitt as he jumps to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Pitt. No joy for Taker on that attempt.
Daniel Pitt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Taker.

Pitt tries to sprawl but Taker drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Taker working Pitt over with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Taker lands a nice short elbow.
Daniel Taker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taker missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pitt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pitt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Taker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pitt defending well though.
Taker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pitt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taker.
Taker not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Taker throwing shots but Pitt is blocking nicely.
Taker is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pitt!
Poor strikes thrown by Taker there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Taker raining down shots from the mount!
Taker is landing with some decent strikes but Pitt is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Poor strikes thrown by Taker there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Pitt tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taker misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Taker looking to finish with strikes here!
Taker looking to finish with strikes here!

Taker swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Pitt is now in Taker's guard. A big mistake from Taker there, giving up the dominant position!
Pitt knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taker on the ground.
Pitt preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taker has Pitt pulled in close to control his posture.
Taker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pitt is controlling him.
Pitt trying to control but Taker is working from the bottom.
Taker controlling Pitt's posture.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Taker fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pitt sprawls well initially but Taker persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Taker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pitt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taker thows a huge punch but Pitt dodges it nicely.
Taker throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pitt is staying active underneath Taker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taker looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Taker thows a huge punch but Pitt dodges it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pitt is refusing to be controlled, as Taker sits in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pitt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Taker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

A swing and a miss from Taker.
Taker shoots in for a takedown but Pitt shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pitt is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Taker scores with a jab.
Taker shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pitt but Pitt pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Taker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pitt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pitt swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pitt throws a big shot that misses.
Taker moves forwards but Pitt connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pitt slips a jab from Taker.
Taker uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pitt has time to react.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Taker.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taker fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Taker wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pitt, who protects the arm well.
Taker cracks Pitt with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taker throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Taker throws an elbow but Pitt slips to the side and avoids it well.
Taker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pitt keeps working.
Taker throwing shots but missing, from side control.
An elbow from Taker crashes against the mat.
Taker throws an elbow but Pitt slips to the side and avoids it well.
Taker is working Pitt over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pitt is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Taker is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taker landing strikes.
Taker cracks Pitt with a big right hand but Pitt just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Taker in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Taker in side control, throwing shots but Pitt defends.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pitt is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Taker throws an elbow but Pitt slips to the side and avoids it well.
Taker lands an elbow.
Taker in side control, throwing shots but Pitt defends.
Taker trying to control the action but Pitt is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taker working the ground and pound but Pitt is defending the strikes.
Taker lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Taker trying to control the position but Pitt is working away.
The strikes coming from Taker are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Taker tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Taker throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Daniel Pitt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taker in side control lands a decent elbow.
An elbow from Taker crashes against the mat.
Sloppy strikes there by Taker.
Taker looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Pitt is avoiding damage well.
Taker lands a nice forearm strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taker landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Taker wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pitt, who protects the arm well.
Daniel Taker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Taker takes a little break here. Pitt wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Taker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Taker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Taker!
Daniel Taker is the new middleweight champion!
An out of breath Daniel Taker thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.