PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yang Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tao is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ryan
vs
Tao

184 cm
31
175 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

175 cm
36
170 lbs
35 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

KnockOut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tom Ryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yang Tao!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tao lands a nice shot to the body.
Tao listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ryan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tao's coach down at Homunculus Alembic was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tao's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Tao missing with a left hand there. Ryan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tao throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tao scores with a push kick.
Ryan thows a body kick. Tao tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ryan.
Ryan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tao paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by Tao.
Tao avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tao misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ryan.
Ryan throws a hook but Tao blocks it.
Ryan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tao was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ryan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tao is looking to clinch but Ryan is avoiding it.
Ryan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tao misses with an uppercut
letting Ryan counter with a right hand.
Tao lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ryan misses with a low kick.
Tao looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tao misses with a body shot.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ryan 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 Tao has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tao and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tao lands with a good body shot.
Tao throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tao is looking to clinch but Ryan is avoiding it.
It looked like Ryan was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A jab from Ryan finds it's way through Tao's defenses.
Ryan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tao on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Tao throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tao feints a jab promting Ryan to slip. Tao then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ryan slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ryan.
Tao let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Ryan swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ryan looks to land a left hand but Tao moved out of range nicely.
Ryan takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A low kick from Ryan is predictable there
and Tao counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ryan scoring well with a low kick there.
Tao throws the kick towards the body but Ryan avoids it.
Tao tries to clinch there but Ryan circles away.
Ryan tried to counter with a leg kick but Tao avoided it.
Ryan throws a leg kick but Tao sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tao throws a head kick but Ryan moves out of range.
Tao wants to clinch.
Tao misses the jab.
Ryan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ryan is looking for a counter combo.
Tao misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan lands a slapping body shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ryan!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ryan.
Ryan throws out a powerful jab.
Ryan throws a body punch but Tao moves out of range.
Ryan tries to score with a low kick but Tao moves his leg out of the way.
Tao lands a nice shot to the body.
Tao looks to score with a jab to the body but Ryan is just out of range.
Tao throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tao takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ryan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ryan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tao momentarily.
Tao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ryan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ryan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ryan looks to throw the jab but Tao is out of range.
Ryan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Ryan.
Tao scores with a leg kick.
Ryan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ryan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ryan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ryan throws a low kick, looking for Tao's leg but Tao calmly moves out of range.
Ryan connects with a high kick.
Tao is looking to clinch but Ryan is avoiding it.

Tao has closed the distance and engaged Ryan in a clinch.
Tao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ryan pushes Tao back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Ryan fails to land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ryan wants to break free but Tao has control.
Ryan misses with a punch to the body.
Tao makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ryan lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but 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.

Ryan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tao scores with a shot to the body.
Ryan throws the kick towards the body but Tao avoids it.
An inside leg kick from Ryan misses.

Tao rushes Ryan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ryan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tao's elbow.
Ryan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tao's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tao working aggressively here.
Ryan lands with a short shot to the head.
Ryan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tao struggles to land a body shot inside as Ryan controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed right hand from Ryan misses the target.
Tao misses with a wild body shot.
Tao moves out of range as Ryan throws a body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ryan, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Ryan.
Tao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tao connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Tao slips under a jab.
Ryan misses with a body kick.
It seemed like Tao was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Yang Tao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good leg kick by Tao there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
That kick from Ryan tenderised Tao's leg. Tao is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ryan ducks under a wild hook from Tao.
Tao's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ryan motions for Tao to come forward. Ryan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tao moves out of range as Ryan throws a body kick.
Tao counters with a body kick.
Tao dips to his left and cracks Ryan with an uppercut!

Tao has closed the distance and engaged Ryan in a clinch.
Ryan blocking some punches.
Ryan lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tao backwards.
A short right from Tao on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tao working aggressively here.
I was talking to Ryan's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Ryan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ryan blocking some punches.
Ryan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tao's elbow.
Ryan blocks an uppercut.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tao working aggressively here.
Tao swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tao throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ryans head.
Tao softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ryan can't find room to land a body shot as Tao controls the action.
Tao prevents a body shot from Ryan.
Ryan lands a body shot.
Tao misses with some punches.
Tao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ryan is trying to force a seperation but Tao has the dominant position.
Tao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ryan's elbow.
Ryan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tao's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan tries to work over Tao's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tao blocks a body shot from Ryan.
Tao tries to throw a body punch but Ryan avoids it by throwing Tao back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ryan.
Tao misses with some punches.
Tao lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tao lands with a light punch inside.
Tao misses with a short punch on the inside.

Ryan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ryan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tao manages to avoid it.
Ryan scores with a leg kick.
Ryan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tao is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ryan rather than just go for the knockout.
Ryan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tao misses with a hook.
Tao scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ryan doesn't seem bothered though.
Tao throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tao on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Tao staying out of range there.
Tao connects with a right hand. Ryan shakes it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ryan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ryan takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tao scoring well with a low kick there.
Both fighters circling a little - Tao finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Tao thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tao ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tao tries a quick counter leg kick but Ryan is wise to it.
Ryan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tao takes one on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yang Tao will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Ryan wants to land a leg kick but Tao is out of range.
Tao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tao checks the leg kick nicely there.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tao.
Ryan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tao scores with a sloppy right hand. Ryan should have avoided that one.
Ryan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ryan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tao avoids the body shot from Ryan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tao dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ryan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tao throws a low kick but Ryan moves out of range easily.
Ryan misses with a leg kick.
Ryan throws a body punch but Tao moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ryan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tao wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ryan wants to slow Tao down by chopping away at his legs.
Tao is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ryan checks a leg kick.
Ryan defending well as Tao loads up on a big left hand.
Ryan looks for the body kick but Tao saw that one coming.
Tao was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Ryan lands a jab to Tao's midsection.
Tao digs a good hook to Ryan's body.
Tao checks a leg kick.
Tao wants to counter the offense by Ryan and move into the clinch position.
Ryan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Ryan misses with the body kick
and Tao makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ryan really felt that one!
Tao dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tao throws out a loose jab but Ryan uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tao wants to clinch up but Ryan keeps it at a distance.
Tao takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ryan will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
An inside leg kick from Tao misses.
Ryan blocks the body kick.
Tao fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ryan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tao will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ryan feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tao misses with an uppercut.
Ryan throws a quick counter head kick but Tao was just out of range.
Ryan throws a leg kick but Tao moved away.
Tao only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ryan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Tao checks it well.
Tao dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tao throws a quick inside leg kick.
No joy there for Tao, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tao misses with a right hand
and Ryan counters with a low kick, right behind Tao 's knee.
Tao lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Tao misses with a hook.
Tom Ryan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao throws a jab when Ryan was well out of range.
Tao looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ryan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Some wild striking there from Ryan.
Tao misses with a body kick.
Ryan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Ryan wants to land a leg kick but Tao is out of range.
Tao moves out of range of the body kick.
Tao checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tao throws a leg kick but Ryan checks it.
Tao looks to score with a jab to the body but Ryan is just out of range.
Ryan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tao counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
No joy there for Ryan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Tao! But no joy.
Tao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Tao gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao misses with some punches.
Ryan prevents a body shot from Tao.
A left hand lands to the body for Tao.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ryan.
Tao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ryan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yang Tao seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ryan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tao scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tao lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ryan backwards.
Tao lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ryan working aggressively here.
Tao lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ryan backwards.
Tao misses with some punches.
Ryan struggles to land a body shot inside as Tao controls his hands.
Tao swings wildly with an uppercut but Ryan uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yang Tao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yang Tao!
Yang Tao decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.