PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Cole Taggart (ranked 3753 p4p, 373 weight class) and Andrei Dunas (ranked 2868 p4p, 298 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Taggart
vs
Dunas

169 cm
39
160 lbs
29 - 15 - 0

185 cm
31
165 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q
Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cole Taggart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrei Dunas!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taggart tries a low kick but Dunas avoids it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Taggart. That's going to slow Dunas down.
Taggart lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dunas at a distance.
Taggart misses with a head kick.
Taggart throws a half hearted mid kick.
Good leg kick by Taggart there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Taggart tries to keep at a distance but Dunas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Taggart has a couple of punches blocked by Dunas.
Taggart goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dunas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Dunas lands a right hand.
Taggart working aggressively here.
Taggart blocking some punches.
Dunas struggles to land a body shot inside as Taggart controls his hands.
Taggart swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Dunas.
Dunas struggles to land a body shot inside as Taggart controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Taggart fails to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taggart blocks a body shot from Dunas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart working aggressively here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dunas.
Dunas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Taggarts head.
Taggart tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taggart misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Dunas manages to break the clinch.
Taggart looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick misses from Taggart.
Taggart thows a leg kick but Dunas checks it
enabling Dunas to counter with a crisp jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Taggart.
Dunas tries to clinch up but Taggart circles away and keeps his distance.
Dunas moves away from the strike by Taggart.
Taggart throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Taggart throws a lazy right hand but Dunas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dunas checks a leg kick nicely.
Taggart throws a leg kick but Dunas sees it coming and moves out of range.
Taggart is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dunas.

Taggart instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Dunas.
A short left from Dunas.
Dunas blocking some punches.
Dunas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dunas struggles to land a body shot inside as Taggart controls his hands.
Taggart working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Dunas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dunas tries a body shot but Taggart blocks it.
Taggart gets through Dunas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Dunas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taggart.
Dunas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Our sources have told us that Taggart has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Dunas misses with a punch on the inside.

Dunas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dunas instigates a clinch.
Dunas blocking some punches.
A short right from Dunas on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taggart goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dunas works on Taggart's body with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrei Dunas will probably get the nod.
That's time! Taggart's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dunas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Dunas throws a hook but Taggart avoids it easily.
Dunas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taggart swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taggart throws an off balance right hand
and Dunas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taggart throws a leg kick but Dunas sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cole Taggart is winning the standup battle so far.
Taggart throws a body shot but no joy.
Dunas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taggart will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
It seemed like Dunas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taggart tries to clinch there but Dunas circles away.

Dunas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dunas has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Taggart seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Dunas can turn it around.
Dunas misses with a punch on the inside.
Dunas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dunas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dunas on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Taggart. Taggart obviously looking to wear him down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Taggart. That's going to slow Dunas down.
Taggart takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Dunas throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Taggart on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A slapping body kick lands there for Dunas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart lands a leg kick that knocks Dunas off balance momentarily.

Dunas closes the distance and clinches.
Dunas cracks Taggart with a nice body shot.
Taggart blocks a body shot from Dunas.
Dunas blocking some punches.
Dunas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Taggart is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Taggart lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Good body shot from Dunas.
Taggart blocking some punches.
Dunas misses with a punch on the inside.

Taggart breaks from the clinch.
Dunas moves out of range as Taggart strikes.
A decent looking cross lands there for Dunas.
Taggart stuns Dunas with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Dunas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taggart, pushing him back against the ropes.
Taggart misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dunas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dunas misses with a punch on the inside.
Dunas lands a right hand.
Taggart working aggressively here.
Dunas works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Taggart tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taggart swings wildly with an uppercut but Dunas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taggart misses with a punch to the body.
Dunas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taggart tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dunas's elbow.
Taggart blocks an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Dunas.
Dunas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dunas lands a left hand.

Taggart breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dunas circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Dunas to counter with a crisp jab.
Dunas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Dunas 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.

Andrei Dunas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Taggart throws a solid leg kick but Dunas takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Taggart.
Taggart misses with a straight right.
Taggart plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Taggart connects with a single shot there.

Dunas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Taggart takes a shot to the head.
Dunas prevents a body shot from Taggart.
Taggart pushes Dunas back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dunas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Dunas scores with a shot to the side of Taggart's head.
Taggart swings wildly with an uppercut but Dunas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dunas lands a left hand.
Taggart works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Taggart lands on the inside with an uppercut.
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!
Taggart doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Taggart breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taggart swats away the attempt to clinch by Dunas.
Dunas moves out of range as Taggart throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Dunas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Taggart fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dunas throws a big shot that misses.

Taggart closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Taggart works on Dunas's body with a couple of short punches.
Dunas blocks a body shot from Taggart.
Cole Taggart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dunas.
Dunas tries a body shot but Taggart blocks it.
Taggart missing with knees to the body.
Taggart misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dunas prevents a body shot from Taggart.
Taggart tries a body shot but Dunas blocks it.
Dunas blocking some punches.

Dunas breaks the clinch.
Taggart swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dunas is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Taggart with a body shot.
Taggart goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
It seemed like Dunas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Dunas moves out of range of the body kick from Taggart.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Dunas! But no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart misses with the body kick
and Dunas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Taggart.
Dunas throws out a counter right but Taggart avoids it with no problem.
Jab from Taggart.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taggart gets a clinch.
Taggart working aggressively here.
Dunas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Dunas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taggart's elbow.
Taggart tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dunas's elbow.
Taggart presses Dunas against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Taggart manages to break the clinch.
Cole Taggart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taggart thows a leg kick but Dunas checks it
and Dunas counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Dunas cracks Taggart with a good jab.
Taggart throws a lazy uppercut
and Dunas counters with a straight right hand.
Dunas might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Dunas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dunas dodges the punch combination from Taggart.
Taggart lands a high kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Taggart showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dunas 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Dunas!
During a confident post fight interview, Andrei Dunas thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.