PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kasey Scorpion (ranked 536 p4p, 72 weight class) and Cole Taggart (ranked 3621 p4p, 388 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Scorpion might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Jiu Jitsu. Cole Taggart has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Scorpion
vs
Taggart

187 cm
30
160 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

169 cm
41
160 lbs
32 - 18 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kasey Scorpion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cole Taggart!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Dean Styles and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Scorpion drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Taggart is looking to regain half guard here but Scorpion keeps moving and retains side control.
Taggart is pushing Scorpion's head away, looking to escape. Scorpion manages to hold on to the position though.
Scorpion tries to move into full mount but can't pass Taggart's legs.
Scorpion in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Taggart is trying to get back to half guard.
Scorpion is staying tight to Taggart's torso, preventing him from escaping.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Taggart's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Taggart trying to remain calm as Scorpion controls from the top position.
Taggart is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scorpion working away.
Scorpion prevents Taggart from escaping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taggart is trying to get back to half guard.
Scorpion controls the position from side control.

Scorpion looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Taggart tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taggart is trying to buck Scorpion off.
Scorpion passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Taggart!

Scorpion looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taggart can do anything to dispel that myth.
Scorpion looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart is trying to stand.
Scorpion controlling the pace for now.
Scorpion has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Taggart really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Scorpion. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taggart really wants to buck Scorpion off and get back to his feet.
Scorpion wants to take Taggart's back but he can't do it this time.
Scorpion controlling from the full mount.
Scorpion really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Scorpion seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Taggart for as long as he can get away with.
Scorpion's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taggart tries to hold on but Scorpion pushes him away.
Taggart prevents Scorpion from taking his back.
Scorpion takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Taggart tries to hold on but Scorpion pushes him away.
Scorpion controlling the pace for now.
Taggart swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Taggart keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taggart wants to control but Scorpion is having none of it.
Scorpion works his way to his opponent's back.
Scorpion will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Scorpion controls the action.
Scorpion continues to stall.

Taggart fending off the submission attempt from Scorpion.
Taggart wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taggart is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Taggart breaks Scorpion's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taggart tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Scorpion was well out of range. Poor timing from Taggart.
Taggart throws a shot from downtown. Scorpion moves away and avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Scorpion blocks the leg kick.
Taggart throws a right and a left that Scorpion avoids nicely.

Scorpion closes the distance and clinches.
Scorpion blocking some punches.
Scorpion is trying to pull guard but Taggart has him pressed against the cage.
Scorpion lands with a light punch inside.
Taggart tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Scorpion avoids it.
Scorpion tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taggart looking to stall.
Scorpion scores with a nice hook to the head.
Scorpion blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scorpion swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Scorpion lands a shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taggart.
Scorpion goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short left from Taggart.
Scorpion is working Taggart over against the cage.
Scorpion goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scorpion tries to work over Taggart's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Scorpion scores with a nice hook to the head.
Scorpion is stalling here.
Taggart lands a body punch in the clinch.
Taggart has a couple of punches blocked by Scorpion.
Scorpion is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taggart can do to turn this around?
A quick uppercut on the inside from Scorpion.
Taggart lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Scorpion lands a left hand.
Scorpion lands a body shot.

Scorpion ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Scorpion no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Taggart decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A looping hook to the body misses from Scorpion. Taggart does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taggart follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Taggart lands a nice shot to the body.
A big right from Taggart misses.

Taggart gets caught napping as Scorpion dives in and scores a takedown. Taggart manages to retain guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Scorpion won't allow Taggart to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart wants to stand but Scorpion is controlling the position.
Scorpion slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Taggart is trying to get back to half guard.
Scorpion working away.
A lull in the action here as Scorpion stalls from top position.
Taggart is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Scorpion works to advance to full mount. Taggart defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Scorpion goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Taggart turns into him and now he's in Scorpion's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Scorpion looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Taggart would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Scorpion escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taggart gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taggart wants to stand but Scorpion is controlling his posture from full guard.

Scorpion escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taggart gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Scorpion looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Scorpion has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taggart can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Taggart stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Scorpion fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Taggart to the ground. Scorpion is now in Taggart's guard.
Taggart wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Scorpion manages to pass to side control.
Taggart wants to control but Scorpion is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taggart might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Scorpion haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Taggart is looking to improve his position.
Kasey Scorpion overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taggart trying to control here.
Taggart is trying to stand back up but Scorpion is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasey Scorpion dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Scorpion tests Taggart's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taggart staying out of range there.
Scorpion misses with a two punch combination.
Scorpion takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Taggart misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Scorpion.
Scorpion digs a good body shot into Taggart's ribs.
Taggart throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Scorpion slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Scorpion wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Scorpion fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Taggart jabs at Scorpion's body.
A low kick from Taggart misses

and Scorpion counters with a single leg into guard. Taggart didn't expect that.

Taggart pushes Scorpion off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
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!
Left hook, right uppercut from Taggart.
A decent looking cross lands there for Scorpion.
Taggart moves out of range as Scorpion strikes.
Taggart ducks under a wild hook from Scorpion.
Taggart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Scorpion half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scorpion tries for a takedown but Taggart sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Scorpion.
Scorpion lands with a right hand.
Taggart is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taggart ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Scorpion moves away.
Scorpion avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Scorpion scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Taggart tries to work over Scorpion's front leg with a kick but Scorpion checks it.

Scorpion gets a takedown into half guard.
Scorpion trying to control the pace.

Scorpion is looking for a kimura here.

Scorpion is working for a kimura but Taggart is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart wants to control but Scorpion is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Scorpion controlling the pace.
Taggart is looking to improve his position.
Taggart pushes Scorpion off looking to stand but Scorpion dives back in and keeps control.
Scorpion controlling the pace.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
More hug and hope from Scorpion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Scorpion is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Taggart defends it well.
Taggart wants to improve his position but Scorpion is controlling well.
Cole Taggart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taggart trying to control here.
Scorpion is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Scorpion tries to pass to full mount but Taggart defends it.
Taggart is looking for a sweep. Scorpion is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Scorpion is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Scorpion wants to take Taggart's back here but Taggart is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Scorpion content just to control the position here.
Taggart throwing hammer fists to the chest of Scorpion. What's that going to do exactly?
Taggart is trying to reverse the position but instead Scorpion has taken his back - oops!
Taggart can't escape the position.
What can Taggart do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Scorpion looking for the choke from the back.
Taggart can't escape the position.
Taggart is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Kasey Scorpion is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kasey Scorpion showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Scorpion has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kasey Scorpion!
Kasey Scorpion decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Cole Taggart was interviewed post fight and said 'Congrats to my opponent. He has a great future ahead of him. Im done, officially retired. Thanks to all the fans for supporting me in my K1 and MMA career.'.