PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paden Taber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lion Takanori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takanori has chosen Scary as his entrance music. 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.

Taber
vs
Takanori

180 cm
27
162 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

166 cm
31
151 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

ZUD

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paden Taber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lion Takanori!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takanori throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch lands to the side of Takanori 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A jab from Taber does it's job there.
Taber is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takanori throws a body punch but Taber moves out of range.
Taber feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Takanoris jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Nice uppercut lands for Taber. That snapped Takanori's head back.
Taber thows a leg kick but Takanori checks it
and Takanori counters with a nice uppercut.
A cross from Takanori lands.
Taber tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice defenses there by Taber.
Takanori throws a right and a left that Taber avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taber darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Taber throws a body punch but Takanori moves out of range.
Taber lands a leg kick that knocks Takanori off balance momentarily.
Taber walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Takanori checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A jab from Taber finds it's way through Takanori's defenses.
Good leg kick by Taber there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Takanori fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taber is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Some bone on bone action there as Takanori checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Takanori keeps the fight on the outside.
Takanori thumps Taber with a low kick.
Taber fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taber looks to score with a jab to the body but Takanori is just out of range.
Taber lands a body shot.
Takanori dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Takanori throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taber tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takanori paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taber is looking to chop away at Takanori's legs.
Taber wants to clinch.
Taber lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takanori connects with a looping right hand.
Taber fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taber takes a swing at Takanori's ribcage but misses.
Takanori throws a series of punches but Taber avoids them all with ease.
Taber is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A punch combination from Takanori misses.
Taber checks a leg kick nicely.
Taber connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Paden Taber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taber lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A left and a right from Taber both land. Nice combination.

Taber clinches up with Takanori and pushes him back against the cage.
Takanori throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanori doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Takanori tries a body shot but Taber blocks it.
Takanori misses with some punches.
Taber blocks an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Taber.
Taber looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
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!
Taber has Takanori pushed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Taber.
Takanori blocking some punches.
Takanori keeps control of Taber as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Takanori.
Takanori lands with a short shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taber lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taber lands a hook that snaps the head of Takanori backwards.
Taber throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taber.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paden Taber dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taber tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Takanori blocks a low kick nicely.
Taber feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Takanori's calf.
Taber misses with a few strikes there.
Takanori connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Taber's hands.
Taber throws a quick inside leg kick.
Taber misses with a hook
and Takanori counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taber pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takanori misses with a straight right.
Takanori keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takanori takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taber lands with a right hand.
Nice straight punches there by Taber. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taber.
Taber throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taber fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Takanori on the side of the head.
Taber uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Takanori has time to react.
Taber throws a leg kick but Takanori moved away.
A lazy left from Taber finds it's target.
Taber throws a low kick but it's checked well by Takanori.
Taber scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Taber misses with a leg kick
and Takanori counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taber tries to land a leg kick but Takanori saw it coming and moves away.
Taber thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice body punch from Takanori.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takanori pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taber misses with a hook to the body
and Takanori counters with a three punch combo that has Taber backing up. Taber nods at Takanori to acknowledge the strikes.
Taber throws a predictable looking body shot
and Takanori counters with a nice leg kick.
Taber dodges the punch combination from Takanori.
Takanori steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taber.
A shot to the body from Taber misses
and Takanori counters with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taber throws a leg kick but Takanori sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Takanori catches Taber with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Taber misses with a low kick.
Taber loads up on a big right hand but Takanori slips the punch.
Taber thows a leg kick but Takanori checks it
and Takanori makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Taber lands a leg kick that knocks Takanori off balance momentarily.
Takanori swats away the attempt to clinch by Taber.
Taber throws a lazy head kick
and Takanori counters with a slapping leg kick.
Takanori avoids the body shot from Taber.

Taber moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanori blocks a body shot from Taber.

Taber's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Taber pushes Takanori up against the cage in a clinch.
Takanori lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Taber or not.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takanori swings wildly with an uppercut but Taber uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taber softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Takanori.
Taber tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taber wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Takanori lands a body shot in the clinch.
Takanori lands on the inside with an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takanori avoiding damage.
Takanori blocking some punches.
Takanori tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paden Taber will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Takanori throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takanori pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taber walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Takanori checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Taber connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Takanori's hands.
Nice defenses there by Takanori.
Takanori swings for the body but Taber moves out of range.
Takanori looks to score with a jab to the body but Taber is just out of range.
Taber tries to land a front kick but Takanori steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Taber pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takanori defending well as Taber loads up on a big left hand.
Takanori walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Paden Taber is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Takanori.
Taber takes a swing at Takanori's ribcage but misses.
Takanori moves out of range as Taber throws a body kick.
Takanori throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taber sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A combination from Takanori does no damage.
Danga de danga de dang - Taber scores with a four punch combination!
Taber scores with a leg kick.
Taber tries to clinch up
and Takanori counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Takanori's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takanori misses with a few strikes there.
Taber checks a low kick from Takanori.
Taber throws a combination. Takanori tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Lion Takanori has been cut.

Taber clinches with his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takanori misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takanori blocks an uppercut.
Takanori presses Taber against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lion Takanori has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takanori stalls.
Takanori lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Paden Taber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takanori scores with a shot to the side of Taber's head.
Paden Taber has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takanori lands a right hook to the body.
Taber wants to clinch.

Taber moves into range and clinches up with Takanori.
Takanori slowing the pace effectively.
Takanori tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takanori scores with a shot to the side of Taber's head.
Takanori struggles to land a body shot inside as Taber controls his hands.
Takanori is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanori misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takanori's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Taber wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Taber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takanori looks to land a left hand but Taber moved out of range nicely.
Taber fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taber is looking to clinch but Takanori is avoiding it.
Takanori scores with a body shot.
Taber throws a leg kick which misses Takanori's front leg but catches the back leg as Takanori tries to avoid it.

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 Paden Taber.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taber, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paden Taber!
Our winner, Paden Taber, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.