PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tony Dawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cole Taggart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dawson comes to the cage accompanied by Cog - Run. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dawson
vs
Taggart

175 cm
18
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE)

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tony Dawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cole Taggart!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawson avoids the head kick by Taggart.
Taggart tries a head kick but it misses.
A slow jab from Taggart misses its intended target.
Dawson lands a head shot.
Dawson swings for the body but Taggart moves out of range.
Dawson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dawson misses with a wild combination.
Dawson misses with a two punch combination.
Dawson is looking to clinch but Taggart is avoiding it.
Dawson moves out of range of the leg kick from Taggart.
Dawson throws a good cross that connects.
Dawson throws a lazy uppercut
and Taggart counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taggart's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Dawson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Taggart scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson misses with a wild body shot.
Tony Dawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taggart throws a leg kick but Dawson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Taggart throws a leg kick but Dawson moved away.
Dawson takes a swing at Taggart's ribcage but misses.
Taggart takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Dawson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taggart turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dawson. Taggart does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taggart shoots for a takedown but Dawson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dawson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dawson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taggart does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson lands a slapping body shot.
Taggart throws a right and a left that Dawson avoids nicely.
Dawson misses with the combination.
Taggart connects with a solid leg kick.
Dawson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taggart.
Taggart tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dawson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taggart blocks a jab.
Taggart takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Taggart throws an off balance right hand
and Taggart takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taggart jabs Dawson right on the nose. Dawson blinks but takes it well.
Dawson checks a leg kick nicely.
Dawson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dawson throws a body punch but Taggart moves out of range.
Taggart misses with an uppercut
and Dawson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taggart takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Taggart looks to score with a jab to the body but Dawson is just out of range.
Dawson looks to score with a jab to the body but Taggart is just out of range.
Dawson misses with a double jab.
Dawson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A lazy left from Dawson finds it's target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taggart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dawson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawson misses the shot to the body.
Taggart throws a hook to the side of Dawson's head but Dawson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Taggart misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dawson punishes Taggart's body with a nice straight punch.
Dawson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Taggart. That one must have hurt.
Taggart feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Dawson's calf.
Dawson thows a body shot but no joy.
Dawson misses with a body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taggart lands a jab.
Taggart lands with a thumping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Dawson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dawson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taggart.
Tony Dawson is winning the standup battle so far.
Dawson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taggart swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dawson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taggart uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dawson.
Taggart pivots, looking for a leg kick but Dawson is out of range and Taggart settles back down.
Taggart looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taggart throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dawson is looking to wear down Taggart with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Taggart throws a sloppy head kick and Dawson moves out of range easily.
Dawson slips a jab from Taggart.
Dawson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taggart.
Dawson sizes up Taggart with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Dawson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taggart moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taggart.
Dawson moves out of range as Taggart strikes.
Dawson ducks under a wild hook from Taggart.
Taggart tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Dawson is able to avoid easily.
Taggart buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Taggart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dawson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dawson misses the jab.
Taggart fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Dawson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taggart swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dawson lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson just misses with a punch to the body.
Dawson misses with a double jab.
Taggart throws a looping overhand right but Dawson ducks down to avoid it.
Taggart gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Dawson counters with a series of strikes. Taggart will be more careful next time no doubt.
Taggart lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taggart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dawson.
Dawson cracks Taggart with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Dawson thows a body shot but no joy.
Taggart tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dawson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taggart's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Dawson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Taggart scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawson throws a lazy right hand but Taggart sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taggart lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Taggart looks to clinch
and Dawson counters with a stiff right hand.
Taggart tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dawson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dawson cracks Taggart with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Dawson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taggart manages to avoid it.
Dawson looks to land a left hand but Taggart moved out of range nicely.
Taggart has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Taggart there as he acknowledges the shot.
Dawson throws a hook to the side of Taggart's head but Taggart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tony Dawson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dawson misses the body punch
and Taggart counters with a good, hard body kick but Dawson shrugs it off.
Taggart looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dawson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawson misses with a wild body shot.
Dawson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dawson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Dawson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taggart sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taggart dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Dawson. That did some damage!
Taggart fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dawson is out of range.
Taggart throws a sloppy head kick and Dawson moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Taggart.
Taggart moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Dawson. Those never looked like landing.
Taggart attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Taggart throws a low kick but it's checked well by Dawson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cole Taggart will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Taggart dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Dawson. That did some damage!
Dawson tries to clinch there but Taggart circles away.
Nice cross by Taggart.
Dawson lands a really nice looking cross but Taggart seems unphased.
Dawson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taggart was well out of range. Poor timing from Dawson.
Dawson misses with a left hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Dawson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taggart manages to avoid it.
Dawson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Dawson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taggart.
Dawson lands with a straight right. Taggart didn't see that one coming.
Good work by Dawson as he checks the leg kick.
Dawson moves out of range of the leg kick from Taggart.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Taggart misses with a kick to the body.
Dawson slips under a jab from Taggart.
Taggart does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Taggart scores with a push kick.
Dawson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dawson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Taggart takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Taggart throws a hook but Dawson blocks it.
Dawson checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart misses with a body kick.
Taggart shoots for a double leg takedown but Dawson sprawls well. He's pushed Taggart's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dawson misses with a body shot.
Taggart takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Taggart doesn't manage to clinch there - Dawson circles away.

Taggart rushes Dawson and presses him up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dawson lands a right hand.
Taggart scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dawson working aggressively here.
Dawson trying to control the position but instead, Taggart has worked for underhooks and has pushed Dawson into the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dawson can't find room to land a body shot as Taggart controls the action.

Dawson decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Taggart pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dawson is keeping the position for now.
Taggart loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taggart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dawson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dawson looking to control.
Taggart trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taggart with a flurry of punches that miss.
Taggart throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taggart pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dawson is keeping the position for now.
Taggart must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dawson looking to control.
Dawson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Taggart tries to free his leg and advance position but Dawson is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawson trying to control the position.

Taggart got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dawson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Taggart has managed to get both his arms back between Dawson's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dawson keeping full guard, as Taggart tries to pass.
Taggart sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dawson's guard.
Dawson is trying to control but Taggart passes into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taggart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dawson keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taggart misses with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Taggart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taggart 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Taggart!
A very excited looking Cole Taggart made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.