PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saúl Tacoronte (ranked 381 p4p, 648 weight class) and Willy Mataitai (ranked 59 p4p, 98 weight class). Saúl Tacoronte has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tacoronte
vs
Mataitai

190 cm
40
208
26 - 16 - 2

195 cm
30
215
18 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saúl Tacoronte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willy Mataitai!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tacoronte dodges the punch combination from Mataitai.
Tacoronte throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Tacoronte clinches up with Mataitai and pushes him back against the cage.
Mataitai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mataitai struggles to land a body shot inside as Tacoronte controls his hands.
Mataitai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tacoronte misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tacoronte.
Tacoronte lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mataitai backwards.
Tacoronte has a couple of punches blocked by Mataitai.
Tacoronte cracks Mataitai with a nice body shot.
Mataitai tries to work over Tacoronte's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Mataitai fails to land.
Mataitai throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tacoronte stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Mataitai misses with the head strike.
Tacoronte misses with the head strike.
Tacoronte lands with a light punch inside.
Tacoronte tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mataitai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mataitai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tacoronte's elbow.
We've been informed that Mataitai has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
A short left from Mataitai.
Tacoronte misses with a punch to the body.
Mataitai throws an elbow but it misses.
Tacoronte takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mataitai misses with the head strike.
Tacoronte lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mataitai swings wildly with an uppercut but Tacoronte uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tacoronte misses with the head strike.
A short uppercut from Tacoronte.
Mataitai blocking some punches.
Mataitai stalling in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tacoronte.
Tacoronte misses with the head strike.
Mataitai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mataitai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tacoronte is leaning against Mataitai and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mataitai misses with a punch on the inside.
Tacoronte scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mataitai prevents a body shot from Tacoronte.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tacoronte has a couple of punches blocked by Mataitai.
Tacoronte lands with a light punch inside.
Mataitai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mataitai lands a damaging elbow.
A short uppercut from Mataitai.
Tacoronte tries to throw a body punch but Mataitai avoids it by throwing Tacoronte back against the cage.
Mataitai scores with a shot to the side of Tacoronte's head.
Mataitai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tacoronte struggles to land a body shot inside as Mataitai controls his hands.
Tacoronte blocks an uppercut.
Tacoronte misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mataitai blocks an uppercut.
Tacoronte blocks an elbow strike from Mataitai.
Mataitai blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tacoronte.
Mataitai blocks an uppercut.
Tacoronte blocks a body shot from Mataitai.
Mataitai tries to throw a body punch but Tacoronte avoids it by throwing Mataitai back against the cage.
Tacoronte is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mataitai is keeping busy.
Tacoronte stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mataitai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tacoronte.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mataitai.
Mataitai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mataitai lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tacoronte blocks an elbow strike from Mataitai.
Tacoronte works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mataitai tries to throw a body punch but Tacoronte avoids it by throwing Mataitai back against the cage.
Mataitai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Tacoronte.
Mataitai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tacoronte blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mataitai.
Mataitai tries to throw a body punch but Tacoronte avoids it by throwing Mataitai back against the cage.
Mataitai looking to stall.
Tacoronte misses with some punches.
Tacoronte presses Mataitai against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tacoronte blocks an elbow strike from Mataitai.
Tacoronte tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mataitai's elbow.
Tacoronte misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mataitai lands an elbow that stopped Tacoronte in his tracks for a moment.
Tacoronte blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tacoronte has a couple of punches blocked by Mataitai.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mataitai.
Mataitai softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mataitai misses with a punch on the inside.
Mataitai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mataitai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tacoronte lands an uppercut.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mataitai tries to throw a body punch but Tacoronte avoids it by throwing Mataitai back against the cage.
Mataitai lands with a right to the head.
Mataitai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tacoronte's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mataitai.
Mataitai struggles to land a body shot inside as Tacoronte controls his hands.
Tacoronte goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tacoronte misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Mataitai.
Tacoronte lands a hook that snaps the head of Mataitai backwards.
Mataitai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tacoronte struggles to land a body shot inside as Mataitai controls his hands.
Tacoronte misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Saúl Tacoronte will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mataitai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tacoronte.
Mataitai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tacoronte manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tacoronte swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fighters circling - Tacoronte throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mataitai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tacoronte moves away.
Tacoronte smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tacoronte slips under a jab from Mataitai.
A jab from Mataitai finds it's way through Tacoronte's defenses.
Tacoronte scores with a jab to the body.
Willy Mataitai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tacoronte digs a good hook to Mataitai's body.
Tacoronte looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tacoronte slips a jab from Mataitai.
Mataitai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tacoronte sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Mataitai. That snapped Tacoronte's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mataitai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tacoronte manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tacoronte throwing a counter right hand but Mataitai manages to avoid it.
Mataitai lands a body shot.
Tacoronte misses with a body kick.

Mataitai clinches.
Tacoronte tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tacoronte tries a body shot but Mataitai blocks it.
A body shot lands from Tacoronte.
Mataitai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mataitai tries to throw a body punch but Tacoronte avoids it by throwing Mataitai back against the cage.
Tacoronte blocking some punches.
Mataitai tries a body shot but Tacoronte blocks it.
Tacoronte misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tacoronte avoids a wild elbow strike from Mataitai.
Mataitai tries to work over Tacoronte's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tacoronte goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mataitai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mataitai lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mataitai tries a body shot but Tacoronte blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tacoronte swings wildly with an uppercut but Mataitai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mataitai lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tacoronte misses with a punch to the body.
Tacoronte prevents a body shot from Mataitai.
Tacoronte swings wildly with an uppercut but Mataitai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tacoronte tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short left from Tacoronte.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mataitai misses with an elbow over the top.
A head punch on the inside from Mataitai fails to land.
A short uppercut from Tacoronte.
Mataitai lands a body punch.
Tacoronte tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tacoronte tries to work over Mataitai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mataitai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tacoronte dodges an elbow strike from Mataitai.
Tacoronte misses with a punch on the inside.
Mataitai blocks an uppercut.
Mataitai lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tacoronte or not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tacoronte blocks a body shot from Mataitai.
Tacoronte takes an elbow to the temple.
Mataitai lands a hook that snaps the head of Tacoronte backwards.
Mataitai misses with a body punch.
Mataitai tries to throw a body punch but Tacoronte avoids it by throwing Mataitai back against the cage.
Mataitai blocks a body shot from Tacoronte.
Tacoronte is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mataitai is keeping busy.
Mataitai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Still in the clinch, Mataitai scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tacoronte misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mataitai blocks an uppercut.
Tacoronte is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mataitai throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tacoronte - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Mataitai lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tacoronte blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mataitai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tacoronte lands a nice shot to the body.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Mataitai in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Tacoronte misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mataitai throws an elbow but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mataitai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tacoronte's elbow.
Saúl Tacoronte has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mataitai blocking some punches.
Tacoronte swings wildly with an uppercut but Mataitai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tacoronte doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mataitai throws a punch but it's blocked by Tacoronte.
Tacoronte throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mataitais head.
Tacoronte lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short body shot lands from Tacoronte as the two fighters clinch.
Tacoronte blocks a body shot from Mataitai.
Mataitai struggles to land a body shot inside as Tacoronte controls his hands.
Tacoronte misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Mataitai fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Tacoronte fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mataitai.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Saúl Tacoronte will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mataitai tries to clinch there but Tacoronte circles away.
Tacoronte cracks Mataitai with a good jab.
Tacoronte lands a nice looking kick to the body. Mataitai takes a step back to recover.

Tacoronte moves into the clinch.
Tacoronte lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Mataitai fails to land.
Mataitai lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mataitai throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mataitai lands an elbow just above Tacoronte 's eye.

It looks like Saúl Tacoronte has been cut.
Tacoronte lands a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mataitai lands with a right to the head.
Tacoronte lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tacoronte lands with a short punch from the clinch.
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!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tacoronte.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mataitai.
Tacoronte goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mataitai scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Tacoronte fails to land.
Mataitai misses with a punch on the inside.
Mataitai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Tacoronte.
Mataitai lands with a right to the head.
Mataitai misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mataitai.
Mataitai creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tacoronte misses with some punches.
Tacoronte lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mataitai backwards.
Tacoronte lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mataitai backwards.
Tacoronte lands a hook that snaps the head of Mataitai backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Tacoronte.
Mataitai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mataitai blocks a body shot from Tacoronte.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mataitai.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mataitai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mataitai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mataitai misses with the head strike.
Mataitai misses with some punches.
Mataitai throws an elbow but it misses.
Tacoronte goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tacoronte goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mataitai misses with a body punch.
Tacoronte misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mataitai scores with a shot to the side of Tacoronte's head.
Tacoronte misses with a punch on the inside.
Mataitai lands an elbow inside that Tacoronte shrugs off.
Tacoronte misses with a punch to the body.
Mataitai blocks an uppercut.
Tacoronte misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tacoronte working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tacoronte misses with some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mataitai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Willy Mataitai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tacoronte is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mataitai is keeping busy.
Tacoronte's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mataitai stalling in the clinch but Tacoronte improves position.
Tacoronte misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mataitai cracks Tacoronte with a nice body shot.
Tacoronte scores with a shoulder strike.
Mataitai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mataitai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nice elbow from Mataitai.
Mataitai tries to throw a body punch but Tacoronte avoids it by throwing Mataitai back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Tacoronte.
Tacoronte blocks a body shot from Mataitai.
Mataitai lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mataitai.
Mataitai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mataitai scores with a shot to the side of Tacoronte's head.
Tacoronte is trying to stall.
A short uppercut from Tacoronte.
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!
Mataitai tries a body shot but Tacoronte blocks it.
Tacoronte misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tacoronte misses with some punches.
Mataitai tries to work over Tacoronte's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mataitai has Tacoronte pushed against the cage.
Tacoronte swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mataitai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mataitai throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mataitai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mataitai lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tacoronte.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tacoronte prevents a body shot from Mataitai.
A head punch on the inside from Tacoronte fails to land.
Tacoronte swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mataitai lands a damaging elbow.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mataitai.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mataitai lands an uppercut.
Mataitai lands an elbow that stopped Tacoronte in his tracks for a moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tacoronte.
Tacoronte fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mataitai lands a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Willy Mataitai.
I think Tacoronte has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!