PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between L Rhoe Tayona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angel Soto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rhoe Tayona
vs
Soto

173 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, L Rhoe Tayona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Angel Soto!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tayona shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Soto manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tayona won't allow Soto to sweep him here.
Tayona lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tayona wants to control from the top but Soto keeps moving.
Soto trying to keep a closed guard but Tayona is proving a slippery customer.
Tayona wants to pass the guard but Soto is keeping the position.

Soto working for a triangle but Tayona defends it easily.
Tayona is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tayona lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tayona not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tayona is looking to work some ground and pound but Soto has wrist control.

Soto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Soto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Soto working a defensive guard here.
Tayona is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tayona preventing the sweep.
Tayona connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soto is looking for a triangle but Tayona pushes his legs off easily.
Tayona is working Soto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tayona not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Soto looking to control.
Tayona pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soto is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Soto wants to sweep here but Tayona controlling him for the moment.

Soto had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tayona is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Soto Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tayona's back instead.
Soto looks gassed!
Soto is trying to stick to Tayona's back but Tayona is turning into Soto. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Soto's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Tayona.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soto throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tayona's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tayona seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

L Rhoe Tayona dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Soto gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tayona trying to control the position from guard on top but Soto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tayona postures up and lands a big shot to Soto's brow.
Soto throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Tayona stays in close to Soto's body and controls the position.
Tayona trying to control the position from guard on top but Soto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soto is looking for a triangle but Tayona pushes his legs off easily.
Soto controls Tayona momentarily but Tayona frees himself.
Tayona is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tayona controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tayona postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tayona in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tayona is working Soto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tayona is looking to advance position but Soto has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Tayona is trying desperately to improve position.
Tayona tries to hold on but Soto postures up.
Tayona tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tayona knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soto on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto looking to control but Tayona is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Soto throws some wild stikes that Tayona manages to avoid easily.
Soto misses with a head shot.
Tayona is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tayona wants to hold on but Soto pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tayona is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Soto tries to control but Tayona wriggling away.
Soto avoids the attempt from Tayona to control.
Tayona is looking to get to half guard.
Soto looking to control but Tayona is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Soto looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

L Rhoe Tayona dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tayona closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Soto to the mat! Soto manages to get full guard.
Tayona wants to control from the top but Soto keeps moving.

Soto has his foot on Tayona's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tayona works his way back into a safe position though.
Soto trying to strike off his back.
Tayona postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Soto working for a triangle but Tayona defends it easily.
Soto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Soto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tayona showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Soto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tayona sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tayona landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tayona slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tayona has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tayona stands and throws Soto's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Soto prevents Tayona from improving position.
Soto is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tayona working away.
Tayona working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Tayona cracks Soto with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soto is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tayona's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tayona seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Soto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Soto tries to roll over but Tayona keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tayona is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Angel Soto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tayona is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
L Rhoe Tayona showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tayona 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... L Rhoe Tayona!