PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Nash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and L Rhoe Tayona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Nash has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nash
vs
Rhoe Tayona

185 cm
20
185 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

173 cm
19
170 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Nash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, L Rhoe Tayona!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tayona fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice cross by Nash.
Tayona fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nash misses with a wild combination.
Tayona fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nash avoids it really well and circles away.
Tayona tries to clinch but Nash moves out of range.

Tayona changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nash looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Nash throws Tayona to one side and escapes!
Nash swats away the attempt to clinch by Tayona.
Nash lands a jab to Tayona's midsection.
Tayona throws an overhand right that lands on Nash's shoulder, as Nash tries to avoid the shot.
Nice body punch from Nash.
Steve Nash seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tayona scores a takedown into full mount!
Tayona won't let Nash get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tayona controlling from the full mount.
Nash is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Tayona looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nash tries to buck Tayona off but he can't manage it.

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 scoring with strikes but Nash is staying in there.
Tayona working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Nash is trying to stand up.
Tayona controlling his opponent.
Tayona tries to control but Nash wriggling away.
Tayona lands a heavy elbow.
Tayona won't let Nash get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Tayona is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nash can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Tayona with shots to the head and body - Nash looks very uncomfortable down there.
Tayona has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nash's face.
Nash is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Nash is breathing heavily.
Tayona has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nash's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tayona cracks Nash with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Tayona looking to control but Nash is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tayona controlling his opponent.
Nash is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Tayona lands a big shot there that rocks Nash but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Nash is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tayona lands with some strikes.
Tayona fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Tayona with good strikes from the mount here!
Nash is in a horrible position here. Tayona smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tayona really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nash. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tayona controlling the position easily from mount.
Tayona working the ground and pound effectively.
Tayona landing shots from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nash is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nash is squirming around, avoiding Tayona's attempts to control the action.
You get the feeling that Nash really doesn't like being in this position too much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nash throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tayona.
Nash throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tayona throws a hook to the side of Nash's head but Nash sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nash with a jab.
Nash staying out of range there.
Nash slips a straight right by Tayona.
Nash misses with a wild body shot.
Nash misses with a low kick as Tayona jumps back.
Nash thuds a left hand into Tayona's body.
Nash looks to land a combination but Tayona avoids it well.
Tayona shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nash is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nash stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nash scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tayona in his tracks.
Nash is looking to chop away at Tayona's legs.
Tayona shoots in but no luck this time.
Nash throws a nice looking combination but Tayona bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tayona lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tayona tries to clinch up but Nash circles away and keeps his distance.
Nash attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Tayona lands with a cross.

Tayona shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nash's guard.
Nash is looking to stand up but Tayona isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tayona loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tayona distracts Nash with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tayona's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nash is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tayona is controlling him.

Nash uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tayona throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nash sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nash slips under a jab.
Tayona looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nash is fending him off so far but Tayona persists. Nope, Nash circles away and we're back to standing.
A slow jab from Tayona misses its intended target.
Nash getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nash throws a right and a left that both miss.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Nash, as that shot connected.
Nash lands with an overhand left.
Tayona fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Steve Nash has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of L Rhoe Tayona.
Tayona throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nash displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tayona throws out the jab.
Tayona tries to clinch there but Nash circles away.
A big right from Tayona misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nash with a jab.
Nash throws a right hand that Tayona ducks under and follows up with a left that Tayona also avoids with ease.
Tayona takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nash lands a jab to the head.
Tayona moves forwards but Nash connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A punch combination from Tayona misses.
Tayona missing with a left hand there. Nash was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice sprawl there from Nash as Tayona shoots in.
Nash tests Tayona's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nash lunges at Tayona with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tayona's hand.
Nash misses with a double jab.
Nash throws a series of punches but Tayona moves out of range.
Nash works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nash scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to de liver by Nash. Beautiful body shot.
Tayona tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tayona tries to clinch up.
A jab from Nash does it's job there.
Nash misses with a low kick as Tayona jumps back.
Tayona might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nash swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tayona is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Tayona has a takedown stuffed.
A left lands for Nash.
Nice uppercut there from Nash.

Tayona scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tayona prevents Nash from standing back up.
Tayona thows a huge punch but Nash dodges it nicely.
Nash wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but L Rhoe Tayona will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tayona is looking to clinch.
Tayona waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nash.

Tayona darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Nash manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A telegraphed right hand from Tayona misses the target.
Tayona tries to clinch but Nash moves out of range.
Nash steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tayona.
Tayona fails to land the takedown.
Tayona fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tayona takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tayona needs to keep his hands up - Nash had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tayona shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steve Nash has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of L Rhoe Tayona.
Nash is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Tayona shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nash manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
L Rhoe Tayona has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tayona stops Nash from standing up.
Tayona missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tayona in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tayona prevents Nash from getting back to his feet.
Tayona must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tayona controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nash wants to stand and escape but Tayona is having none of it.
Tayona throwing strikes but missing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tayona shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nash defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Nash finds it's way through Tayona's defenses.
Tayona is looking to clinch but Nash is avoiding it.
Tayona takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Tayona moves out of range of the strikes.
Steve Nash is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tayona moves in looking to clinch but Nash pushes him off.
Tayona throws a hook but Nash avoids it easily.
Tayona shoots in for a double leg but Nash sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Tayona drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tayona pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nash is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nash wants to stand and escape but Tayona is having none of it.
Tayona stays in close to Nash's body and controls the position.
Tayona prevents Nash from getting back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tayona tries to clinch but Nash moves out of range.

Tayona shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Tayona was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tayona content just to control the position here.
Steve Nash has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tayona fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Tayona unloading with bombs!
Tayona lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The referee warns Nash that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Tayona thowing shots but they're missing.
Tayona lands a nice shot to the head.
Tayona scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nash?

And that's the end of the fight!
L Rhoe Tayona comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tayona winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

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