PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Taua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Itamar Colaiuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taua comes into the arena with Semaphore blaring out of the sound system. Colaiuta has chosen Metallica-Battery as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Taua
vs
Colaiuta

176 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
22
165 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ricardo Taua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Itamar Colaiuta!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Colaiuta has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Taua doesn't manage to clinch there - Colaiuta circles away.
A head kick misses from Colaiuta.

Colaiuta shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Taua's guard.
Colaiuta really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taua. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taua trying to strike off his back.
Taua is trying to keep Colaiuta in close.
Taua keeping moving, preventing Colaiuta from controlling successfully.
Taua manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Colaiuta manages to get himself to full guard.
Taua is working Colaiuta over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Colaiuta pushes Taua off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colaiuta moves in looking to clinch but Taua pushes him off.
Colaiuta shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taua pinned against the cage. Taua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Taua motions for Colaiuta to come forward. Taua throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Taua forces Colaiuta back against the cage and clinches.

Taua ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Taua no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Colaiuta stands up from Taua's guard - Colaiuta perhaps looking for a knockout.
Taua closes the distance but Colaiuta moves to the side

and Colaiuta counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Colaiuta.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Taua tries for a takedown. No joy.
Taua tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Colaiuta throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taua blocks it with crossed arms.
Colaiuta with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Taua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Colaiuta pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Taua. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Colaiuta breaks from the clinch.
Taua looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Colaiuta tries a knee to the head but Taua blocks it.
Taua managing to block the knees to the body from Colaiuta.

Colaiuta jumps guard and drags Taua to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Colaiuta looks gassed!
Taua advances to half guard.
Taua looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taua wants to free his trapped foot but Colaiuta is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Taua seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taua looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Taua is keen to just control but Colaiuta is a slippery customer.

Taua is trying to work for a kimura but Colaiuta is defending well.
Colaiuta won't allow Taua to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Taua is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Colaiuta has managed to free his arm - good work.
Colaiuta avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taua.
Taua not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Taua prevents Colaiuta from standing back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Colaiuta closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Taua did well to prevent Colaiuta getting side control.
Taua throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Itamar Colaiuta dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Colaiuta clinches up with Taua and pushes him back against the cage.
Taua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taua wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Colaiuta with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Taua is looking to control Colaiuta's arms but Colaiuta gets an underhook and turns him. Now Taua has his back to the cage.
Colaiuta tries a knee to the head but Taua blocks it.
Colaiuta using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taua has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Taua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Taua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taua tries to land knees in the clinch but Colaiuta avoids the damage to the body.
Taua jumps guard but Colaiuta stands there with Taua around his waist. Taua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Colaiuta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taua swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Colaiuta counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Taua looking to control.
Taua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Colaiuta is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taua has his foot on Colaiuta's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Colaiuta works his way back into a safe position though.
Colaiuta tries to stand but Taua is controlling from the bottom.
Colaiuta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Taua working a defensive guard here.
Colaiuta would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Colaiuta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Colaiuta distracts Taua with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taua keeping moving, preventing Colaiuta from controlling successfully.
Taua throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taua doesn't manage to clinch there - Colaiuta circles away.
Taua is looking to clinch but Colaiuta is avoiding it.
Colaiuta misses with a head kick.
Colaiuta shoots in but Taua avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Colaiuta fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taua, pushing him back against the cage.

Taua successfully pulls guard.
Colaiuta lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Taua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taua strikes from his own guard.
Colaiuta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Taua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Colaiuta looking to pass the guard.
Colaiuta with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Colaiuta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Colaiuta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taua wants to sweep but no luck.
Taua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Colaiuta's guard.
Colaiuta wants to stand but Taua is controlling the position.
Taua passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Taua scores with punches from side control.

Taua is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Colaiuta knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Colaiuta prevents Taua from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Taua dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Colaiuta misses with a head kick.
Colaiuta fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taua closes the distance and clinches up with Colaiuta, looking for a takedown. Taua pushes Colaiuta against the cage but Colaiuta circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taua shoots in for a takedown but Colaiuta shows good takedown defense.
Colaiuta tries to clinch

and Taua counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Colaiuta looks like he's trying to stand up.
Taua is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Colaiuta reverses the position - he's now on top in Taua's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Colaiuta's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Colaiuta gets to his feet - Taua follows without any prompting.
Colaiuta tries to close the distance and clinch but Taua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Taua. No joy for Colaiuta on that attempt.
Colaiuta is looking to clinch.
Taua moves in looking to clinch but Colaiuta pushes him off.
Taua circles away from the clinch attempt
and Taua counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Colaiuta darts in trying to clinch

and Taua counters with a single leg into guard. Colaiuta didn't expect that.
Taua tries to free his leg and advance position but Colaiuta is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taua pushes down on Colaiuta's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Taua wants to pass the guard but Colaiuta is defending well.
Taua works his way into side control.
Colaiuta tries to bench press Taua off him but Taua keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colaiuta prevents Taua from improving position.

Taua has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Taua thows a body shot but no joy.

Colaiuta closes the distance and clinches.

Colaiuta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Colaiuta clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taua has hold of one of Colaiuta's legs. Colaiuta is fighting the takedown attempt but Taua gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Taua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Colaiuta swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taua looking to sit in guard and control but Colaiuta gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Colaiuta drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Taua manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Colaiuta has Taua in his guard.
Colaiuta wants to stand and escape but Taua is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Taua showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taua 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Taua!