PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maique Taisson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwayne Soprano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taisson comes to the cage accompanied by Olhos de Tigre. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Taisson
vs
Soprano

183 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maique Taisson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dwayne Soprano!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taisson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Soprano avoids it really well and circles away.
Taisson tries to clinch up.
A nice combination there by Taisson.
Taisson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Maique Taisson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soprano tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taisson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Soprano somewhat.

Taisson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soprano trying to keep a closed guard but Taisson is proving a slippery customer.
Soprano is controlling Taisson's posture.
Soprano's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Soprano looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano keeping moving, preventing Taisson from controlling successfully.
Soprano controlling the position.
Soprano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taisson prevents Soprano from getting back to his feet.
Taisson wants to stand but Soprano has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Soprano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taisson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soprano shoots in for a takedown but Taisson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taisson is looking to clinch but Soprano is avoiding it.
Taisson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taisson wants it to stay on the feet.
Maique Taisson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwayne Soprano.

Soprano scores with a takedown into Taisson's guard.
Taisson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taisson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Soprano throws a strike but Taisson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Taisson wants to control from the top but Soprano keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taisson stopping the sweep attempt from Soprano.
Soprano wants to stand but Taisson is controlling the position.
Soprano has a closed guard, preventing Taisson from standing up.
Taisson trying to control the position from guard on top but Soprano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A punch combination from Taisson misses.
Taisson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Taisson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Soprano counters with a takedown into side control.
Soprano lands a decent elbow from side control.
Soprano lands some shots froms side control.
The strikes coming from Soprano are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ground and pound from Soprano seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Taisson is breathing heavily.
Soprano in side control, throwing shots but Taisson defends.
Soprano lands an elbow.
Taisson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Soprano landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taisson sneaks back into half guard.
Soprano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Soprano tries to pass the half guard into mount. Taisson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Taisson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taisson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taisson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Soprano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Soprano dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taisson tries to clinch but Soprano moves out of range.
Taisson tries to clinch up

and Soprano counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Taisson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Soprano.
Taisson pushes Soprano off looking to stand but Soprano dives back in and keeps control.
Soprano winds up and cracks Taisson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Soprano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taisson defending well though.
Taisson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Soprano.

Taisson kicks Soprano off and gets back to his feet.
Taisson clinches but Soprano breaks the clinch

and Soprano counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Soprano.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soprano throwing strikes from guard but Taisson blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano is looking to work some ground and pound but Taisson has wrist control.

Soprano has gone for a leg lock! Taisson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Soprano's guard.
Taisson wants to get up but he can't break Soprano's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Dwayne Soprano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taisson preventing the sweep.
Soprano managing to control the position.
Let's hope that Soprano has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Soprano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taisson is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soprano is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Soprano keeping moving, preventing Taisson from controlling successfully.
Taisson won't allow Soprano to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Soprano scores a takedown into full mount!
Soprano working the ground and pound effectively.
Soprano lands a heavy elbow.
BOOM! Soprano connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Soprano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Soprano landing punches.
Soprano in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The referee warns Taisson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Soprano looking to finish Taisson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Taisson!
Soprano lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Taisson hang on?
The referee warns Taisson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Soprano punishing his opponent with strikes.
Soprano working Taisson over with strikes here.
Soprano avoids the attempt from Taisson to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soprano with shots to the head and body - Taisson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Soprano is landing with some decent strikes but Taisson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
A nice elbow there by Soprano.
Taisson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Soprano working Taisson over with strikes here.
Soprano postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Taisson looks a forlorn figure.
Soprano looking to ground and pound but Taisson is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soprano thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Soprano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Soprano avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Soprano is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Taisson.
Taisson shoots and misses

and Soprano counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Taisson's guard now.
Taisson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Soprano trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Soprano with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Soprano pushes down on Taisson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Taisson looks like he's trying to stand up.

Soprano is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Taisson sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Taisson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Taisson taking some punishment here, with Soprano in his half guard.
Soprano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Taisson is trying to control but can't.
Soprano thows a huge punch but Taisson dodges it nicely.
Soprano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Taisson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Soprano scores with a couple of nice shots.
Soprano is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Soprano throwing shots but Taisson is blocking nicely.
Soprano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Soprano scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Soprano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Soprano throwing shots but Taisson is blocking nicely.
Soprano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Taisson regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Soprano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Taisson's head.
Soprano makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Soprano thows a big elbow that misses.
Soprano postures up in Taisson's guard and throws a big left but Taisson blocks it.
Soprano postures up in Taisson's guard and throws a big left but Taisson blocks it.
Taisson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Soprano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taisson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taisson works over Soprano's head and body with a nice combination.

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.
Taisson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Soprano counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Soprano working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Soprano is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Soprano prevents Taisson from getting back to his feet.
Soprano thows a big elbow that misses.
Soprano chips away with some ground and pound.
Maique Taisson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dwayne Soprano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taisson keeping moving, preventing Soprano from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne Soprano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Soprano 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Soprano!