PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Magatsu Taito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nando Rafael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taito
vs
Rafael

164 cm
26
140 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

170 cm
24
145 lbs
10 - 1 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Virtual Fighter Clothing

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS ↑ 160Q STAMINA + ENERGY
[CBK] The Smashwear Corporation

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Magatsu Taito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Nando Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Kavanagh and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taito throws a jab but it's blocked by Rafael.

Taito shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rafael manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Taito working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rafael is controlling Taito's posture.
Rafael really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taito. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rafael looking for a sweep. Not yet Rafael, not yet.
Taito loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taito postures up.

Taito is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Taito stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rafael swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rafael looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rafael keeping full guard, as Taito tries to pass.
Rafael controls Taito momentarily but Taito frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nando Rafael was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Taito takes a swing at Rafael's ribcage but misses.
Taito lands a right hook to the body.
Nando Rafael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rafael slips a jab and a cross from Taito.
Taito checks a leg kick.
Rafael on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Taito shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rafael is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taito trying to mount his opponent but Rafael defends it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Taito lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael is looking to control Taito's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rafael avoid being mounted?
Rafael is looking to improve his position.

Taito is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rafael wants to control but Taito is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taito wants to pass to mount but Rafael is defending the position.
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!
Rafael avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taito.
Taito throwing shots but Rafael is blocking nicely.
Taito working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rafael is not content to let Taito control the position.

Taito is looking for a kimura here.
Rafael makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rafael.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taito sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rafael's guard.
Taito has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rafael is trying to maintain the position but Taito is very close to passing his half guard.
Rafael is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taito sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rafael defending well though.
Rafael trying to hold on to Taito's head to control him but Taito postures up.
Rafael is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taito wants to control but Rafael is keeping him busy.
Rafael is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Taito is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rafael is just riding it out for now. Taito eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael tries to roll over but Taito keeps him under control.

Taito is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Taito is trying to control the action in half guard but Rafael is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rafael tries to get to full guard but Taito has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taito passes to full mount!

Taito working for a guillotine from mount but Rafael is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magatsu Taito dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Taito lands a lovely overhand right.
Rafael smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rafael tries to clinch but Taito is having none of it.
Rafael slips a jab from Taito.

Taito drives through with a takedown into Rafael's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Taito in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taito missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taito tries to free his leg and advance position but Rafael is retaining full guard.
Taito trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rafael looking to control.
Taito postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taito throws a big right hand that misses.
Rafael can't keep his opponent in guard - Taito advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Taito is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael trying to hold on to Taito's head to control him but Taito postures up.

Taito wants to work for an arm triangle but Rafael is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rafael is looking to control Taito's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rafael avoid being mounted?
Rafael gets full guard.
Rafael pulls Taito in to control the position.
Taito trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rafael working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taito.
Rafael pulls Taito in close to his closed guard and prevents Taito from doing any damage or advancing position.
Taito throwing strikes from guard but Rafael blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael trying to control the position here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nando Rafael wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rafael looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rafael scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rafael tries to work over Taito's front leg with a kick but Taito checks it.
Rafael throws a leg kick but Taito sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nando Rafael is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rafael chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Taito can pounce on him.
Rafael stuffs the takedown.
Rafael thumps Taito with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rafael was well out of range. Poor timing from Taito.
Rafael throws a push kick but Taito slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael throws a leg kick but Taito checks it.
Taito checks a low kick from Rafael.
Rafael looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rafael blocks the body kick.
Rafael takes a jab right on the kisser.
Taito motions for Rafael to come forward. Taito throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rafael throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rafael ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Taito throws out a loose jab but Rafael uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rafael throws a leg kick but Taito moved away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Taito, as that shot connected.
Taito scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Taito scores with the left hand. Rafael knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taito chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rafael misses with a low kick.
Rafael smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice takedown defense from Rafael. No joy for Taito on that attempt.
Rafael throws a low kick but Taito moves out of range easily.
Taito throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
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!
Rafael will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A leg kick checked by Taito.
A telegraphed right hand from Taito misses the target.
Rafael tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taito paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rafael throws a low kick but Taito avoids it.
Rafael swings for the body but Taito moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rafael.
Rafael blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Magatsu Taito 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!

Rafael wants to slow Taito down by chopping away at his legs.
Taito lands a jab to the head.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Taito lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rafael has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rafael and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A punch lands to the side of Taito 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rafael walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Taito checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Taito throws a looping overhand right but Rafael ducks down to avoid it.
Rafael tries to score with a low kick but Taito moves his leg out of the way.
Taito shoots for a takedown but Rafael saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Good leg kick by Rafael there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rafael throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rafael throws a looping overhand right but Taito ducks down to avoid it.
Rafael misses with a low kick as Taito jumps back.
Rafael swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rafael keeps Taito at a distance using the push kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Taito lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rafael doesn't seem phased though.
A low kick from Rafael is predictable there
and Taito counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rafael's knee momentarily.
Rafael is looking to slow Taito down with leg kicks.
Rafael throws a hook to the side of Taito's head but Taito sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rafael slips a jab from Taito.
Taito throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rafael's head.
Taito misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Rafael gets a clinch.
Rafael lands a knee to the head.
Taito tries to pull guard but Rafael forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magatsu Taito. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taito blocks an uppercut.
Rafael scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Rafael.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael lands with a light punch inside.
Taito lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rafael or not.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rafael is fighting off a takedown attempt but Taito is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rafael to the mat. Rafael regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rafael working a defensive guard here.
Rafael manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rafael looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rafael wants to get back to his feet but Taito is holding on tight.
Magatsu Taito overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rafael sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Taito gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taito tries to get to full guard but Rafael has control of the leg.
Rafael wants to take a breather but Taito is having none of it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Taito is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rafael's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rafael's back!
Rafael tries to break free.
Taito doesn't have the hooks in and Rafael manages to turn into his guard.
Taito looking for a sweep. Not yet Taito, not yet.
Rafael trying to control the position from guard on top but Taito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Taito has an active guard here but Rafael has managed to pass into half guard.
Taito trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taito manages to get to full guard.
Nando Rafael has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael trying to control but Taito is working from the bottom.
Rafael is looking to stand up but Taito won't let him.

Taito working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rafael doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rafael manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rafael must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taito strikes from his own guard.
Magatsu Taito is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rafael loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nando Rafael.
I think Taito 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Magatsu Taito!
A relieved looking Magatsu Taito thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.