PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shane Warne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cole Taggart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Warne
vs
Taggart

167 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

169 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE)

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 Las Vegas, Shane Warne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cole Taggart!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Warne shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Taggart is trying to defend but Warne finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Taggart looking for submissions off his back.
Taggart is trying to control but can't.
Warne lands strikes from half guard.
Taggart is looking for a sweep. Warne is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taggart moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Warne cracks Taggart with a solid left hand.
Taggart trying to control the position.
Warne in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Warne looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warne scoring with some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taggart can do anything to dispel that myth.

Warne got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taggart has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Warne has managed to get both his arms back between Taggart's legs - danger averted.
Warne cracks Taggart with a solid left hand.
Taggart trying to keep a closed guard but Warne is proving a slippery customer.
Taggart bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Warne's guard.
Warne manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taggart manages to get himself to full guard.
Taggart wants to hit a switch here but Warne passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Taggart there!
Taggart is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warne lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Warne tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Taggart is looking to improve his position but Warne isn't that keen on the idea.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Warne with a couple of short strikes.
Warne with shots to the head and body - Taggart looks very uncomfortable down there.
Taggart tries to reverse the position but Warne maintains control.
Warne is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taggart is in a horrible position here. Warne smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Taggart really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Warne looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taggart is looking to improve his position but Warne isn't that keen on the idea.
Warne tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taggart really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Warne is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Warne working the ground and pound effectively.
Taggart really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Warne lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Warne cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Warne lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
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!
Warne in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Warne lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Warne lands a heavy elbow.
Warne controlling the pace for now.
Taggart is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Warne lands a big elbow.
Taggart takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Taggart is looking to get to half guard.
Warne lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Warne dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taggart takes one to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Taggart.
Taggart looks to land a body kick but Warne moved away.
Warne throws the left hand but Taggart avoids the punch easily.
Taggart lands a glancing blow to the side of Warne's head.
Warne swats away the attempt to clinch by Taggart.
Taggart throws the kick towards the body but Warne avoids it.
Warne takes a swing at Taggart's ribcage but misses.
Taggart tries a head kick but it misses.
No luck for Taggart with that takedown attempt.
Taggart lands a nice looking kick to the body. Warne takes a step back to recover.
A head kick misses from Warne.
Taggart connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Taggart lands but Warne takes it in his stride.
Warne checks a low kick from Taggart.
Warne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Warne checks a low kick from Taggart.
Taggart uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Warne.
Taggart looks to land a body kick but Warne moved away.
Taggart tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Warne manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Warne blocks a head kick by Taggart.

Taggart gets caught flat footed, as Warne shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Warne won't allow Taggart to sweep him here.
Warne lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Warne postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Warne is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taggart wants to improve his position but instead Warne has moved into half guard.
Taggart is staying active underneath Warne, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Warne takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Warne is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Taggart is working to get back to half guard.
Warne lands with some strikes.
A nice elbow there by Warne.
Warne unloading with bombs!
Warne raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taggart manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Taggart tries to roll over but Warne keeps him under control.
Warne is controlling the pace.
Warne lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Warne lands strikes from half guard.
Taggart regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warne working some strikes from top position.
Warne stopping the sweep attempt from Taggart.
Warne is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
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!
Taggart tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Warne content to stall in guard here.
Warne has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Taggart wants to sweep here but Warne controlling him for the moment.
Shane Warne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Warne trying to control but Taggart is working from the bottom.
Warne scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Warne dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Taggart lands a front kick.
Taggart swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Warne misses with a takedown attempt - Taggart sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Warne throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Taggart lands a leg kick that knocks Warne off balance momentarily.
Warne misses with a body shot.
Warne shoots in looking for a takedown. Taggart tries to sprawl out of it but Warne keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taggart manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taggart takes a swing at Warne's ribcage but misses.
Taggart tries to clinch but Warne moves out of range.
Taggart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taggart misses with a leg kick

and Warne counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Taggart gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warne throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Warne scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Taggart is looking for a triangle but Warne pushes his legs off easily.
Warne lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Warne preventing the sweep.
Warne trying to control the position from guard on top but Taggart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Taggart working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Warne has passed into half guard!
Taggart takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taggart wants to sweep but Warne has passed to side control!
Warne trying to control the position but Taggart is working away.
Warne scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart is looking for a sweep.
Warne cracks Taggart with a big elbow.
Taggart tries to improve position but can't.
Warne is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taggart can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taggart manages to work his way to half guard, despite Warne's best efforts.
Warne content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Taggart is looking to control Warne's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taggart avoid being mounted?
Taggart is pressing down on Warne's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Warne working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Taggart looking for a sweep. Not yet Taggart, not yet.
Warne scoring with some ground and pound.
Cole Taggart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warne with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Warne sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Taggart's guard.
Warne has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Warne connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Taggart sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Taggart tries to roll over but Warne keeps him under control.
Warne winds up and cracks Taggart with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Taggart actively working from the bottom here.
Warne seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Taggart looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warne is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Taggart!
Warne controlling from the full mount.
Taggart is wriggling around trying to escape.
Warne is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Shane Warne is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taggart keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Warne postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Taggart looks a forlorn figure.
Warne takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Warne cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Warne showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Warne, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Warne!
After winning the bout, Shane Warne thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.