PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yang Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Hanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tao comes to the cage accompanied by Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Tao
vs
Hanks

175 cm
30
170 lbs
25 - 8 - 0

179 cm
30
175 lbs
20 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hellbent
BeastMode

Conquer
Conviction

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 25 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yang Tao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Hanks!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanks on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tao.
Tao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hanks was well out of range. Poor timing from Tao.
Hanks misses with a wild body shot.
Tao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanks.
Tao has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Homunculus Alembic in the buildup to the fight.
Tao lands a nice looking body shot.
Tao attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hanks dips to his left and cracks Tao with an uppercut!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tao. Hanks shrugs it off though.
Hanks thumps Tao with a low kick.
Tao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hanks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tao.
Hanks finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
We've been informed that Hanks has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Hanks lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tao at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tao throws a big shot that misses.
Tao takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hanks throws a nice looking combination but Tao bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tao.
Tao tests Hanks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hanks takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tao avoids the body shot from Hanks.
Hanks checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tao takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tao misses the jab.
Nice body punch from Tao.
Hanks throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tao moves out of range of the body kick from Hanks.
Hanks checks a leg kick.
Hanks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tao was well out of range. Poor timing from Hanks.
Hanks misses with a leg kick.
Tao scores with a nice strike.
Tao chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hanks can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hanks. Tao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tao lands a lovely overhand right.
Hanks is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tao rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanks thows a leg kick but Tao checks it
letting Tao counter with a right hand.
Hanks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tao throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hanks.

It looks like Craig Hanks has been cut.
Good leg kick by Hanks there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Yang Tao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Tao misses its intended target.
Hanks throws a jab but it's blocked by Tao.
Hanks throws out a leg kick but Tao moves out of range and Hanks only half commits.
Hanks scores with a nice strike.
Hanks takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hanks looks to score with a jab to the body but Tao is just out of range.
Hanks misses with a kick to the body.
Tao lands with a hook. Hanks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hanks misses with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tao looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hanks throws a hook but Tao avoids it easily.
Hanks steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Tao. That one must have hurt.
Tao avoids a kick to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hanks. Tao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tao scoring well with a low kick there.
Tao misses with an uppercut. Hanks saw that one coming.
A jab from Tao misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Hanks as he connects with a hook.
A low kick from Hanks is predictable there
and Tao counters with an inside leg kick.
Hanks lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tao takes a step back to recover.
Tao takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hanks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tao. Tao obviously looking to wear him down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab lands there for Tao.
Tao connects with a nice looking jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanks lands a nice looking body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hanks.
Hanks moves out of range of the body kick from Tao.
Tao chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hanks can pounce on him.
Tao is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Tao smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hanks takes a jab right on the kisser.
Crunch! Tao slams his shin into Hanks's torso.
Hanks looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tao throws a leg kick but Hanks sees it coming and moves out of range.
Tao waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hanks.
Hanks 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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Crunch! Tao slams his shin into Hanks's torso.
Hanks takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hanks missing with a left hand there. Tao was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A leg kick checked by Tao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yang Tao will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Craig Hanks's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hanks misses with a low kick.
A jab from Tao misses.
Tao throws a low kick but Hanks moves out of range easily.
Hanks scores with a jab. Tao acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hanks looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tao throws a nice head kick!
Hanks thumps Tao with a low kick.
Tao lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hanks swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tao throws a solid leg kick but Hanks takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tao.
Hanks misses with a kick to the body.
Hanks scores with a nice head shot.
Tao connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tao throws out a leg kick but Hanks moves out of range and Tao only half commits.
Tao is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hanks blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Hanks misses.
Yang Tao is winning the standup battle so far.
Hanks throws a leg kick that misses.
Hanks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tao.
Tao darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hanks swinging wildly here.
A jab lands there for Tao.
Tao cracks Hanks with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hanks.
Hanks misses the shot to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tao.
Hanks throws a body kick that misses
and Hanks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hanks thows a body shot but no joy.
Tao fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hanks checks it well.
Tao has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hanks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks checks the leg kick nicely there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanks sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Tao connects with a solid leg kick.
Tao tried to score with a low kick but Hanks checks it.
Hanks tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hanks feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tao's calf.
Hanks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hanks misses with a straight left.
Tao throws a nice inside leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Hanks.
Hanks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tao. Tao obviously looking to wear him down.
Tao jabs Hanks to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tao misses with a kick to the body.
Hanks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tao was well out of range. Poor timing from Hanks.
Hanks swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tao takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao throws the kick towards the body but Hanks avoids it.
Tao lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Tao throws a low kick but Hanks moves out of range easily.
Tao lands a leg kick that knocks Hanks off balance momentarily.
Tao lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hanks at a distance.
Tao throws a shot to the body.
Hanks misses the shot to the body.
Good shot there by Hanks.
Tao wants to slow Hanks down by chopping away at his legs.
Hanks checks a leg kick.
Hanks has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tao.
Tao throws a hook to the side of Hanks's head but Hanks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hanks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tao was well out of range. Poor timing from Hanks.
Hanks takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hanks has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Tao.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao looks to land a body kick but Hanks moved away.
Hanks throws a body kick that misses
and Tao counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
Hanks throws a leg kick that misses.
Tao scores with a leg kick.
Tao tests Hanks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hanks feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tao's calf.
Tao uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hanks has time to react.
Tao thumps Hanks with a low kick.
Hanks takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hanks throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tao lands with a hook. Hanks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tao ducks under a wild hook from Hanks.
Tao tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tao throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Tao dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Craig Hanks's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hanks bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hanks jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hanks avoids a kick to the body.
Tao pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tao loads up on a big right hand but Hanks slips the punch.
Tao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hanks lands a jab.
Tao scoring well with a low kick there.
Tao bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hanks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tao. Tao obviously looking to wear him down.
Tao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tao pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hanks has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hanks there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hanks checks a low kick from Tao.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanks blocks a head kick by Tao.
Tao takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hanks pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tao throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hanks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tao.
Tao connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Tao blocks the body kick.
Hanks misses the shot to the body.
Hanks digs a good body shot into Tao's ribs.
Hanks scores with a head kick.
Hanks takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tao pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hanks is out of range and Tao settles back down.
Hanks loads up on a big right hand but Tao slips the punch.
Hanks looks to land a body kick but Tao moved away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A chopping leg kick lands by Tao.
Craig Hanks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hanks throws a low kick but Tao moves out of range easily.
Tao throws a body punch but Hanks moves out of range.
Tao moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tao lands a front kick.
Jab by Hanks.
Tao ducks under a wild hook from Hanks.
Hanks throws a body punch but Tao moves out of range.
Tao connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hanks missing with a left hand there. Tao was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tao has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hanks.
Hanks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hanks throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hanks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tao counters with a thumping low kick.
Hanks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanks avoids the head kick by Tao.
Tao avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hanks misses with a hook. Tao ducked under it nicely.
A good leg kick by Tao.
Hanks fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tao.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hanks.
Tao moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A big right from Hanks misses.
Tao bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hanks walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tao.
Hanks tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tao is able to avoid easily.
Tao lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Hanks walks into a stiff left hand from Tao.
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!
Hanks takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tao throws a head kick that misses.
Tao lands with a nice body kick.
Tao scores with a hook to the body. Hanks takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tao lands a high kick!
Hanks throws a body punch but Tao moves out of range.
Hanks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tao moves away.
Tao throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hanks.
Tao steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hanks.
Tao thumps Hanks with a low kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hanks.
Tao lands with a hook. Hanks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hanks thuds a left hand into Tao's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yang Tao.
Well Tao has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yang Tao!
Yang Tao seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.