PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roque Barretto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yang Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barretto comes to the cage accompanied by Last Man Standing - By 4ft Fingers. Tao has chosen Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting as his entrance music. Yang Tao is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Barretto
vs
Tao

180 cm
35
174 lbs
34 - 12 - 0

175 cm
30
170 lbs
25 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Reaper Combatwear

Hellbent
BeastMode

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 34 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Roque Barretto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yang Tao!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barretto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tao was well out of range. Poor timing from Barretto.
Tao throws a hook but Barretto avoids it easily.
Tao scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barretto in his tracks.
We've been hearing reports that Barretto has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Barretto throws a leg kick but Tao sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tao slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tao delivers a nice body kick.
Tao misses with a straight left.
Tao rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Barretto counters with a single leg into guard. Tao didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tao is pulling down on Barretto's head. It's preventing any offense from Barretto, at least for the moment.
Barretto trying to control the position from guard on top but Tao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao wants to stand but Barretto is controlling the position.
Barretto throwing strikes from guard but Tao blocks nicely.
Barretto trying to control the position from guard on top but Tao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tao looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Barretto tries to work over Tao's front leg with a kick but Tao checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barretto swings widly with a right hand
and Tao counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tao bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Barretto takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tao checks the leg kick.
Tao works Barretto's body with a nice hook.
Barretto fails with a takedown attempt.
A big right from Barretto misses.
Tao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tao misses with a looping left.
A solid body kick from Tao.
Tao blocks a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick by Tao misses
and Barretto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Barretto needs to keep his hands up - Tao had a free shot at his head there.
Tao scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tao fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A lazy body kick from Tao
and Barretto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tao throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Barretto.
Barretto loads up on a big right hand but Tao slips the punch.
A good leg kick by Tao.
Tao misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tao connects with a jab.
Barretto moves out of range as Tao throws a body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barretto throws out a leg kick but Tao moves out of range and Barretto only half commits.
Tao looks to score with a jab to the body but Barretto is just out of range.
Barretto pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barretto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Barretto fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tao checks a leg kick.
Tao stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tao connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barretto. Barretto circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tao.
Barretto throws a hook but Tao avoids it easily.
Barretto takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Barretto checks a leg kick.
Barretto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tao was well out of range. Poor timing from Barretto.
Tao looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tao scores with a jab.
Yang Tao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tao loads up on a big right hand but Barretto slips the punch.
Tao swings for the body but Barretto moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tao misses with a body punch
and Barretto counters with a thumping low kick.
Yang Tao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A solid body kick from Barretto.
Yang Tao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tao misses with a looping left.
Tao connects with a nice looking jab.
Tao moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jab from Tao.
Barretto lands a slapping body shot.
Barretto misses with a jab to the body
and Tao counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Tao checks a leg kick.
Barretto misses with a leg kick
enabling Tao to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
Tao digs a good hook to Barretto's body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barretto.
A telegraphed right hand from Barretto misses the target.
Tao misses with a jab to the body

and Barretto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barretto.
Barretto throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao keeping moving, preventing Barretto from controlling successfully.
Tao is pulling down on Barretto's head to control his posture.
Tao is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Yang Tao.
Tao tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Tao.
Tao throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Tao closes the distance and clinches.
Tao misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barretto tries a knee to the head but Tao blocks it.
Barretto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tao stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Tao scores with a shot to the side of Barretto's head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Barretto creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Barretto scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short body shot lands from Tao as the two fighters clinch.
Tao avoiding damage as Barretto throws knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barretto.
Barretto is trying to push Tao away but Tao has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barretto tries to land knees in the clinch but Tao avoids the damage to the body.
Barretto misses with the head strike.
Barretto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barretto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barretto is trying to force a seperation but Tao has the dominant position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tao.
Tao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barretto lands a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tao.
A head punch on the inside from Tao fails to land.
Tao lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barretto backwards.
Tao lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Barretto.
Barretto swings wildly with an uppercut but Tao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barretto lands with a light punch inside.
Tao misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao swings wildly with an uppercut but Barretto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barretto blocks an uppercut.
Tao lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barretto backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barretto tries a body shot but Tao blocks it.
Barretto scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tao blocks a body shot from Barretto.
Tao is trying to break the clinch but Barretto is controlling him.
A head punch on the inside from Tao fails to land.
Barretto blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Tao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tao 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 Barretto has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Barretto and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barretto lands the left hand.
Tao fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tao swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
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 Roque Barretto will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tao throws a body kick that misses.
Tao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barretto.
A jab from Barretto misses.
Barretto catches Tao with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tao connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tao throws a right hand that Barretto ducks under and follows up with a left that Barretto also avoids with ease.
Tao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barretto.
Barretto connects with a looping right hand.
Tao moves out of range of the body kick.
Barretto scores with a leg kick.
Tao throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Barretto misses with a straight right.
Tao misses with a body kick.
Barretto tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tao blocks the body kick.
Decent striking displayed by Tao there.
Barretto goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Barretto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tao throws out the jab.
A good leg kick by Tao.
Barretto uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Barretto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tao.
Tao moves in looking to clinch but Barretto pushes him off.
Barretto lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Tao displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barretto.
Barretto throws a hook to the side of Tao's head but Tao sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tao feints and then cracks Barretto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barretto down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Tao tries a head kick but it misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tao blocks a body shot from Barretto.
Tao lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tao swings wildly with an uppercut but Barretto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barretto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tao lands a body shot in the clinch.
Barretto lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tao throws a head punch that misses.
Barretto blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Barretto.
Tao has a couple of punches blocked by Barretto.
A short right from Barretto on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Barretto fails to land.
A right handed body shot lands from Barretto.
A body shot lands from Tao.
Tao throws a head punch that misses.

Barretto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barretto avoids the head kick by Tao.
Barretto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tao smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Barretto walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Barretto moves out of range of the body kick from Tao.
Barretto takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barretto cracks Tao with a right hand to the side of the head.
Tao fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tao takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tao throws a jab but it's blocked by Barretto.
Barretto is looking to slow Tao down with leg kicks.
Tao wants to clinch.
Barretto misses the shot to the body.
Tao cracks Barretto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tao uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Barretto has time to react.
Barretto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Barretto misses the jab.

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 Roque Barretto.
I think Barretto 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

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