PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hitesh Rafferty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pancho Taco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafferty comes into the arena with hayden calnin blaring out of the sound system. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rafferty
vs
Taco

192 cm
23
217 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hitesh Rafferty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pancho Taco!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rafferty misses with a combination
and Taco counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rafferty throws a sloppy head kick and Taco moves out of range easily.
Taco fails to land the takedown.

Rafferty forces Taco back against the cage and clinches.
Taco takes a knee right on the jaw!

Rafferty breaks the clinch.
Rafferty pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Taco drives through with a takedown into Rafferty's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rafferty avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taco won't allow Rafferty to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rafferty is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafferty controlling the action here.
Rafferty trying to mount his opponent but Taco defends it.
Taco is trying to stand.
Rafferty wants to take a breather but Taco is having none of it.
Taco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rafferty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taco is staying active underneath Rafferty, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

We're going to have a standup here because Hitesh Rafferty wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A head kick misses from Rafferty.
Rafferty lands a high kick!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rafferty - that will leave a mark!
Rafferty is breathing heavily.
Taco takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rafferty throws a head kick that Taco semi-blocks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taco lands a jab to the head.
Rafferty slaps away a takedown attempt from Taco, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hitesh Rafferty has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pancho Taco.
Taco scores with a jab. Rafferty acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rafferty throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rafferty shoots in but no luck this time.
Rafferty with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Taco to score with a decent uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rafferty closes the distance and pushes Taco back into the cage.

Rafferty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Taco has closed the distance and engaged Rafferty in a clinch.
Taco has Rafferty pressed against the cage, preventing Rafferty from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rafferty tries a knee to the head but Taco blocks it.
Rafferty wants to stall.
Taco scores with a hook to the body.
Rafferty struggles to land a body shot inside as Taco controls his hands.

Rafferty breaks from the clinch.
Rafferty shoots for a takedown but Taco saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taco stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taco fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taco shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rafferty sprawls well. Rafferty wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taco gets slowly back to his feet.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rafferty. Taco shrugs it off though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taco fails with the takedown.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rafferty.

Rafferty moves into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rafferty.

Rafferty escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taco takes a head kick and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick misses from Rafferty.
Rafferty misses with a body kick.
Taco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rafferty sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taco somewhat.
Rafferty shoots in for a double leg but Taco sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rafferty keeps the fight on the outside.

Rafferty rushes Taco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rafferty escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taco goes for a double leg but Rafferty avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rafferty continues to drive forward.

Rafferty breaks from the clinch.

Taco gets tackled into the cage by Rafferty. Rafferty maintains the clinch.
Taco wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taco is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Rafferty.

Rafferty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick from Rafferty lands but Taco takes it in his stride.
Taco shoots in but no luck this time.
Hitesh Rafferty has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pancho Taco.
Taco connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rafferty's hands.
Taco is looking to clinch but Rafferty is avoiding it.
Rafferty throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Taco's head.
Taco takes a kick to the side of the head.
A punch combination from Rafferty misses.
Taco avoids the head kick by Rafferty.

Taco darts in and clinches Rafferty up against the cage.
Taco tries to break free but Rafferty pushes him back against the cage.
Taco has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rafferty breaks the clinch.
Rafferty throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Rafferty gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taco presses Rafferty against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rafferty tries to circle away but Taco has him pinned against the cage.
Rafferty throws a punch but it's blocked by Taco.
Rafferty wants to take the fight to the mat but Taco manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Taco is trying to force a seperation but Rafferty has the dominant position.
Taco tries to circle away but Rafferty has him pinned against the cage.
Rafferty misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taco.
Taco misses with a punch to the body.
Rafferty throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taco lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Taco softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Taco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Taco has managed to clinch.
Taco wants to get back to striking at distance but Rafferty won't allow it.
Taco has a couple of punches blocked by Rafferty.

Rafferty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hitesh Rafferty is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rafferty tries to avoid it but Taco manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rafferty to the ground. Rafferty escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rafferty throws a sloppy head kick and Taco moves out of range easily.

Rafferty rushes Taco and presses him up against the cage.
Taco has had enough of the clinch but Rafferty keeps him there for the moment.
Rafferty softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafferty leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rafferty prevents Taco from breaking the clinch.
Rafferty prevents a body shot from Taco.

Rafferty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rafferty fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taco tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rafferty defends well and Taco ends up having to push Rafferty into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rafferty manages to break the clinch.

Rafferty scores with a takedown into Taco's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taco can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rafferty controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitesh Rafferty dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Taco stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taco wants it to stay on the feet.
Rafferty tries to clinch up but Taco circles away and keeps his distance.

Taco has taken the fight to the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Taco scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rafferty misses with a knee strike.

Taco breaks from the clinch.
Taco on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rafferty. Rafferty obviously looking to wear him down.
Rafferty shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taco sprawls well. Taco wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rafferty gets slowly back to his feet.
Rafferty tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Taco closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Rafferty's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Rafferty manages to break the clinch.
Rafferty throws a head kick that misses.
Taco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Taco stuffs the takedown attempt from Rafferty. Rafferty gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hitesh Rafferty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rafferty swivels and escapes.
Rafferty goes for a double leg but Taco avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Taco continues to drive forward.
A nice left hand lands by Taco.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taco.
Taco wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rafferty is trying to maintain a safe position but Taco gets an underhook and turns Rafferty into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taco has Rafferty pressed against the cage, preventing Rafferty from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rafferty tries to break the clinch but Taco is controlling the position.
Rafferty wants to break free but Taco has control.
Rafferty taking a breather.
Taco has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rafferty drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Taco gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rafferty looking to throw knees to the head but Taco is blocking nicely.
A right handed body shot lands from Taco.
Taco wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Taco manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rafferty takes the fight into the clinch.
Rafferty wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taco has him pressed against the cage.
Rafferty tries to land knees in the clinch but Taco avoids the damage to the body.
Rafferty keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Taco's efforts to push away.

Taco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Taco shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Taco with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Taco scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Taco postures up in Rafferty's guard and throws a big left but Rafferty blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafferty is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taco scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Taco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rafferty has momentary wrist control but Taco slips an elbow through the middle.
Taco is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hitesh Rafferty is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taco scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rafferty avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rafferty works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taco throwing strikes from guard but Rafferty blocks nicely.
Pancho Taco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafferty working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taco.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pancho Taco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rafferty 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hitesh Rafferty!
Hitesh Rafferty decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.