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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergiy Sklyar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yang Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sklyar comes into the arena with Scarface - No Tears blaring out of the sound system. Tao has chosen Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting as his entrance music. Yang Tao will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.
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| 160 cm
33
140 lbs
35 - 9 - 1 |
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175 cm
34
170 lbs
34 - 11 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
35 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Sergiy Sklyar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
34 - 11 - 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!
Sklyar throws the left hand but Tao avoids the punch easily.
Sklyar lands a nice looking body shot.
Tao tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sklyar is able to avoid easily.
Tao takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've been informed that Tao 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.
Sklyar keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tao throws a nice inside leg kick.
A big left from Tao misses.
Sklyar blocks a jab.
Sklyar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice uppercut there from Sklyar.
A swing and a miss from Tao.
Sklyar is looking to chop away at Tao's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sklyar throws a low kick, looking for Tao's leg but Tao calmly moves out of range.
Sklyar 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.
Sklyar seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Sklyar throws a hook but Tao blocks it.
Sklyar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tao attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tao throws a chopping leg kick but Sklyar manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklyar moves out of range of the body kick.
Sklyar throws a hook to the side of Tao's head but Tao sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sklyar on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sklyar catches Tao with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tao throws a wild body kick that Sklyar sees coming a mile off.
Sklyar lands an overhand right.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tao.
Sklyar takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tao staying out of range there.
Sklyar wants to land a leg kick but Tao is out of range.
Tao is looking to chop away at Sklyar's legs.
Tao lands a leg kick that knocks Sklyar off balance momentarily.
Sklyar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tao.
Tao throws a nice inside leg kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sklyar missing with a left hand there. Tao was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yang Tao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sklyar lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sklyar fails with a takedown attempt.
Sklyar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sklyar looks to land a combination but Tao avoids it well.
Tao misses the shot to the body.
No luck for Sklyar with that takedown attempt.
Tao takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd cheers as Sklyar lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tao doesn't seem phased though.
Tao takes a swing at Sklyar's ribcage but misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tao.
Sklyar tries to work over Tao's front leg with a kick but Tao checks it.
Sklyar lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao checks a leg kick.
Sklyar moves out of range of the body kick.
Tao checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tao throws an overhand right that lands on Sklyar's shoulder, as Sklyar tries to avoid the shot.
Sklyar checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sklyar just misses with a punch to the body.
Tao moves out of range as Sklyar strikes.
Sklyar shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sklyar misses the shot to the body.
Sklyar throws out a loose jab but Tao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tao is looking to chop away at Sklyar's legs.
Sklyar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sklyar.
Sklyar misses with an uppercut. Tao saw that one coming.
Tao ducks under a wild hook from Sklyar.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar lands a glancing blow to the side of Tao's head.
Sklyar shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tao has hold of Sklyar's hands but Sklyar slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tao gets full guard.
Sklyar looking to sit in guard and control but Tao gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tao stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sklyar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sklyar has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sklyar lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Sergiy Sklyar dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Tao just misses with a punch to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sklyar.
Sklyar lands with a good body shot.
Tao throws a lazy body kick
and Sklyar counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sklyar won't allow Tao to sweep him here.
Sklyar prevents Tao from getting back to his feet.
Sklyar throws an elbow that misses. Tao uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sklyar's guard. Nice move by Tao!
Tao wants to stand but Sklyar is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sklyar wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sklyar is proving hard to escape from.
Tao preventing the sweep.
Sklyar working a defensive guard here.
Tao tries to stand but Sklyar is controlling from the bottom.
Sklyar might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sklyar 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.
Sklyar working a defensive guard here.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sklyar moves out of range of the body kick.
Sklyar misses with a lunging right hand
and Tao counters with a body kick that stops Sklyar in his tracks momentarily.
Tao checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tao lands a slapping body shot.
Tao scores with a kick to the midsection.
An inside leg kick from Tao misses.
Sklyar throws a poor cross that misses
and Tao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sklyar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tao scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sklyar throws an off balance right hand
and Tao makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sklyar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sklyar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sklyar was well out of range. Poor timing from Tao.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Sklyar moves out of range of the body kick.
Tao takes a swing at Sklyar's ribcage but misses.
Sklyar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tao throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sklyar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tao.
Tao throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tao tries to score with a low kick but Sklyar moves his leg out of the way.
Sklyar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tao throws a leg kick
and Sklyar counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tao!
Sergiy Sklyar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sklyar working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sklyar lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Sklyar.
Tao can't do much from the bottom here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Sklyar's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tao wants to get back to his feet.
Sklyar throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Tao works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Sklyar wants to control but Tao is keeping him busy.
Sklyar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sklyar 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.
Sklyar working the head and body with strikes.
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 Sergiy Sklyar will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Sklyar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tao moves away.
Sklyar tries to bum rush Tao with a series of wild strikes but Tao uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tao scores with a push kick.
Tao swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sklyar misses with a wild body shot.
Tao throws a body kick that misses
and Sklyar counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tao!
Sklyar trying to control the action but Tao is working from the bottom.
Tao keeping his opponent close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklyar trying to control the action but Tao is working from the bottom.
Tao is trying to get back to half guard.
Tao looking for a sweep but Sklyar has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Tao wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sklyar.
Poor strikes thrown by Sklyar there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao wants to get back to his feet.
Sklyar breaks from Tao's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Sklyar breaks from Tao's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tao is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sklyar lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Tao is looking to get to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar looking to finish with strikes here!
Sklyar connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sklyar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tao can do to turn this around?
Sklyar postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tao looks a forlorn figure.
Sklyar lands a nice shot to the head.
Tao in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sklyar wants to control but instead Tao manages to regain half guard.
Sklyar thows a huge punch but Tao dodges it nicely.
Sklyar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sklyar lands with a punch from half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar is keen to just control but Tao is a slippery customer.
Sklyar tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tao knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sklyar looks to land a strike but Tao avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sklyar trying to control the position from guard on top but Tao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sklyar throws a strike but Tao rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tao stands up from Sklyar's guard - Tao perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sklyar throws a right hand that misses
and Tao counters with a good low kick that Sklyar was not able to check.
Tao throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sklyar lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Sergiy Sklyar clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Tao misses the jab.
Sklyar listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tao throws out a leg kick but Sklyar moves out of range and Tao only half commits.
Tao takes a swing at Sklyar's ribcage but misses.
Sklyar blocks a jab.
Tao throws a leg kick but Sklyar moved away.
Tao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tao tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sklyar cracks Tao with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tao throws a solid leg kick but Sklyar takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tao.
Sklyar tries to land a leg kick but Tao saw it coming and moves away.
Sklyar checks a leg kick.
A jab from Sklyar misses.
Tao scores with a leg kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklyar looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sklyar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sklyar slips a nice elbow through Tao's hands, connecting with Tao's forehead.
Tao wants to improve his position but Sklyar is controlling well.
Sklyar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tao is trying to stand back up but Sklyar is controlling him
Tao is not content to let Sklyar control the position.
Tao is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sklyar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sklyar's back!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar prevents his opponent from getting back to his feet.
Sklyar tries to roll but Tao sticks to his back.
Tao nearly escaped from the position there.
Tao gets his hands free as Sklyar looks to control.
Sklyar is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Tao.
Tao has Sklyar's back but decides to stand back up... Obviously he fancies his chances in the standup department!
Tao fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sklyar is out of range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar punishes Tao's body with a nice straight punch.
Sklyar scores with a nice head shot.
Tao lands a leg kick that knocks Sklyar off balance momentarily.
Tao cracks the inside of Sklyar's front leg.
Tao bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice straight punches there by Sklyar. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sklyar.
Tao throws a jab when Sklyar was well out of range.
Tao misses with a low kick.
Tao keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sklyar.
Sklyar defending well as Tao loads up on a big left hand.
Tao lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Tao goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nice body punch from Sklyar.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao slips under a jab.
Yang Tao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tao misses with a kick to the body.
Sklyar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tao's waist but Tao gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sklyar off to one side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sklyar lands a nice shot that snaps Tao's head back.
A bone on bone clash there as Tao blocks the leg kick.
Sklyar throws a head kick that misses.
Sklyar jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sklyar scores with a jab to the body.
Sklyar avoids the body shot from Tao.
Tao works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sklyar avoids a kick to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sklyar. That's going to slow Tao down.
Tao ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sklyar slips a straight right by Tao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Sergiy Sklyar will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!
Sklyar dives in and grabs Tao's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tao pushes down on Sklyar's head and hops out.
Sklyar throws a leg kick
enabling Tao to counter with a crisp jab.
Sklyar's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sklyar duly obliges.
Tao slaps away a takedown attempt from Sklyar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A left lands for Tao.
Sklyar shoots in for a double leg but Tao sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergiy Sklyar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid body kick from Tao.
A jab from Sklyar misses.
Sklyar takes a swing at Tao's ribcage but misses.
Sklyar connects with an inside leg kick.
Sklyar lands with an uppercut that bounces Tao off the cage and back into range.
Tao misses with a low kick as Sklyar jumps back.
Nice straight punches there by Tao. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tao.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Tao steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sklyar.
Sklyar takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Tao connects with a crisp jab.
A jab lands there for Sklyar.
Tao fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sklyar.
Sklyar misses with a hook. Tao ducked under it nicely.
Sklyar avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Sklyar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tao shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Nice uppercut lands for Sklyar. That snapped Tao's head back.
Sklyar misses with a leg kick.
Sklyar buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tao lands a nice looking body kick.
Yang Tao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sklyar's corner calls for a 1-2. Sklyar obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sklyar lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Some bone on bone action there as Sklyar checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tao misses with a body kick.
Sklyar looks to throw the jab but Tao is out of range.
Sklyar misses with a kick to the body
and Tao counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sklyar's knee momentarily.
Tao looks to land a right hand but Sklyar moved out of range.
Sklyar checks a low kick from Tao.
Sklyar misses with an uppercut. Tao saw that one coming.
Tao swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tao lands with a thumping leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sklyar, as that shot connected.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tao moves out of range as Sklyar strikes.
A slow jab from Sklyar misses its intended target.
Sklyar will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Sklyar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tao sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sklyar closes the distance and clinches up with Tao, looking for a takedown. Sklyar pushes Tao against the cage but Tao circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sklyar throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tao blocks a leg kick.
Sklyar shoots in and drives through. Tao sprawls well.
Tao throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tao's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sklyar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tao comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tao moves out of range as Sklyar strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tao scores with a kick to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Sklyar looks for the body kick but Tao saw that one coming.
Tao has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tao takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tao checks a low kick from Sklyar.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tao. Sklyar does a little dance to reset his feet.
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 Sklyar has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sklyar and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tao throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
That kick from Tao tenderised Sklyar's leg. Sklyar is trying to keep his angry face on.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tao.
Sklyar shoots in for a takedown but Tao shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tao.
Sklyar lands with an overhand left.
And that's the end of the fight!
Yang Tao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sklyar 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergiy Sklyar!
Sergiy Sklyar retains his welterweight title!
A very excited looking Sergiy Sklyar made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
57% |
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