PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Taglerino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takehiko Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takehiko Watanabe is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Taglerino
vs
Watanabe

179 cm
25
165 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
26
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Taglerino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Takehiko Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watanabe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taglerino throws out the jab.
Watanabe appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Taglerino.
Taglerino pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Watanabe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Watanabe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taglerino attempts a counter takedown but Watanabe avoids it well and moves away.

Taglerino shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Taglerino thows a huge punch but Watanabe dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watanabe desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Taglerino is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taglerino wants to take a breather but Watanabe is having none of it.
Watanabe felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Watanabe wants to get back to his feet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taglerino trying to control the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Watanabe lands a slapping body shot.
Taglerino has been working on his boxing with his coaches at V Elite Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Watanabe connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Taglerino keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Watanabe.
Watanabe misses with a right hand

and Taglerino counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Taglerino stops Watanabe from standing up.
Watanabe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taglerino is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taglerino sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watanabe looking for a sweep. Not yet Watanabe, not yet.
Taglerino in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taglerino is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taglerino misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Watanabe was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taglerino misses with a lunging right hand
and Watanabe counters with a stiff right hand.
Taglerino loads up on a big right hand but Watanabe slips the punch.
Watanabe appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Watanabe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taglerino.
Taglerino throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Watanabe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Watanabe looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Taglerino's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Watanabe connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Taglerino scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watanabe cracks Taglerino with a good jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Taglerino dominated that round.
That's time! Taglerino's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Taglerino throws a right hand that misses
and Watanabe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taglerino scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Watanabe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taglerino.
Taglerino takes a swing at Watanabe's ribcage but misses.
Watanabe only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Taglerino jabs Watanabe right on the nose. Watanabe blinks but takes it well.
A jab lands there for Watanabe.
Taglerino ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Watanabe throws an overhand right that lands on Taglerino's shoulder, as Taglerino tries to avoid the shot.
Taglerino scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jab, jab by Taglerino - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe looks to throw the jab but Taglerino is out of range.
Watanabe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Taglerino appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Watanabe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taglerino.
Taglerino misses with an uppercut. Watanabe saw that one coming.
It seemed like Watanabe was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taglerino defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Watanabe.
Watanabe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taglerino misses with a two punch combination.
Watanabe throws out a counter right but Taglerino avoids it with no problem.
John Taglerino is winning the standup battle so far.
Taglerino swings for the body but Watanabe moves out of range.
Taglerino is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Watanabe.
Watanabe swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taglerino misses with an uppercut. Watanabe saw that one coming.
Nice shot by Watanabe.
Watanabe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taglerino.
Taglerino darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Watanabe misses with a wild body shot.

Taglerino shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watanabe is trying to maintain the position but Taglerino is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taglerino trying to control from half guard but Watanabe is working away.
Watanabe looks like he's trying to stand up.
Watanabe wants to get back to full guard.
Taglerino lands strikes from half guard.
Watanabe is pressing down on Taglerino's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
John Taglerino overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Watanabe is trying to control the position but Taglerino postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taglerino won't allow Watanabe to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Watanabe tests Taglerino's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taglerino moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Taglerino misses with a combination
and Watanabe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Watanabe swings for the body but Taglerino moves out of range.
Taglerino shoots in but no luck this time.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Watanabe, as that shot connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Taglerino dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Watanabe tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taglerino appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
John Taglerino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taglerino has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Watanabe finds it's way round the side to connect with Taglerino's head.
A shot to the body from Taglerino misses
and Watanabe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Taglerino is rocked!
Taglerino throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Watanabe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Oh Taglerino is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Taglerino bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Watanabe wants to control but Taglerino postures up.
Taglerino seems to have got his legs back now.
Taglerino wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watanabe keeps working.
Watanabe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Taglerino's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Taglerino trying to control from Watanabe's half guard. Watanabe has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Taglerino lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Taglerino showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Watanabe trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Watanabe throws a shot from downtown. Taglerino moves away and avoids it.
Taglerino half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Taglerino cracks Watanabe with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Watanabe tried to score with a low kick but Taglerino checks it.
Taglerino takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Taglerino will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
John Taglerino is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taglerino throws a looping overhand right but Watanabe ducks down to avoid it.
A countering left hand to the body from Watanabe misses.
Nice body punch from Watanabe.
Taglerino 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.
Taglerino misses with a right hand
and Watanabe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Takehiko Watanabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Watanabe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Watanabe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taglerino.
Taglerino drops down looking for a counter takedown but Watanabe sprawls and moves away.
Watanabe is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Watanabe tries to move into range but Taglerino moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Watanabe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taglerino manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Watanabe catches Taglerino right on the button with a cross.
Taglerino uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Watanabe.
A jab from Taglerino finds it's way through Watanabe's defenses.
Taglerino moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taglerino misses with a left hand
and Watanabe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taglerino uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Watanabe.
Watanabe throws an off balance right hand

and Taglerino counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taglerino.
Taglerino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Watanabe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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 John Taglerino.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taglerino, 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Taglerino!