PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Cole Taggart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddy White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Taggart
vs
White

169 cm
38
160 lbs
23 - 15 - 0

177 cm
33
164 lbs
27 - 20 - 4

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cole Taggart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 20 - 4, fighting out of Hilo, Freddy White!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White slips under a jab.
White tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Taggart is able to avoid easily.
White throws a leg kick which misses Taggart's front leg but catches the back leg as Taggart tries to avoid it.
A punch combination from Taggart misses.
A jab lands there for White.
White takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
White misses with the combination.
Taggart looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
White cracks Taggart with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Taggart tries to close the distance and clinch up but White swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taggart throws a lazy uppercut
enabling White to counter with a crisp jab.
White throws a body shot but no joy.
Taggart throws a head kick that misses.
White flicks out a counter leg kick but Taggart steps away.
Taggart tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taggart moves in looking to clinch but White pushes him off.
Jab by White.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart lands with a nice body punch.
White scores with a jab to the jaw.
A punch lands to the side of White 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A nice combination there by White.
White lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

White scores a knockdown with a big right hand! Taggart beats the count and gets back to his feet. The referee asks him to walk forwards and it appears he is OK so we'll continue the bout.

Taggart is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taggart on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Oh Taggart is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Taggart throws a body shot but no joy.
An inside leg kick lands from Taggart.
Taggart seems to have got his legs back now.
Nice cross by Taggart.
White throws a leg kick but Taggart sees it coming and moves out of range.
A jab from White misses.
White keeps the fight on the outside.
We've been informed that White 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.
White is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Taggart had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Nice defenses there by White.
White jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Good standup being displayed there by White as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Taggart feints and then cracks White's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow White down.
White has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Taggart fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and White has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice defenses there by White.
Taggart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
White misses with a hook. Taggart ducked under it nicely.
A lazy body kick from Taggart
and White counters with a straight right hand.
Taggart lands a front kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Taggart.
White throws a low kick but Taggart moves out of range easily.
White throws a head kick that half lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taggart explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Taggart throws a sloppy head kick and White moves out of range easily.
Taggart looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Taggart lands a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy White dominated that round.
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.

Nice uppercut there from Taggart.
White on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Taggart misses with a low kick.
Taggart avoids the head kick by White.
A head kick misses from Taggart.
White looks like he wants to counter punch here.
White wants to land a leg kick but Taggart is out of range.
White takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Taggart staying out of range there.
Taggart looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Taggart looks to score with a jab to the body but White is just out of range.
Cole Taggart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taggart pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taggart instigates a clinch.
Taggart struggles to land a body shot inside as White controls his hands.
Taggart blocking some punches.
White lands an elbow inside.
White misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down White.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taggart.

Taggart breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taggart looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A low kick from Taggart misses
and White makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Taggart misses with a body kick.
Taggart just misses with a punch to the body.
Taggart motions for White to come forward. Taggart throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A shot to the liver by Taggart. Beautiful body shot.
Taggart connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between White's hands.
White's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A jab from White misses.
As White backs away, Taggart returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
An inside leg kick from White misses.
Taggart half committed to a counter leg kick.
White moves out of range of the strikes.
White takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
White tries a low kick but Taggart avoids it.
Taggart throws a low kick but White moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
White bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A lazy left from White finds it's target.
A big left from White misses.
White throws out a loose jab but Taggart uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taggart lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
White takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
White lands a nice leg kick that just misses Taggart's sensitive parts.
Taggart lands a nice leg kick that just misses White's sensitive parts.
A head kick misses from Taggart.
White only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Taggart fails with an attempt to clinch.
White misses with a low kick.
White throws a body punch but Taggart moves out of range.
White avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Taggart dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

White throws a leg kick but Taggart moved away.
Taggart throws a combination that misses
and White cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taggart misses with a kick to the body
and White counters with a stiff right hand.
Taggart throws a quick head kick that skims the top of White's head.
Taggart lands a head shot.
A head kick misses from White.
White shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Taggart looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Taggart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice shot by Taggart.
An inside leg kick lands from Taggart.

Taggart closes the distance and clinches.
Still in the clinch, Taggart scores with a nice short uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taggart throws a head punch that misses.
White misses with the head strike.
White is trying to break the clinch but Taggart is controlling him.
A short uppercut from White.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White misses with the head strike.

Taggart escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Taggart checks a leg kick.
Taggart checks a leg kick nicely.

Taggart has White up against the ropes in a clinch.
White misses with some punches.
White blocks a body shot from Taggart.
Taggart tries to circle away but White has him pinned against the ropes.
Taggart lands a hook that snaps the head of White backwards.
A right hand to the body from Taggart.
Taggart tries to throw a body punch but White avoids it by throwing Taggart back against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taggart.
Still in the clinch, Taggart scores with a nice short uppercut.

Taggart manages to break the clinch.
Taggart swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart thows a leg kick but White checks it
and White counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taggart tried to score with a low kick but White checks it.
Taggart lands a front kick.
White waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taggart.
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!
Taggart looks to land a right hand but White moved out of range.
White is trying to counter with his kicks.
White walks forward, straight into a front kick from Taggart.
White misses with a wild combination.
Taggart scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. White doesn't seem bothered though.
A bone on bone clash there as White blocks the leg kick.
A lazy left from White finds it's target.
Taggart cracks the inside of White's front leg.
White misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Taggart clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

White fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Taggart checks it well.
White looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Taggart tries to clinch up.
White is looking to score with low kicks.
White sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
White gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Taggart lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A punch combination from Taggart misses.
Taggart swings widly with a right hand
and White counters with a nice uppercut.
Taggart avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taggart fires out a quick counter leg kick but White just manages to avoid it.
White takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Taggart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
White stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Taggart.
White misses with a head kick.
Taggart was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taggart attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Taggart misses with a wild body shot.
Taggart turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Taggart connects with a solid leg kick.
White slips under a jab.
Taggart blocks a low kick nicely.
Taggart tries a head kick but it misses.
Taggart misses the body punch
and White counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taggart smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Taggart on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Taggart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
White has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Taggart.
Taggart turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
White is looking to chop away at Taggart's legs.
Taggart chopping away at his opponent's legs.
White lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cole Taggart is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taggart throws a hook to the side of White's head but White sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
White feints a counter leg kick.
Taggart slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
White uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taggart.
Taggart throws the kick towards the body but White avoids it.
White fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Taggart is out of range.
Taggart lands with a nice body punch.
Taggart throws a leg kick but White sees it coming and moves out of range.
White throws a lazy uppercut
and Taggart counters with a nice low kick that buckles White's knee momentarily.
White misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taggart looks for the body kick but White saw that one coming.

Taggart has White up against the ropes in a clinch.
Taggart lands a nice uppercut.
White has a couple of punches blocked by Taggart.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Taggart had his way with Freddy White in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. 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.

White lands a leg kick that knocks Taggart off balance momentarily.
Taggart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
White throws out a counter right but Taggart avoids it with no problem.
Taggart tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and White is able to avoid easily.
White keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
White chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Taggart chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A head kick misses from Taggart.
White throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Freddy White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taggart connects with an inside leg kick.
Taggart lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taggart darts in and clinches White up against the ropes.
Taggart misses with a body punch.
White blocks a body shot from Taggart.
Taggart tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
White throws a punch but it's blocked by Taggart.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, White scores with a nice short uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for White.
Taggart goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
White lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cole Taggart has scored more points in the clinch so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for White.
White creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Taggart blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
White lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Taggart misses with a punch to the body.

Taggart escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taggart looks to land a body kick but White moved away.
White looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
White checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
White doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Taggart throws a head kick that White semi-blocks.
White tries a low kick but Taggart avoids it.
White takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Taggart as he checks the leg kick.
Taggart will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
White lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Taggart. White shrugs it off though.
Taggart lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Taggart ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
White misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
White takes a jab right on the kisser.
White throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Taggart lands a lovely overhand right.
White throws a lazy uppercut
and Taggart counters with a straight right hand.
Cole Taggart is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taggart connects with a solid leg kick.
White attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Taggart looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Taggart showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taggart 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Cole Taggart!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Cole Taggart!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Cole Taggart!

Cole Taggart wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Cole Taggart 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.
The defeated Freddy White had this to say: 'Back to the drawing board '.