PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Andrei Dunas (ranked 3453 p4p, 342 weight class) and Cole Taggart (ranked 3994 p4p, 394 weight class). Andrei Dunas is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Dunas
vs
Taggart

185 cm
31
165 lbs
23 - 17 - 0

169 cm
40
160 lbs
29 - 17 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q
Sully's Bar & Grill

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 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrei Dunas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cole Taggart!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taggart drives through and clinches with Dunas against the ropes.
Taggart blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've been informed that Taggart 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.
Taggart pushes Dunas back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taggart working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taggart lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short body shot lands from Taggart as the two fighters clinch.
Taggart wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taggart misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taggart looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Taggart lands a shot to the body.
Dunas misses with the head strike.
A hook to the body from Taggart.
Taggart misses with a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Dunas as the two fighters clinch.
Dunas misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taggart.
Dunas lands a shot to the body.
Dunas blocking some punches.
Dunas tries to work over Taggart's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dunas has Taggart pressed against the ropes, preventing Taggart from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Taggart tries to work over Dunas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taggart throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dunass head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dunas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taggart has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taggart digs a right hand underneath Dunas's ribcage. Dunas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Taggart misses with a punch to the body.
Taggart lands a shoulder strike.
Dunas misses with a punch to the body.
Dunas blocking some punches.
Taggart scores with a nice hook to the head.
Taggart misses with a body punch.
Taggart misses with some punches.
Dunas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Taggarts head.
Good body shot from Taggart.
Dunas misses with a punch on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Dunas as the two fighters clinch.
Taggart blocks a body shot from Dunas.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taggart.

Taggart breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dunas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taggart walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dunas checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dunas takes a swing at Taggart's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dunas avoids a kick to the body.
Dunas ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dunas takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Dunas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Dunas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dunas digs a right hand into Taggart's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Taggart's gas tank.
Taggart prevents a body shot from Dunas.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dunas.
Dunas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Dunas works on Taggart's body with a couple of short punches.
Taggart lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dunas backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Taggart creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Dunas lands a left hand.
Dunas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Dunas.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taggart can't find room to land a body shot as Dunas controls the action.
Dunas blocking some punches.
Dunas misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Taggart dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taggart connects with a leg kick. Dunas looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Taggart lands a leg kick that knocks Dunas off balance momentarily.
Taggart misses with a combination
and Dunas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taggart pivots, looking for a leg kick but Dunas is out of range and Taggart settles back down.
Taggart throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Some bone on bone action there as Dunas checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Taggart tries to bum rush Dunas with a series of wild strikes but Dunas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dunas looks to land a left hand but Taggart moved out of range nicely.
Taggart misses with a wild body shot.
Taggart's corner calls for a 1-2. Taggart obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Taggart swings widly with a right hand
and Dunas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dunas blocks a head kick by Taggart.
Sloppy strikes from Taggart. Those never looked like landing.
Dunas fakes the leg kick and cracks Taggart in the body.
Taggart misses with a body kick.
It looked like Dunas was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Taggart.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taggart misses with a low kick.
Cole Taggart seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Taggart.
Taggart throws a jab when Dunas was well out of range.
Dunas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taggart looks to land a body kick but Dunas moved away.
Taggart lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Taggart throws a nice inside leg kick.

Taggart takes the fight into the clinch.
Dunas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Taggart backwards.
Dunas prevents a body shot from Taggart.
Taggart throws a punch but it's blocked by Dunas.
Dunas lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Taggart using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Taggart pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taggart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taggart. Dunas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taggart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart misses with an uppercut
and Dunas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dunas explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Dunas checks a leg kick nicely.
Taggart just misses with a punch to the body.
Dunas blocks a head kick by Taggart.
A head kick misses from Taggart.
Dunas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taggart.
Dunas checks a low kick from Taggart.
Taggart lands a high kick!
Taggart lands a leg kick that knocks Dunas off balance momentarily.
Taggart is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taggart throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A little feinted left hand from Dunas on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Dunas misses with a body kick.
Taggart lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Taggart misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Taggart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Taggart looks to land a body kick but Dunas moved away.
Andrei Dunas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dunas takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Taggart moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Dunas keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Dunas on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Taggart fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dunas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Taggart crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Dunas - the referee stops the clock and Taggart gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Dunas. Taggart manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Dunas blocks a head kick by Taggart.
Taggart throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dunas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taggart fails to land with a series of punches.
Taggart lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dunas takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Taggart blocks the body kick.
Taggart throws out a counter right but Dunas avoids it with no problem.
Dunas connects with a leg kick. Taggart looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Dunas moves in looking to clinch but Taggart pushes him off.
Taggart has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dunas checks the leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taggart throws a low kick, looking for Dunas's leg but Dunas calmly moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dunas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Dunas explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Dunas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dunas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dunas wants to clinch.
Taggart thumps Dunas with a low kick.
Cole Taggart is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dunas blocks a head kick by Taggart.
Dunas thinks about countering with a body kick.
Taggart on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Dunas. Dunas obviously looking to wear him down.

Dunas instigates a clinch.
Dunas has Taggart pressed against the ropes, preventing Taggart from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Taggart lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dunas throws a head punch that misses.
Taggart blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dunas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taggart is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Dunas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A hook to the body from Taggart.
Cole Taggart seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Dunas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taggart makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taggart struggles to land a body shot inside as Dunas controls his hands.
Dunas throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Dunas fails to land.

Taggart manages to break the clinch.
Dunas on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Taggart slips under a jab from Dunas.
Jab from Taggart.
Taggart throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dunas's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Taggart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taggart has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Taggart!
Post fight, Cole Taggart took to the microphone: 'I want a title shot at 145lbs and I want it now. Your so-called champ isn't in the same as me and never will be. Instead of ducking me, how you step in the ring and fight the wee man one and one. I'm the best Muay Thai fighter in the world!'.