PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fransisco Gonzalez (ranked 6875 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tsyuoshi Taranaki (ranked 5550 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Tsyuoshi Taranaki will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gonzalez
vs
Taranaki

164 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Fransisco Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tsyuoshi Taranaki!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzalez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gonzalez is breathing heavily.
Gonzalez darts in looking for a takedown but Taranaki gets double underhooks and turns Gonzalez into the cage.
Taranaki misses with a takedown attempt

and Gonzalez counters by moving into the clinch.
Taranaki is pressed up against the cage. Gonzalez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taranaki down to the mat. Taranaki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taranaki closes the distance and clinches up with Gonzalez, looking for a takedown. Taranaki pushes Gonzalez against the cage but Gonzalez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taranaki looks to land a combination. Gonzalez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Taranaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taranaki tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez fails to land the takedown.
Taranaki with the counter takedown but Gonzalez avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fransisco Gonzalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taranaki shoots in and drives through. Gonzalez sprawls well.
Gonzalez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Gonzalez misses with a takedown
enabling Taranaki to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gonzalez as he jumps to the side.

Gonzalez has Taranaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Taranaki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Gonzalez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Gonzalez isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Taranaki stacks Gonzalez on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Taranaki!
Gonzalez is looking to regain half guard here but Taranaki keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki working away.
Gonzalez is not content to let Taranaki control the position.
Taranaki sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gonzalez is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Gonzalez is trying to control Taranaki's posture but Taranaki avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki is looking to take a break and control but Gonzalez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Gonzalez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gonzalez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Taranaki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Taranaki fakes the leg kick and cracks Gonzalez in the body.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gonzalez but Gonzalez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gonzalez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taranaki.
Taranaki closes the distance and clinches up with Gonzalez, looking for a takedown. Taranaki pushes Gonzalez against the cage but Gonzalez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tsyuoshi Taranaki will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Taranaki but Taranaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Taranaki tries to clinch up but Gonzalez circles away and keeps his distance.
Gonzalez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taranaki or perhaps it was just good defense by Gonzalez, which made it look bad.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Taranaki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taranaki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A little jabbing left from Taranaki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taranaki shoots in but no luck this time.
Taranaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fransisco Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tsyuoshi Taranaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki slips a jab and a cross from Gonzalez.
Taranaki throws a nice looking combination but Gonzalez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gonzalez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Gonzalez has Taranaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Taranaki tries to pull guard but Gonzalez won't allow it.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch.
Gonzalez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Taranaki.

Gonzalez forces Taranaki back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez pulls guard effortlessly.
Taranaki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gonzalez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Taranaki puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Taranaki drops an elbow to the side of Gonzalez's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taranaki wants to get back to his feet.
Gonzalez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gonzalez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taranaki is working away from the top position though.

Taranaki is working for a kimura but Gonzalez is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez wants to get back to full guard but Taranaki has mounted him!
Gonzalez wants to control but Taranaki is having none of it.
Gonzalez is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Gonzalez wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taranaki working for the choke.
Gonzalez trying to control the hands but Taranaki won't let him.
I really don't envy Gonzalez right now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Taranaki looking to break Gonzalez's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Gonzalez remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Taranaki will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Gonzalez covering up well under a series of strikes from Taranaki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsyuoshi Taranaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Taranaki misses with a takedown attempt - Gonzalez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fransisco Gonzalez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taranaki tries to clinch but Gonzalez is having none of it.
Taranaki tries to clinch up.
Taranaki shoots in for a double leg but Gonzalez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Gonzalez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Taranaki's guard.
Gonzalez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gonzalez throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez stays in close to Taranaki's body and controls the position.
Gonzalez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taranaki keeping moving, preventing Gonzalez from controlling successfully.

Taranaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gonzalez wants to control from the top but Taranaki keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taranaki lands with a thumping leg kick.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown but Gonzalez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fransisco Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tsyuoshi Taranaki.
Gonzalez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Taranaki now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gonzalez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Taranaki shoots and misses
and Gonzalez counters with a stiff right hand.
Taranaki goes for a double leg but Gonzalez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gonzalez continues to drive forward.
Taranaki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gonzalez is fending him off so far but Taranaki persists. Nope, Gonzalez circles away and we're back to standing.
Taranaki misses with a shot to the body

and Gonzalez counters by moving into the clinch.
Gonzalez works on Taranaki's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taranaki tries to pull guard but Gonzalez won't allow it.

Gonzalez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Taranaki won't allow Gonzalez to pass to mount.
Gonzalez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Taranaki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gonzalez.
Taranaki is trying to control but can't.

Gonzalez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
No joy there for Gonzalez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki connects with a body shot.
Taranaki looks for a takedown but Gonzalez sprawls well.
Gonzalez throws a head kick that misses.
Gonzalez slaps away a takedown attempt from Taranaki, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Taranaki gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gonzalez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gonzalez is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fransisco Gonzalez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taranaki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tsyuoshi Taranaki!