PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Taneyev (ranked 4 p4p, 9 weight class) and Randy Randleman (ranked 1 p4p, 3 weight class). Randleman is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bloodhound Gang - Bad Touch. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Taneyev
vs
Randleman

186 cm
36
206
32 - 14 - 1

190 cm
32
211
31 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Valentin Taneyev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Randy Randleman!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Randleman has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Taneyev finds it's way round the side to connect with Randleman's head.
A low kick from Taneyev is predictable there
and Randleman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Randleman tries to move into range but Taneyev moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Taneyev cracks Randleman with a good jab.
Taneyev throws a lazy uppercut
and Randleman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab lands there for Randleman.
Randleman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taneyev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A punch combination from Randleman misses.
We've been informed that Randleman 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.
Randleman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taneyev scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Randleman doesn't seem bothered though.
Randleman throws a hook but Taneyev avoids it easily.
Taneyev tried to counter with a leg kick but Randleman avoided it.
Randleman dips to his left and cracks Taneyev with an uppercut!
Taneyev scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Randleman doesn't seem bothered though.
Taneyev punishes Randleman's body with a nice straight punch.
Taneyev stuns Randleman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A clash of legs there as Randleman blocks the low kick.
Randleman only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Randleman's head.
Randleman misses the shot to the body.
Taneyev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Randleman is looking to slow Taneyev down with leg kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taneyev throws a right hand that misses
and Randleman counters with a nice uppercut.
Randleman throws an off balance right hand
enabling Taneyev to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Taneyev connects with a nice looking jab.
Taneyev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev is looking to slow Randleman down with leg kicks.
Taneyev misses with a kick to the body.
Randleman walks into a jab.
Both fighters circling a little - Randleman finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Taneyev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Randleman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randleman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Taneyev was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Randleman.
Taneyev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taneyev looks for the body kick but Randleman saw that one coming.
Randleman flicks out a counter leg kick but Taneyev steps away.
Randleman slips under a jab.
Randleman stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Taneyev.
Taneyev scores with a hook to the body. Randleman takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Randleman thuds his right hand into Taneyev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Valentin Taneyev will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Taneyev ducks under a wild hook from Randleman.
Randleman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taneyev.
Taneyev throws a leg kick that misses.
Taneyev throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Randleman counter with a right hand.
Taneyev throws a front kick that sends Randleman stumbling back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taneyev scoring well with a low kick there.
Randleman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Valentin Taneyev is winning the standup battle so far.
Randleman misses with an uppercut
and Taneyev counters with a series of strikes. Randleman will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randleman misses with an uppercut. Taneyev saw that one coming.
Taneyev jabs at Randleman's body.
Randleman throws a hook to the side of Taneyev's head but Taneyev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slow jab from Taneyev misses its intended target.
Randleman misses with a hook
and Taneyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Randleman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Taneyev slips a jab and a cross from Randleman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev lands an overhand right.
Randleman avoids the body shot from Taneyev.
Randleman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Randleman just misses with a punch to the body.
Randleman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taneyev.
Randleman throws a poor cross that misses
and Taneyev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Randleman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taneyev.
Taneyev backing away here, and Randleman unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Randleman rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Taneyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Randleman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taneyev.
Taneyev backing away here, and Randleman unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Randleman throws a looping overhand right but Taneyev ducks down to avoid it.
Taneyev is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Taneyev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Randleman can do to turn this around?
Randleman misses with a looping left.
Taneyev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Randleman misses with an uppercut.
Taneyev walks into a left hand.
Randleman misses with a kick to the body
and Taneyev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randleman throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Taneyev to counter with a crisp jab.
Taneyev throws a leg kick but Randleman sees it coming and moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Randleman.
Taneyev misses with a low kick.
Randleman throws a jab when Taneyev was well out of range.
Randleman scores with the left hand. Taneyev knows he should have avoided that one.
Randleman throws a looping overhand right but Taneyev ducks down to avoid it.
A quick step to the side and Taneyev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taneyev looks to land a body kick but Randleman moved away.
Randleman feints a counter leg kick.
Randleman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taneyev throws a leg kick but Randleman sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Taneyev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Taneyev throws a quick counter kick to the body but Randleman avoids it.
Randleman needs to keep his hands up - Taneyev had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Randleman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taneyev misses with a body kick.
Randleman throws a lazy uppercut
and Taneyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randleman throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Randleman on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Taneyev scores with the left hand. Randleman knows he should have avoided that one.
Randleman takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Taneyev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Randleman.
Randleman scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Randleman swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Taneyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taneyev lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Taneyev lands a big right hand that sends Randleman crashing to the mat! Taneyev stays standing though and waves Randleman back to his feet!

Randleman is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sloppy strikes from Randleman. Those never looked like landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Randleman. Taneyev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taneyev quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Randleman tries a low kick but Taneyev avoids it.
Randleman slips a jab and a cross from Taneyev.
Randleman doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Randleman misses the target.
A little feinted left hand from Taneyev on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Taneyev throws a body punch but Randleman moves out of range.
Randleman now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Taneyev looks for the body kick but Randleman saw that one coming.
Taneyev misses with a leg kick.
Randleman tries a quick counter leg kick but Taneyev is wise to it.
Taneyev lands a nice shot that snaps Randleman's head back.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taneyev.
Taneyev misses with an uppercut. Randleman saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Randleman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Randleman looks to land a right hand but Taneyev moved out of range.
Taneyev was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A big right from Taneyev misses.
Taneyev misses with a lunging right hand
and Randleman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Taneyev thinking.
Randleman moves out of range of the strikes.
Taneyev connects with a single shot there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Taneyev clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Randleman just misses with a punch to the body.
Taneyev throws a right hand that misses
and Taneyev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taneyev misses with a left hand
and Randleman counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice body kick from Randleman.
Randleman looks to throw a body kick
and Taneyev counters with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Randleman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taneyev throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taneyev throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nice jab there from Taneyev.
Randleman connects with a jab.
Taneyev connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Randleman lands with an uppercut that bounces Taneyev off the cage and back into range.
Randleman throws a lazy uppercut
and Taneyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A clash of legs there as Randleman blocks the low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev throws the left hand but Randleman avoids the punch easily.
Taneyev misses with a looping right.
Taneyev moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromRandleman.
Randleman lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Taneyev lands a jab to the nose.
Taneyev misses with a left hand
and Randleman counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Randleman misses with an uppercut. Taneyev saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Randleman takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Taneyev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A nice leg kick from Taneyev, right into the meat of the thigh.
Taneyev scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Taneyev slips under a jab.
Randleman misses with a body shot.
Taneyev throws a body shot but no joy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Randleman! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randleman scores with a jab to the jaw.
Randleman swings away with a body shot that misses
and Taneyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Randleman scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Taneyev moves out of range as Randleman strikes.
Randleman looks to land a body kick but Taneyev moved away.
Taneyev appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Taneyev fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Randleman checks it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Valentin Taneyev will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Taneyev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Randleman goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Randleman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taneyev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Randleman.
Randleman is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Taneyev with a body shot.
A low kick from Taneyev misses
letting Randleman counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Randleman tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Randleman's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Taneyev throws a lazy right hand but Randleman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A little jabbing left from Randleman on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randleman throws a hook to the side of Taneyev's head but Taneyev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Taneyev thows a leg kick but Randleman checks it
and Randleman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Taneyev misses with a hook.
It seemed like Randleman was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Randleman.
Randleman throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Taneyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Randleman misses with a head kick.
Randy Randleman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Randleman misses with a looping left.
Taneyev was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Taneyev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taneyev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Taneyev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Taneyev there as he acknowledges the shot.

Taneyev is rocked!
Taneyev misses with a lunging right hand
and Randleman counters with a crisp right that sends Taneyev to the canvas! Randleman follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Randy Randleman!
In his post fight interview, Randy Randleman started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.