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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giant Benandonner (ranked 279 p4p, 491 weight class) and Baariq Taïa (ranked 17 p4p, 14 weight class). Baariq Taïa has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Giant Benandonner's chin.
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| 203 cm
31
286
23 - 11 - 0 |
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198 cm
30
258
13 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Giant Benandonner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Baariq Taïa!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and James Atkins.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taïa shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Taïa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Taïa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taïa drops an elbow to the side of Benandonner's head.
Benandonner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taïa.
Taïa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Benandonner manages to get to full guard.
Benandonner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taïa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benandonner is on top in guard.
Benandonner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taïa is pulling down on Benandonner's head. It's preventing any offense from Benandonner, at least for the moment.
Benandonner trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taïa's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Taïa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Benandonner trying to control the position from guard on top but Taïa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benandonner looking to pass the guard.
Benandonner trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taïa's guard.
Taïa wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Taïa keeping moving, preventing Benandonner from controlling successfully.
Benandonner is looking to stand up but Taïa won't let him.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Benandonner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Benandonner throws a jab when Taïa was well out of range.
Taïa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benandonner circles away.
Benandonner throws a jab when Taïa was well out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Taïa! But no joy.
Taïa shoots in and gets a takedown into Benandonner's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Benandonner has his feet on Taïa's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Taïa on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Baariq Taïa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benandonner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taïa.
Benandonner misses with a wild body shot.
Benandonner throws a quick inside leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benandonner waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taïa.
Benandonner takes one to the side of the head.
It looks like Giant Benandonner has been cut.
Taïa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Benandonner.
Benandonner misses with a hook. Taïa ducked under it nicely.
Taïa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Taïa's coach down at Mentor Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Taïa's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Taïa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Benandonner defends well and Taïa ends up having to push Benandonner into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Taïa misses with a left hand
and Taïa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Benandonner looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Giant Benandonner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benandonner loads up on a big right hand but Taïa slips the punch.
Taïa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Benandonner looks for the body kick but Taïa saw that one coming.
Benandonner throws a nice inside leg kick.
Taïa swings widly with a right hand
and Benandonner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taïa avoids the body shot from Benandonner.
Benandonner connects with a body shot.
Benandonner doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taïa has Benandonner up against the cage in a clinch.
Taïa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benandonner letting Taïa take a breather here.
Benandonner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Taïa backwards.
Benandonner is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Giant Benandonner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baariq Taïa.
Benandonner has Taïa pressed against the cage.
Benandonner misses with a punch to the body.
Taïa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taïa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benandonner prevents it.
Benandonner digs a right hand into Taïa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Taïa's gas tank.
Taïa tries for a takedown but Benandonner manages to get underhooks.
Benandonner cracks Taïa with a nice body shot.
Taïa looks winded!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Benandonner.
Benandonner is working Taïa over against the cage.
Benandonner controlling the action here for a moment.
Benandonner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Giant Benandonner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Giant Benandonner's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Taïa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Benandonner.
Benandonner misses with an uppercut.
A slow jab from Taïa misses its intended target.
Benandonner connects with an inside leg kick.
Benandonner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taïa can do to turn this around?
Taïa misses with a double jab.
Taïa is looking to clinch.
Benandonner just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Benandonner.
Taïa tries to clinch there but Benandonner circles away.
Benandonner seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Benandonner just misses with a punch to the body.
Taïa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benandonner.
Taïa avoids the body shot from Benandonner.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benandonner throws a front kick aimed at Taïa's knee but Taïa avoids it well.
Benandonner throws a body shot but no joy.
Taïa checks a low kick from Benandonner.
Nice uppercut lands for Benandonner. That snapped Taïa's head back.
Benandonner will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Taïa throws a hook to the side of Benandonner's head but Benandonner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Benandonner.
Taïa jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Taïa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benandonner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taïa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taïa throws out a counter right but Benandonner avoids it with no problem.
Taïa misses with a straight left.
Taïa lands with a straight right. Benandonner didn't see that one coming.
Taïa's corner calls for a 1-2. Taïa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Benandonner waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taïa.
Benandonner scores with a leg kick.
Benandonner lands with a right hand.
Benandonner just misses with a punch to the body.
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!
Benandonner waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taïa.
Taïa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taïa. Benandonner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taïa moves into the clinch.
Taïa can't get the takedown.
Benandonner working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taïa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taïa throws a head punch that misses.
Taïa tries to score a body lock takedown but Benandonner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Taïa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taïa can't get the takedown.
Giant Benandonner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baariq Taïa.
Taïa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Benandonner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Benandonner misses with a body punch.
Taïa gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Taïa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Benandonner is concentrating on defense, preventing Taïa from advancing position.
Taïa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Benandonner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Taïa is looking to stall here but Benandonner recovers full guard.
Taïa throwing strikes from guard but Benandonner blocks nicely.
Taïa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Taïa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Benandonner has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Taïa has managed to get both his arms back between Benandonner's legs - danger averted.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taïa trying to control but Benandonner is working from the bottom.
Taïa landing some decent shots from guard.
Taïa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benandonner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Benandonner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taïa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Benandonner pushes Taïa off and gets back to his feet.
Taïa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Taïa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benandonner misses the jab.
Taïa 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.
Benandonner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benandonner lands with a cross.
Taïa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Benandonner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taïa fails with a takedown attempt.
Taïa scores with a takedown into Benandonner's guard.
Taïa is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benandonner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taïa postures up in Benandonner's guard and throws a big left but Benandonner blocks it.
Benandonner is pulling down on Taïa's head to control his posture.
Taïa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benandonner is keeping the position for now.
Taïa wants to control from the top but Benandonner keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Giant Benandonner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Giant Benandonner's cut.
That's time! Benandonner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Benandonner swings for the body but Taïa moves out of range.
Taïa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Baariq Taïa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taïa doesn't manage to clinch there - Benandonner circles away.
Benandonner tries to score with a low kick but Taïa moves his leg out of the way.
A little jabbing left from Taïa on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Benandonner throws a leg kick that misses.
Benandonner's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Benandonner duly obliges.
Taïa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taïa might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Benandonner throws a hook but Taïa blocks it.
Benandonner throws the left hand but Taïa avoids the punch easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Taïa! But no joy.
Taïa shoots in for a takedown but Benandonner shows good takedown defense.
Benandonner swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Taïa is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Benandonner has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Benandonner misses with a kick to the body.
Benandonner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Taïa, as that shot connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taïa misses with a right hand
and Benandonner counters with a nice body shot.
Taïa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A left lands for Benandonner.
Benandonner ducks under a wild hook from Taïa.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Benandonner throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Benandonner ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Benandonner works Taïa's body with a nice hook.
Taïa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A shot to the liver by Benandonner. Beautiful body shot.
Benandonner connects with a good right hand that stumbles Taïa. Taïa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Taïa wants to clinch up but Benandonner keeps it at a distance.
Nice uppercut there from Benandonner.
Benandonner slips a jab from Taïa.
Taïa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Taïa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice inside leg kick there by Benandonner. That's going to slow Taïa down.
Taïa walks forward, straight into a front kick from Benandonner.
Taïa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Benandonner connects with a body shot.
Benandonner works the jab nicely.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benandonner bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Taïa's head.
Good leg kick by Benandonner.
Taïa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Taïa ducks right into an uppercut from Benandonner.
Benandonner lands with a good body shot.
A punch combination from Taïa misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Benandonner.
Taïa instigates a clinch.
Benandonner lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Benandonner lands a body shot in the clinch.
Taïa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Benandonner pulls his leg out and moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Benandonner.
Benandonner cracks Taïa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Benandonner with a hook.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Taïa lands.
A jab from Benandonner finds it's way through Taïa's defenses.
Taïa on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Taïa misses with a hook to the body
and Benandonner counters with a nice leg kick.
Benandonner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benandonner walks into a left hand.
Taïa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benandonner is fending him off so far but Taïa persists. Nope, Benandonner circles away and we're back to standing.
Giant Benandonner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baariq Taïa.
Benandonner misses with a double jab.
Benandonner lands with an overhand left.
Taïa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benandonner.
Benandonner cracks Taïa with a right hand to the side of the head.
Benandonner sends Taïa crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Benandonner is motioning to the referee to let Taïa up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Taïa is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benandonner closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Taïa! Benandonner dives in looking to finish! Taïa is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Giant Benandonner!
After winning the bout, Giant Benandonner thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
87% |
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