PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dante Lex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Taua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taua has chosen Semaphore as his entrance music. Ricardo Taua has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Lex
vs
Taua

175 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dante Lex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ricardo Taua!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taua throws a head kick that misses.

Lex darts in and clinches Taua up against the cage.
Taua fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Taua drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lex lands a hook to the side of the head.

Lex pulls Taua into guard.

Lex is looking for a triangle but Taua pushes his legs off easily.

Lex throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lex trying to keep a closed guard but Taua is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taua passes Lex's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lex is trying to escape back to his feet but Taua uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Lex regains half guard there - taking advantage of Taua's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Lex tries to kick Taua off but Taua keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Taua works his way into full mount!

That's two 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.
Lex is looking to get to half guard.
Taua can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lex is looking to escape.
Taua is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Taua controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taua fails to move to back control.
Lex has given up his back.
The referee is taking a good look at Lex as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Taua!

Lex is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lex, pushing him back against the cage.

Taua ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Taua no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taua is on top in guard.
Taua advances position into side control!
Taua wants to control for a moment but Lex uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Lex is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Taua dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taua closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lex counters with a head kick.
Lex pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lex checks a low kick from Taua.
Lex misses with a takedown attempt - Taua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lex looks to land a combination but Taua avoids it well.
Taua misses with a combination

and Lex counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Taua!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taua wants to hold on but Lex pushes him away.
Taua working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lex goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Taua turns into him and now he's in Lex's guard.
Taua advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taua is trying to control. Lex wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lex won't allow Taua to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taua sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lex defending well though.
Taua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lex keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A low kick from Taua misses
and Taua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taua with a poor takedown
and Lex connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lex lands with a kick to the temple. Taua shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lex throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lex has his takedown stuffed
and Taua counters with a right hand to the body.
Taua throws a hook but Lex blocks it.
Taua throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lex counters with a low kick, right behind Taua 's knee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Taua gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taua looking for a takedown.

Taua wants the takedown. Lex is fighting it off but Taua persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Lex's guard against the cage.
Taua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lex is keeping the position for now.
Taua looking to sit in guard and control but Lex gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dante Lex will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taua is defended easily by Lex.
Lex goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lex moves in looking to clinch but Taua pushes him off.
Lex blocks a jab.

Lex clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taua tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lex just stands there and leans against the cage.

Lex works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Taua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Lex drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Taua dives on top into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lex manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Taua misses with a looping right.

Lex closes the distance and pushes Taua back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lex tries to pull guard but Taua holds him up against the cage and eventually Lex drops back down to his feet.
Taua is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lex gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dante Lex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Taua.
Taua gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lex.

Lex manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Taua trying to control the position from guard on top but Lex is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taua is pushing down on Lex's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lex is fighting to maintain full guard but Taua has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taua wants to control but Lex is keeping him busy.
Taua stops Lex from getting back to his feet.
Taua throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Taua moves nicely into side control.
Taua works to advance to full mount. Lex defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Taua lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lex hang on?
Taua trying to control but Lex is having none of it.
Lex trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's four 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.
Taua lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lex hang on?
Taua with the ground and pound from mount.

Taua is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Lex is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Lex flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Taua anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Lex and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Taua slips an arm under Lex chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Taua has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Taua is squeezing on Lex like an anaconda would it's prey. Lex fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ricardo Taua!