PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Don Taco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Areeno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Taco might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to green hornet (al hirt). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Taco
vs
Areeno

180 cm
21
157 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Don Taco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Areeno!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taco tries to clinch up but Areeno circles away and keeps his distance.
Areeno throws out a loose jab but Taco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Areeno wants to land a leg kick but Taco is out of range.

Taco instigates a clinch.
Taco misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Areeno.
Areeno lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Taco missing with knees to the body.
Areeno lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Areeno pushes Taco back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Taco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Areeno lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Areeno misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taco struggles to land a body shot inside as Areeno controls his hands.
Taco is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Areeno is defending well for now.
Areeno lands a body punch in the clinch.
Taco has had enough of the clinch but Areeno keeps him there for the moment.
Taco lands a knee to the body.
Taco throws a knee to the head but misses.
A nice left hand lands by Areeno.
Taco with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Areeno scores with a hook to the body.
Areeno lands with a left to the head.
Areeno managing to block the knees to the body from Taco.
Areeno works on Taco's body with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taco has a couple of punches blocked by Areeno.
Areeno lands a body punch in the clinch.
Taco throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Areeno blocks it with crossed arms.
Areeno managing to block the knees to the body from Taco.
Taco prevents a body shot from Areeno.
A right handed body shot lands from Areeno.
Taco is breathing heavily.
Areeno tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taco's elbow.
Taco is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Taco tries to work over Areeno's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Areeno blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A hook to the body from Areeno.
Areeno blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Areeno stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Areeno pushes Taco back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Areeno digs a right hand into Taco's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Taco's gas tank.
Taco misses with a body punch.
Areeno pushes Taco back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Taco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Areeno lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Taco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taco is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Areeno is defending well for now.
Areeno managing to block the knees to the body from Taco.
A left hand lands to the body for Areeno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Areeno.
Good body shot from Areeno.
Areeno presses Taco against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Areeno lands with a short shot to the head.
A body shot lands from Areeno.
Areeno lands with a light punch inside.
Areeno scores with a hook to the body.
Areeno lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Taco or not.
Areeno works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Areeno presses Taco against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nice body punch from Areeno - that landed with a thud.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A right hook to the body lands for Areeno.
Areeno is working Taco over against the cage.
Areeno lands a body shot in the clinch.
Areeno works on Taco's body with a couple of short punches.
Areeno throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A shot in the inside from Areeno.
A right handed body shot lands from Areeno.
Areeno lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Areeno digs a right hand into Taco's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Taco's gas tank.
Areeno lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Taco backwards.
Areeno lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taco.
Areeno lands a body shot in the clinch.
Areeno lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areeno cracks Taco with a nice body shot.
Areeno lands a body punch.
Areeno lands a shot to the body.
Areeno lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Areeno lands a body shot.
Areeno presses Taco against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Areeno lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Taco backwards.
Areeno lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Taco trying to land knees to the body.
Areeno lands a body shot.
Areeno scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Areeno.
Areeno softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Areeno lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Taco or not.
Areeno pushes Taco back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Areeno.
Areeno lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Areeno as the two fighters clinch.
Areeno pushes Taco back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Areeno lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Taco backwards.
Areeno lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Taco or not.
A short right from Areeno.
Areeno pushes Taco back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Areeno is leaning against Taco and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Areeno throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tacos head.
Areeno pushes Taco back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Areeno blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Areeno lands with a light punch inside.
Areeno blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Taco tries a body shot but Areeno blocks it.
Areeno blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A hook to the body from Areeno.
Areeno lands a nice shot to the body.
Taco takes a shot to the head.
Areeno works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Areeno lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Areeno on the inside.
Areeno works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Areeno scores with a shoulder strike.
Taco takes a shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A body shot lands from Areeno.
Areeno makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Areeno works on Taco's body with a couple of short punches.
Areeno scores with a shot to the side of Taco's head.
A left hand lands to the body for Areeno.
Areeno stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Areeno dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Areeno scores with a shot to the body.
Areeno scores with a nice strike.
Taco fails with an attempt to clinch.

Areeno throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taco was covering up waiting for the punch and Areeno finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Areeno working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Areeno is stalling in the full guard.
Taco keeping moving, preventing Areeno from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taco wants to sweep but no luck.
Areeno with a flurry of punches that miss.
Taco trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Areeno tries to work over Taco's front leg with a kick but Taco checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Taco misses with a hook.
Taco throws a series of punches but Areeno avoids them all with ease.
Areeno scores with a nice strike.
Areeno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Don Taco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Areeno throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Areeno wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Taco on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Taco tries to clinch up but Areeno circles away and keeps his distance.
Areeno throws a sloppy head kick and Taco moves out of range easily.
Areeno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Areeno throws out a loose jab but Taco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taco scores with a push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Areeno throws a right hand that Taco ducks under and follows up with a left that Taco also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from Areeno misses.
Taco thows a body kick. Areeno tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Areeno dodges the punch combination from Taco.
A lazy body kick from Taco
and Areeno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taco misses with a low kick as Areeno jumps back.
Taco throws a head kick that misses.
Areeno misses with a body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Taco as he connects with a hook.
Taco is looking to clinch but Areeno is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taco tries to clinch but Areeno moves out of range.
Taco is looking to chop away at Areeno's legs.
Taco avoids the head kick by Areeno.
Taco goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Areeno is looking to chop away at Taco's legs.
Taco tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Areeno to counter with a crisp jab.
Areeno's corner calls for a 1-2. Areeno obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Areeno with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Areeno swings for the body but Taco moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Areeno. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Areeno.
Don Taco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Areeno misses with an uppercut.
Taco comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Areeno will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Taco's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Taco throws a leg kick
and Areeno counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Areeno moves out of range of the body kick from Taco.
Taco looks to land a body kick but Areeno moved away.
Areeno throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Taco moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Areeno shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Areeno was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Taco can't escape the position.
Areeno has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Taco's face.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Areeno unloading with bombs!
Taco avoids a series of strikes thrown by Areeno.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taco can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taco manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Areeno wants to take a breather but Taco is having none of it.
Taco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taco has his hands clasped together around Areeno's back. He's all about the action.
Taco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Areeno wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taco keeps working.
Taco moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Areeno has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taco looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Taco looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Areeno puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Taco trying to control but Areeno postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areeno is looking to take a break and control but Taco is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taco wants to control but Areeno is keeping busy.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Areeno bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Taco's head backwards.
Taco cracks the inside of Areeno's front leg.
Taco tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Areeno counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Areeno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Areeno swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Taco counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Areeno is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Areeno takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Taco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Areeno sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taco looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Don Taco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taco throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Steve Areeno.
I've got Areeno winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Areeno!