PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Blow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yang Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blow comes to the cage accompanied by Slippin. Tao has chosen Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blow
vs
Tao

175 cm
26
170 lbs
20 - 5 - 0

175 cm
36
170 lbs
37 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Mohito Fightwear
GREEN!160

Underworld Clothing
KnockOut

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 20 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Blow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yang Tao!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tao throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Blow misses with a body shot.
Blow blocks a jab.
Blow is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tao tried to score with a low kick but Blow checks it.
It looked like Blow wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Blow doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Blow swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yang Tao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blow is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Blow shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blow tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tao was well out of range. Poor timing from Blow.
A little jabbing left from Tao on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tao misses with a kick to the body.
Blow scores with a sloppy right hand. Tao should have avoided that one.
Tao scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blow blocks the body kick.
Blow moves forwards but Tao connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Blow throws a body punch but Tao moves out of range.
Blow tries to close the distance and clinch but Tao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jab from Tao.
Blow on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tao. Tao obviously looking to wear him down.
Some bone on bone action there as Blow checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tao throws a nice outside leg kick.
Blow chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tao can pounce on him.
Tao lands a nice looking body shot.
Blow throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tao takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blow throws out the jab.
Tao throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tao keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blow.
Tao steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Blow.
Blow fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tao avoids it really well and circles away.
Blow swings for the body but Tao moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Tao misses.

Blow moves into range and clinches up with Tao.
Tao's coach down at Homunculus Alembic was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tao's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Tao throws a punch but it's blocked by Blow.
Tao lands a right hand that snaps the head of Blow backwards.
Tao has a couple of punches blocked by Blow.
Blow tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blow's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blow wants to take the fight to the mat but Tao manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Blow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tao holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Blow throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tao lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blow.
Blow struggles to land a body shot inside as Tao controls his hands.
Tao lands a body shot in the clinch.
Tao tries to throw a body punch but Blow avoids it by throwing Tao back against the cage.
Tao lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tao misses with a body punch.
Blow with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tao pushes Blow back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Blow throws a knee to the head but misses.
Blow blocks an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Tao.
Tao lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blow's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tao lands a nice shot to the body.
Tao lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blow.
Blow lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tao or not.
Tao lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Blow is rocked!
Tao tries a body shot but Blow blocks it.
Tao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Blow has Tao pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tao manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tao misses with the head strike.
Tao makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tao lands a body shot in the clinch.
Blow tries a body shot but Tao blocks it.
A short uppercut from Tao.
Tao tries to work over Blow's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tao struggles to land a body shot inside as Blow controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Tao dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tao moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tao.
Tao misses with a body punch.
Yang Tao seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Tao pushes Blow back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Blow tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Blow blocks a body shot from Tao.
Blow drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tao gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tao has a couple of punches blocked by Blow.
Tao misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blow misses with a body punch.
Tao is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Blow tries to land a knee to the head but Tao blocks with his arms.
Blow blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blow's elbow.
Tao misses with a hook from the clinch.
A knee to the head by Blow.
Tao scores with a shot to the side of Blow's head.
Blow digs a right hand underneath Tao's ribcage. Tao let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Tao working aggressively here.
Tao pushes Blow back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tao misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blow blocks an uppercut.
Tao can't find room to land a body shot as Blow controls the action.
Tao throws a head punch that misses.
Blow tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tao's elbow.
Blow lands an uppercut.
Tao throws a head punch that misses.
Tao lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blow.
Tao struggles to land a body shot inside as Blow controls his hands.
Blow throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tao blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tao misses with the head strike.
Blow tries to throw a body punch but Tao avoids it by throwing Blow back against the cage.
Blow blocks an uppercut.
Blow takes a shot to the head.
Tao lands with a left to the head.
Blow tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blow blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tao throws a punch but it's blocked by Blow.
Blow tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Blow tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Blow takes a shot to the head.
Blow tries to throw a body punch but Tao avoids it by throwing Blow back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blow doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Blow has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tao regains guard immediately.
Blow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tao swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blow wants to control from the top but Tao keeps moving.
Blow looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blow loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao wants to stand but Blow is controlling the position.
Tao has his hands on Blow's head, controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tao tries to move into range but Blow moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tao scores with the left hand. Blow knows he should have avoided that one.
Tao wants to slow Blow down by chopping away at his legs.
Blow takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Tao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tao misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tao blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tao swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Blow looking to throw knees to the head but Tao is blocking nicely.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Blow creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Blow with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blow connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tao's face.
Blow missing with knees to the body.
Tao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Blow tries to land a knee to the head but Tao blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blow tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Blow tries a knee to the head but Tao blocks it.
Blow misses with a knee strike.
Tao lands a right hand that snaps the head of Blow backwards.
Tao lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blow.
Blow throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tao.
Blow scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tao has a couple of punches blocked by Blow.
Good body shot from Tao.
Blow blocking some punches.
Blow tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Blow tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tao gets through Blow's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Blow misses with a knee strike.

Blow tightens his grip and picks Tao up, before dumping him to the ground. Tao manages to land in guard.
Blow trying to control but Tao is working from the bottom.
Blow with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mike Blow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blow trying to control but Tao is working from the bottom.
Tao wants to get back to his feet but Blow is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Blow throws a big right hand that misses.
Blow won't allow Tao to get back to his feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Tao is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tao throws a low kick, looking for Blow's leg but Blow calmly moves out of range.
Tao defending well as Blow loads up on a big left hand.
Tao tries to counter with a clinch but Blow shakes him off and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blow takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tao swings for the body but Blow moves out of range.
Tao throws a head kick that misses

and Blow counters with a shoot takedown. Tao fights it but they end up in guard.
Blow sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tao's guard.
Blow wants to take a breather but Tao is having none of it.
Tao is trying to get back to full guard.
Tao pushes Blow off looking to stand but Blow dives back in and keeps control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blow throwing shots but Tao is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blow throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tao.
Blow sets himself, and Tao steps forward looking for the clinch! Blow avoids it this time.
Blow misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Blow misses the target.
Tao wants to counter the offense by Blow and move into the clinch position.
Blow walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Blow is looking to clinch.
Good leg kick by Tao there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Tao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blow is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tao.
Blow wants to clinch
and Tao counters with a slapping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Blow showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tao 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yang Tao!
A relieved looking Yang Tao thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Mike Blow spoke after the fight, saying 'Man this is some bullshit!'.