PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gianluca Taddei (ranked 4540 p4p, 0 weight class) and Radions Kalpaks (ranked 6467 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Taddei
vs
Kalpaks

178 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gianluca Taddei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Radions Kalpaks!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalpaks avoids a punch combination nicely.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taddei.
Kalpaks darts in trying to clinch
and Taddei connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Taddei throws a jab when Kalpaks was well out of range.
Taddei throws a jab but it's blocked by Kalpaks.
Taddei looks to throw the jab but Kalpaks is out of range.
Kalpaks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalpaks is looking to clinch but Taddei is avoiding it.
Kalpaks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kalpaks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taddei throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kalpaks counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Taddei takes a swing at Kalpaks's ribcage but misses.
Kalpaks is looking for the big counter here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalpaks tries to clinch but Taddei moves out of range.
Taddei darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Taddei tests Kalpaks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taddei throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kalpaks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taddei.
Kalpaks throws a counter combo.
Kalpaks staying out of range there.
Taddei throws a lazy right hand but Kalpaks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kalpaks throws a counter combo.
Taddei shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kalpaks eats them both and turns towards Taddei to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Kalpaks is rocked!
Left hook, right uppercut from Kalpaks.
Kalpaks wants to clinch up but Taddei keeps it at a distance.
Kalpaks is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kalpaks ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Taddei throws a nice looking combination but Kalpaks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Taddei tries to keep at a distance but Kalpaks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Taddei misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taddei tries to throw a body punch but Kalpaks avoids it by throwing Taddei back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taddei.
Kalpaks prevents a body shot from Taddei.
Kalpaks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taddei fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taddei lands a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Taddei.

Kalpaks breaks the clinch.
Kalpaks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taddei paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kalpaks closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taddei.

Kalpaks manages to break the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Kalpaks.
Kalpaks tries to clinch up.

Kalpaks instigates a clinch.
Taddei swings wildly with an uppercut but Kalpaks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taddei swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Taddei scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taddei throws a head punch that misses.
Taddei throws a head punch that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Taddei scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Taddei scores with a shot to the side of Kalpaks's head.
Kalpaks has a couple of punches blocked by Taddei.
Taddei lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kalpaks backwards.

Kalpaks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taddei throws a nice looking combination but Kalpaks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taddei throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A telegraphed right hand from Taddei misses the target.
Taddei misses with a wild body shot.
Taddei misses the jab.
Sloppy strikes from Kalpaks. Those never looked like landing.
Taddei keeps the fight on the outside.
Taddei fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kalpaks manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taddei misses with a hook.
Kalpaks is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Taddei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kalpaks was well out of range. Poor timing from Taddei.
Kalpaks throws a counter combo.
Taddei looks to throw the jab but Kalpaks is out of range.
Kalpaks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taddei throws out the jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taddei misses with a hook.
As Taddei backs off Kalpaks throws a huge counter combo but Taddei manages to avoid it all.
Taddei is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kalpaks darts in trying to clinch
and Taddei makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A big left from Taddei misses.
Kalpaks is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kalpaks works over Taddei's head and body with a nice combination.
Kalpaks looks winded!
Taddei misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kalpaks.
Kalpaks closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Taddei throws a hook to the side of Kalpaks's head but Kalpaks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kalpaks is looking for the big counter here.

Kalpaks has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kalpaks shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Taddei eats them both and turns towards Kalpaks to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kalpaks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taddei.
Kalpaks is looking for the big counter here.
Taddei moves into range and connects with a jab.
Radions Kalpaks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kalpaks tries to clinch there but Taddei circles away.
Gianluca Taddei is winning the standup battle so far.
Taddei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kalpaks was well out of range. Poor timing from Taddei.
Taddei misses with a wild body shot.
Kalpaks gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Taddei looks to land a right hand but Kalpaks moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalpaks wants to clinch.
As Kalpaks looks to move away, Taddei throws a big counter combo but Kalpaks just gets out of the way.
Taddei scores with a hook to the body. Kalpaks takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taddei throws an overhand right that lands on Kalpaks's shoulder, as Kalpaks tries to avoid the shot.

Taddei tries to keep at a distance but Kalpaks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kalpaks tries to stall but Taddei uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kalpaks blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taddei struggles to land a body shot inside as Kalpaks controls his hands.
Kalpaks trying to stall but Taddei improves his position.
Taddei works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kalpaks is breathing heavily.
Taddei misses with a punch on the inside.
Taddei is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kalpaks can do to turn this around?
Taddei pushes Kalpaks back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taddei lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kalpaks is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Taddei is keeping busy.
Taddei lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kalpaks.
Taddei lands with a light punch inside.
Gianluca Taddei has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Taddei pushes Kalpaks back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taddei lands a shot to the body.
Taddei scores with a shot to the side of Kalpaks's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taddei lands a body shot in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taddei lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Taddei lands a right hand.
Taddei working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Taddei lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Taddei on the inside.
Taddei blocking some punches.
A short left from Taddei.
Taddei lands an uppercut.
Taddei lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kalpaks is still on wobbly legs! Can Taddei finish him?
Taddei lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Taddei - that landed with a thud.
Taddei makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taddei works on Kalpaks's body with a couple of short punches.
Taddei pushes Kalpaks back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taddei creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Kalpaks's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Kalpaks drops to his knees and Taddei pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gianluca Taddei!
Our winner, Gianluca Taddei, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.