PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Barrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Nathan Taylor has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Nathan Taylor seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Taylor
vs
Barrera

183 cm
23
210 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

193 cm
22
277 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Barrera!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barrera is looking to clinch.
A nice combination there by Taylor.

It looks like Xavier Barrera has been cut.
Barrera has a takedown stuffed.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.

Barrera closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Barrera wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.

Barrera tightens his grip and picks Taylor up, before dumping him to the ground. Taylor manages to land in guard.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barrera.
Barrera trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.
Taylor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Barrera!
Barrera 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Taylor controlling the position easily from mount.
Barrera is desperately trying to improve his position but Taylor has a good base and remains in mount.
Barrera is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Taylor looking to control and managing it successfully.
Barrera keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Taylor's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Barrera keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Barrera is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Taylor controlling his opponent.
Barrera is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera wants to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.
Barrera keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Barrera looks gassed!
Taylor tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Barrera is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Taylor tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Taylor tries to control but Barrera wriggling away.
Barrera tries to hold on but Taylor postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barrera manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Taylor performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Barrera moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Barrera had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Taylor is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Barrera Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Taylor's back instead.
Barrera throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Barrera's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taylor lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Barrera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taylor's waist but Taylor gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barrera off to one side.

Barrera feints and as Taylor raises his hands in defense, Barrera changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Taylor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barrera passes Taylor's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Taylor is looking to control Barrera's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taylor avoid being mounted?
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Barrera lands a nice short elbow.
Taylor is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Barrera scores with a couple of nice shots.
Taylor won't allow Barrera to pass to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor is trying to maintain the position but Barrera is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barrera is pressing down on Taylor's thigh, looking to free his foot. Taylor is holding on for now.
Barrera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barrera scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Barrera lands with a punch from half guard.
Taylor is controlling Barrera's trapped leg to prevent Barrera from advancing to side control.
Barrera working Taylor over with strikes.
Taylor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barrera.
Barrera slips a nice elbow through Taylor's hands, connecting with Taylor's forehead.
Barrera trying to mount his opponent but Taylor defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taylor is trying to control but can't.
Barrera is nestled in close to Taylor, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Taylor won't allow Barrera to pass to mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taylor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barrera looks for a takedown but Taylor sprawls well.
Barrera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taylor as he jumps to the side.
Nathan Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Barrera.
Barrera fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor connects with a high kick.
Barrera moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Barrera slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barrera fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barrera.

Barrera looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Taylor!
Barrera pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Barrera putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Barrera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taylor is looking to escape.
Taylor really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Barrera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Barrera tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Barrera throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Barrera cracks Taylor with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
You get the feeling that Taylor really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Barrera is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Taylor can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Taylor avoids a series of strikes thrown by Barrera.
Barrera thowing shots but they're missing.
Taylor manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Taylor preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Barrera is working for an americana but Taylor has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Barrera was thinking about the submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Barrera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xavier Barrera's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barrera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barrera misses with a series of wild punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barrera.
Barrera throws a right hand that Taylor ducks under and follows up with a left that Taylor also avoids with ease.
Taylor stalks Barrera and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Barrera's face. Barrera staggers backwards, shaken.
Barrera tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
Taylor misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor scores with a one two! Barrera had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Taylor throws a right hand that Barrera ducks under and follows up with a left that Barrera also avoids with ease.

Barrera closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Taylor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barrera has him pressed against the cage.
Barrera can't get the takedown.
Barrera is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera goes for a takedown attempt but Taylor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nathan Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Barrera.
Taylor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Taylor throws a shot to the body.
Taylor darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Barrera clinches up with Taylor and pushes him back against the cage.
Barrera is trying to break the clinch but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Barrera stalling the fight.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. Barrera has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taylor down to the mat. Taylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taylor works over Barrera's head and body with a nice combination.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barrera has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Barrera has a takedown stuffed.
Barrera throws a right hand that Taylor ducks under and follows up with a left that Taylor also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Barrera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taylor circles away.
Barrera will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barrera moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Taylor plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nathan Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barrera fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barrera wants to clinch.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Taylor here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Barrera looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Barrera persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Taylor lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A head kick from Taylor lands but Barrera takes it in his stride.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Barrera.
Barrera wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nathan Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barrera tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
Barrera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barrera shoots in and drives through. Taylor sprawls well.
Taylor lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barrera.
Taylor lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Barrera clinches.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. Barrera has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taylor down to the mat. Taylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Taylor, right into the meat.
Taylor throws a series of strikes that have Barrera backpedaling.
Barrera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor connects with a nice looking jab.
Barrera shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Barrera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Barrera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taylor with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Taylor falls off balance throwing a combination

and Barrera counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barrera thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Barrera is working for a submission of some sort.
Barrera thows a huge punch but Taylor dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nathan Taylor.
I think Taylor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Taylor!