PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas Chandler (ranked 7070 p4p, 5599 weight class) and Mark Taylor (ranked 503 p4p, 434 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chandler
vs
Taylor

178 cm
26
145
6 - 9 - 0

178 cm
25
145
1 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite 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 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nicholas Chandler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Chandler.
Chandler looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Taylor thows a leg kick but Chandler checks it

so Chandler counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Taylor 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.

Chandler thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Chandler postures up.

Chandler is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chandler is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Taylor trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taylor lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Chandler looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor is trying to control. Chandler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor stalling.
Taylor winds up and cracks Chandler with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Chandler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Chandler tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Taylor is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Chandler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Taylor tries to pass the half guard into mount. Chandler knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taylor seems to be working for a kimura but Chandler defends the submission attempt.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Chandler seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Chandler avoids the body shot from Taylor.

Taylor closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Chandler is not content to let Taylor control the position.

Taylor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Chandler is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Taylor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Chandler is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor trying to control the position but Chandler is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Taylor dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A nice leg kick lands there from Taylor.
Chandler fails with the takedown.

Taylor looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Taylor working over Chandler with some ground and pound. Chandler looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Chandler actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Chandler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Chandler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Taylor lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Taylor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Taylor content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Taylor wants to take a breather but Chandler is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Chandler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chandler keeps working.
Chandler on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Taylor wants to free his trapped foot but Chandler is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mark Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taylor is trying to control. Chandler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taylor scores with a head kick.

Taylor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taylor showed some decent athleticism there.

Chandler is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Taylor pulls his head out easily.
Taylor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chandler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Chandler won't allow Taylor to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor decides to return to a standing position.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Chandler napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Taylor tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Taylor has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Chandler tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chandler keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Chandler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Taylor throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Chandler tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Taylor is in Chandler's guard.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Chandler keeps moving.
Chandler has a closed guard, preventing Taylor from standing up.
Taylor trying to control but Chandler is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chandler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Taylor is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Chandler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor wants to stand but Chandler is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Taylor closes the distance and pushes Chandler back into the cage.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Taylor feints and as Chandler raises his hands in defense, Taylor changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Taylor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taylor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Chandler is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chandler working for a triangle but Taylor defends it easily.

Chandler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taylor trying to control but Chandler is working from the bottom.

Taylor drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taylor jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chandler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Taylor is aware though and is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Taylor drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Taylor tries to advance to mount but Chandler denies him.
Chandler is not content to let Taylor control the position.
Taylor looking to control but instead Chandler has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Chandler wants to improve his position but Taylor is controlling well.

Chandler actively working from the bottom here.

Chandler actively working from the bottom here.
Nicholas Chandler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Taylor is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Chandler has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taylor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Taylor!
Nicholas Chandler spoke after the fight, saying 'Thanks to everyone who came in here and supported me, i'll get back in the gym later this week and be back better than ever! Thank you for the opportunity.'.