PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michele Rene Gaspard (ranked 1387 p4p, 1422 weight class) and Mick Taylor (ranked 105 p4p, 108 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gaspard
vs
Taylor

168 cm
21
135
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
135
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michele Rene Gaspard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mick Taylor!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gaspard.
Taylor looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Michele Rene Gaspard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaspard lands with a good body shot.
Gaspard throws a nice looking combination but Taylor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taylor is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Gaspard lands a jab.
Gaspard misses with a wild body shot.
Taylor let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Taylor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gaspard.
A little jabbing left from Taylor on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gaspard misses with a hook
and Taylor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gaspard walks into a jab.
Gaspard fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Taylor on the side of the head.
Taylor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gaspard misses the jab.
It seemed like Taylor was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice defenses there by Taylor.
Taylor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gaspard.
Gaspard lunges at Taylor with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Taylor's hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Gaspard wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Michele Rene Gaspard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gaspard misses with a body punch
and Taylor counters with a stiff right hand.
Taylor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gaspard.
Taylor throws out a counter right but Gaspard avoids it with no problem.
A punch combination from Gaspard misses.
Taylor steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Gaspard.
Gaspard takes a swing at Taylor's ribcage but misses.
Gaspard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Taylor stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gaspard lands a lovely overhand right.
Taylor avoids the body shot from Gaspard.
Taylor with the counter takedown but Gaspard avoids it easily.
Gaspard throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Taylor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gaspard misses with a wild body shot.
Gaspard uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Taylor has time to react.
Gaspard misses with a lunging right hand
and Taylor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A big right from Gaspard misses.

Taylor has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Taylor pushes Gaspard back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Gaspard drags the fight down to the ground.
Taylor advances position into side control!
Gaspard is looking for a sweep.
Taylor tries to move to mount but Gaspard blocks the move with his legs.
You can see the frustration on Gaspard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gaspard is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Taylor's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Taylor prevents Gaspard from improving his position.
Taylor sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaspard wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gaspard wants to get back to full guard.
Gaspard gets back to full guard.
Gaspard being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four 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.
Gaspard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Taylor's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Taylor changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gaspard looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gaspard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gaspard seems a little lost for a moment, as Taylor dominates the positioning.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michele Rene Gaspard will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gaspard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Taylor is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Gaspard throws a jab but it's blocked by Taylor.
Gaspard rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Taylor counters with a stiff right hand.
Gaspard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taylor sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taylor lunges at Gaspard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gaspard's hand.
Gaspard throws a lazy right hand but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gaspard throws a poor cross that misses

and Taylor counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Gaspard!

Taylor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Taylor trying to control the action but Gaspard is working from the bottom.
Taylor is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaspard is looking for a sweep.
Gaspard is working hard here to advance position.
Gaspard looks to move to half guard but instead Taylor has passed into mount! Damn!
Gaspard tries to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.
Gaspard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gaspard slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gaspard is looking to improve his position.
Taylor controlling the pace.
Gaspard is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at League of Shadows MMA, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Gaspard tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
Gaspard trying to hold on to Taylor's head to control him but Taylor postures up.

Taylor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaspard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Taylor pulls his head out easily.
Taylor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Taylor is trying to work for a kimura but Gaspard is defending well.
Gaspard wants to improve his position but Taylor is controlling well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gaspard misses with a hook
and Taylor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Michele Rene Gaspard is winning the standup battle so far.
Gaspard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taylor.
Gaspard swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Taylor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short left from Gaspard.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.

Gaspard jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gaspard wants to hit a sweep here but Taylor passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gaspard there!
Taylor avoids the attempt from Gaspard to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaspard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gaspard connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Taylor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gaspard, pushing him back against the cage.

Taylor jumps into guard, dragging Gaspard to the mat.
Gaspard throwing strikes from guard but Taylor blocks nicely.
Gaspard wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaspard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taylor is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Taylor controls Gaspard momentarily but Gaspard frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaspard looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gaspard wants to hit a sweep here but Taylor passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gaspard there!
Taylor looking to control but Gaspard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gaspard is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Gaspard is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Gaspard and Taylor has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gaspard tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Taylor easily slips into full mount!
Taylor avoids the attempt from Gaspard to control.
Gaspard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gaspard tries to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor controlling the pace for now.
Gaspard sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Taylor wants to take a breather but Gaspard is having none of it.
Taylor tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gaspard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Taylor controlling the action here.

That's four 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.
Gaspard is trying to get back to full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gaspard is looking to control Taylor's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gaspard avoid being mounted?

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters circling - Gaspard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Taylor! But no joy.
Taylor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gaspard.
Taylor tries to counter with a clinch but Gaspard shakes him off and moves away.
Gaspard throws an off balance right hand
and Taylor counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mick Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taylor 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mick Taylor!
Mick Taylor seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.