PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dominic Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cato McGraw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taylor
vs
McGraw

189 cm
24
202 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

195 cm
22
210 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

►Schwarzenegger Nutrition◄

►Schwarzenegger Nutrition◄
►Schwarzenegger Nutrition◄

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Dominic Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Cato McGraw!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taylor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Nice sprawl there from McGraw as Taylor shoots in.

McGraw shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
McGraw takes Taylor's back.

McGraw is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Taylor knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Taylor for a finish.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

McGraw has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Taylor has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor holding both McGraw 's hands and preventing any damage.

McGraw looking to break Taylor's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Taylor remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise McGraw will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

McGraw is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
McGraw is trying to stick to Taylor's back but Taylor is turning into McGraw. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in McGraw's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Taylor.
Taylor connects with a couple of short punches.
Taylor is working McGraw over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taylor is one step ahead there.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McGraw's head.
Taylor won't allow McGraw to sweep him here.
McGraw looks gassed!
Taylor lands a couple of elbows.
Taylor working some strikes from top position.
Taylor scoring with punches to the head and body.
McGraw avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor won't allow McGraw to sweep him here.

McGraw had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Taylor is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. McGraw Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Taylor's back instead.

McGraw tightening his grip on Taylor, looking for the choke.
McGraw is hanging on to Taylor's back as he tries to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
McGraw is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Taylor. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
McGraw lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by McGraw.
McGraw doesn't have the hooks in and Taylor manages to turn into his guard.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but McGraw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from McGraw.
Taylor lands a couple of elbows.
Taylor is working McGraw over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taylor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McGraw's head.
Taylor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but McGraw is retaining full guard.
Taylor wants to control from the top but McGraw keeps moving.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from McGraw.
Taylor distracts McGraw with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taylor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Taylor is working McGraw over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taylor wants to control from the top but McGraw keeps moving.
Taylor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McGraw's head.

McGraw has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taylor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Taylor content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Taylor stands up over McGraw, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor scoring with punches to the head and body.
McGraw manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taylor manages to get himself to full guard.
McGraw trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McGraw is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
McGraw preventing the sweep.
Taylor manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Taylor is landing with some decent strikes but McGraw is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Taylor scoring with strikes but McGraw is staying in there.
McGraw tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor wants to control the pace but McGraw is squirming around nicely.
Taylor raining down shots from the mount!
McGraw working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor misses with a two punch combination.
McGraw misses with a takedown
and Taylor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McGraw misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McGraw scores with a leg kick.
Taylor with a poor takedown

and McGraw counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McGraw not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Taylor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McGraw on the ground.
Taylor missing with punches from the bottom.

McGraw looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Taylor landing small, sideways elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from McGraw.
McGraw is pressing down on Taylor's thigh, looking to free his foot. Taylor is holding on for now.
Taylor landing small, sideways elbows.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Taylor moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Dominic Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taylor with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but McGraw bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McGraw scores with a head kick.
Dominic Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Good leg kick by McGraw there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McGraw throws a right hand that Taylor ducks under and follows up with a left that Taylor also avoids with ease.
Taylor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

McGraw rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McGraw breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McGraw counters with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a double jab

and McGraw counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McGraw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGraw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McGraw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor trying to keep a closed guard but McGraw is proving a slippery customer.
McGraw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McGraw has hold of Taylor's hands but Taylor slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cato McGraw has got the better of the ground game so far.
McGraw missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw gets full guard.
McGraw bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taylor's guard.
McGraw scoring with some ground and pound.
McGraw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGraw is one step ahead there.
McGraw slips nicely into half guard.
McGraw thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor missing with punches from the bottom.
Taylor flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Taylor scores with a few weak punches.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McGraw throws a leg kick which misses Taylor's front leg but catches the back leg as Taylor tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGraw feints and as Taylor raises his hands in defense, McGraw changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
McGraw advances to half guard.
Taylor tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
McGraw moves nicely into side control.

McGraw is trying to get an arm triangle but Taylor is defending well.

McGraw tries for a kimura but Taylor is defending well.
Sloppy strikes there by McGraw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor tries to buck McGraw off but McGraw is having none of it.
McGraw working the ground and pound but Taylor is defending the strikes.
Taylor is trying to get back to half guard.
Taylor taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor throws a nice looking combination but McGraw bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

McGraw is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Taylor's half guard.
Taylor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Taylor tries to get out of the position.
Taylor tries to roll over but McGraw keeps him under control.
McGraw has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McGraw looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Taylor with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Taylor flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Taylor striking from the bottom.
McGraw passes the guard and advances to mount!
Taylor in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
McGraw landing punches.
Taylor swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Taylor wants to control but McGraw is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGraw landing punches.
McGraw lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Taylor is wriggling around trying to escape.
Taylor taking shots to the head.

McGraw working for a submission but Taylor is keeping him at bay.
A nice elbow there by McGraw.
McGraw throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Taylor because McGraw loaded up on that one.
Taylor avoids a series of strikes thrown by McGraw.
Taylor throwing hammer fists to the chest of McGraw. What's that going to do exactly?
Taylor is in all sorts of trouble here.
Taylor tries to hold on but McGraw pushes him away.
Taylor is trying desperately to improve position.

McGraw quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for McGraw but it's paid off an Taylor is forced to tap! Nice work by McGraw.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Cato McGraw!