PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jzerkovic Vidal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Taylor
vs
Vidal

197 cm
22
247 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

225 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jzerkovic Vidal!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taylor drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vidal trying to control the position.
Vidal is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Vidal 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.
Vidal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Taylor drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vidal dives on top into guard.
Vidal stopping the sweep attempt from Taylor.
Vidal is looking to stand up but Taylor won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor looking for a guillotine here but Vidal defends easily.
Vidal not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vidal is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taylor is looking to stand back up but Vidal counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Taylor.
Vidal is stalling here. Taylor is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Vidal seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Taylor has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Vidal avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Taylor.
Taylor taking a break here but Vidal is having none of it and regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vidal misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Vidal is defending well.
Vidal wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy.
Vidal tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
Vidal gets back to full guard.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Vidal trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taylor not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vidal has a closed guard, preventing Taylor from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vidal wants to hit a switch here but Taylor passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Vidal there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paul Taylor will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Taylor shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vidal's guard.
Vidal working a defensive guard here.
Taylor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taylor postures up in Vidal's guard and throws a big left but Vidal blocks it.
Taylor trying to move into half guard but instead Vidal has managed to sweep!
Taylor pulls Vidal in close to prevent any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidal trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Vidal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vidal has his takedown stuffed

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

Vidal looking for a guillotine here but Taylor defends easily.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vidal swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vidal is on top in guard.
Vidal wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Vidal might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Taylor kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vidal looking to pass the guard.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Vidal from controlling successfully.
Vidal forces his way into half guard.
Vidal works his foot free and advances to mount.

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.
Taylor wants to hold on but Vidal pushes him away.
Vidal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taylor is looking to escape.
Vidal avoids the attempt from Taylor to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Taylor dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Vidal tries for a takedown but Taylor circles away easily

and Taylor decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vidal's guard.
Vidal can't keep his opponent in guard - Taylor advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Vidal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taylor is working away from the top position though.
Taylor sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor is thwarting Vidal's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vidal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor stalling away here and it's allowed Vidal to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Vidal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two 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.
Vidal has control of Taylor's left arm, preventing Taylor from doing any damage.
Vidal 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.
Taylor wants to stand but Vidal has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Vidal shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vidal tries for a takedown but Taylor circles away easily

and Taylor counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Vidal's guard now.
Paul Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jzerkovic Vidal.

Taylor is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vidal is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vidal has escaped and now he's on top!
Vidal passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Taylor tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vidal wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vidal wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.
Jzerkovic Vidal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor is looking to reverse the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taylor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

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