PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bael Basileos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mo Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Basileos
vs
Taylor

187 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Rock Hard Nutrition
EFC-S 150Q Energy, 147Q Strength & Stamina, CHEAP!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bael Basileos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mo Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mo Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Basileos is looking to land body kicks.
Basileos throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but Basileos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taylor misses with a double jab
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Basileos works over Taylor's head and body with a nice combination.
Nice shot lands for Basileos.
Basileos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Basileos.
Basileos lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

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

Basileos is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Basileos wants the takedown. Taylor is fighting it off but Basileos persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Taylor's guard against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Basileos preventing the sweep.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Basileos has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taylor is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Basileos stopping the sweep attempt from Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basileos tries to stand but Taylor is controlling from the bottom.
Taylor looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Basileos puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Basileos seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Taylor is trying to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Basileos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Basileos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Taylor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taylor showed some decent athleticism there.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Basileos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Basileos is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Taylor throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Basileos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taylor.
Taylor wants to take a breather but Basileos is having none of it.
Taylor is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Basileos wants to get back to his feet.
Basileos is refusing to be controlled, as Taylor sits in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Taylor cracks Basileos with a right hand to the side of the head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Basileos circles away.

Taylor clinches up against the cage.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor misses with a takedown
and Basileos counters with a leg kick.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Basileos pushes him off.
Taylor shoots in looking for a takedown. Basileos tries to sprawl out of it but Taylor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Basileos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bael Basileos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mo Taylor.
Taylor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Basileos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jab, jab by Basileos - just one landing.
Taylor blocks a head kick by Basileos.
A head kick by Taylor misses
and Basileos counters with a two punch combo.
Basileos throws a combination that misses

and Taylor counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor jumps guard.
Basileos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taylor's guard.
Basileos trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Basileos postures up.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Basileos is one step ahead there.
Taylor seems keen to control Basileos's posture.
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 Bael Basileos will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taylor tries to clinch up but Basileos circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor is looking to clinch.

Taylor forces Basileos back against the cage and clinches.
Taylor looking for a takedown.

Taylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bael Basileos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Basileos shows good takedown defense.
Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Basileos which made him look bad.
Bael Basileos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mo Taylor.
Basileos throws a quick inside leg kick.
Taylor scores with a three punch combo!
Taylor looks to clinch
and Basileos counters with a nice body kick.
Taylor closes the distance but Basileos moves to the side
and Basileos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Basileos throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a combination that misses
and Basileos counters with a body kick.
Basileos lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Taylor with a lazy takedown attempt
and Basileos counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Basileos but Basileos pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Taylor takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Basileos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jab from Basileos.
Taylor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Basileos counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Bael Basileos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Left hook, right uppercut from Basileos.
Both fighters circling a little - Basileos finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Taylor looks to land a combination but Basileos avoids it well.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has Basileos pressed against the cage.
Taylor with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Taylor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Basileos is defending well for now.
Taylor has Basileos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Basileos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Basileos can't get the takedown.
Basileos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Taylor gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Taylor with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Basileos is trying to break the clinch but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Basileos as he avoids it easily.

Taylor rushes Basileos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A head punch on the inside from Taylor fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Basileos lands with a nice body kick.
Taylor closes the distance looking to clinch
and Basileos counters with a three punch combo that has Taylor backing up. Taylor nods at Basileos to acknowledge the strikes.
Taylor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Taylor throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Basileos on the side of the head.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.

Taylor moves into the clinch.
Taylor tries to land knees in the clinch but Basileos avoids the damage to the body.
Taylor keeps control of Basileos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basileos takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taylor lands a knee to the head.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Basileos pushes him off.
Taylor throws a right and a left that Basileos avoids nicely.
Taylor looks to land a combination. Basileos sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Taylor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Taylor wants to take a breather but Basileos manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Taylor.

Basileos uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Basileos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Basileos wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bael Basileos will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Some wild striking there from Basileos.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taylor misses with a straight right.
Basileos displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Basileos throws a looping overhand right but Taylor ducks down to avoid it.
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Basileos keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basileos throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Taylor stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Basileos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taylor.
Taylor avoids the head kick by Basileos.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor shoots in but Basileos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bael Basileos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mo Taylor.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Basileos circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Taylor has Basileos up against the cage in a clinch.
Basileos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor lands a good knee to the midsection. Basileos won't want to take too many of those.

Taylor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Basileos uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Basileos gets to his feet - Taylor follows without any prompting.

Taylor moves into range and clinches up with Basileos.
Basileos prevents the takedown attempt.
Basileos is looking to break free of the clinch but Taylor has double underhooks.
Taylor scores with a knee to the head.
Taylor stops a takedown attempt from Basileos.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basileos takes a knee to the side of the body.
Taylor is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Basileos is keeping busy.
Taylor looking to throw knees to the head but Basileos is blocking nicely.
Taylor is trying to break free.
Basileos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Taylor connects with a knee to the head.
Basileos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taylor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Basileos throws a lazy head kick

and Taylor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Basileos avoids it.
Taylor stops a takedown attempt from Basileos.
Taylor drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Basileos gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Basileos manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. Basileos 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.
A head kick misses from Basileos.
Taylor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Basileos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Basileos keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Basileos counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Taylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taylor goes for a takedown attempt but Basileos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Taylor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Basileos moves away from the strike by Taylor.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Basileos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Basileos can pounce on him.
Basileos throws the kick towards the body but Taylor avoids it.

Taylor closes the distance and pushes Basileos back into the cage.
Basileos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taylor fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Basileos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
Basileos takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Basileos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
A head kick misses from Basileos.
Mo Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bael Basileos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Basileos keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mo Taylor.
I think Basileos 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bael Basileos!