PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Merde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merde comes to the cage accompanied by Mötorhead's Burner. Taylor comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Back To School by Deftones kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Nathan Taylor will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Merde
vs
Taylor

175 cm
26
220 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

183 cm
25
210 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Random Name Supplements

Golden Lilium

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Merde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merde scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Merde connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Taylor some visible discomfort.
Merde landing strikes.

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

Merde is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taylor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Taylor holding on.
Merde working the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor struggling a bit here.
Taylor is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Merde creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Taylor sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Merde crashes against the mat.
Taylor takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Merde grinds an elbow into Taylor's temple.
Taylor tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Merde wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Taylor is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Taylor is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Merde's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Merde stops Taylor from getting back to his feet.
Taylor won't allow Merde to pass to mount.
Taylor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Merde.
Merde thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Merde thows a huge punch but Taylor dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice shot by Merde.
A solid leg kick lands there for Taylor.
Taylor takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Taylor with a hook.

It looks like Gerard Merde has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merde will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Merde looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Merde persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Taylor is looking to clinch but Merde is avoiding it.
Taylor lands a two punch combo.
Merde avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Merde moves out of range.
Merde is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taylor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerard Merde. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merde is breathing heavily.
Taylor throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Merde.
Merde shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taylor wants to slow Merde down by chopping away at his legs.
Taylor scores with a one two! Merde had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a push kick but Merde slaps the foot to one side.
Taylor ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Taylor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Merde moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Merde is just out of range.
Merde throws a jab but it's blocked by Taylor.
Merde takes a kick to the side of the head.
Taylor's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Taylor duly obliges.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Merde moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor leaves Merde with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Merde.
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!
Merde throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merde looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Taylor is avoiding damage well.
An elbow from Merde crashes against the mat.
Taylor pushes Merde away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Merde gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Merde connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Taylor some visible discomfort.
Merde tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Merde sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Taylor is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Taylor tries to improve position but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Merde takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taylor.
Taylor throws a nice outside leg kick.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Nathan Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merde slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
Taylor drops his hands momentarily and Merde takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gerard Merde's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Taylor lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Taylor gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Merde wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merde missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Merde trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Merde manages to get himself to full guard.
Merde not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to stand up but Merde won't let him.
Merde working a defensive guard here.
Merde is pulling down on Taylor's head to control his posture.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Merde 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's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Taylor preventing the sweep.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Merde moves out of range.
Nathan Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Merde throws a looping overhand right but Taylor ducks down to avoid it.

That's two 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.
Merde misses with a body shot.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Merde misses the shot to the body.
Merde waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taylor.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merde moves away.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Taylor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merde.
Merde has a takedown stuffed.

Merde bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Merde trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.

Taylor sneaks out the side door and pushes Merde away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Merde thows a left - swing and a miss!
Merde looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taylor.
Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taylor slaps away a takedown attempt from Merde, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Merde fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerard Merde. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor lands a head kick. Merde smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nathan Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Merde avoids them all with ease.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Merde moves out of range easily.
Merde avoids a kick to the body.
Horrible takedown by Merde or perhaps it was just good defense by Taylor which made him look bad.

Merde darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Merde thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taylor's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merde is pressing down on Taylor's thigh, looking to free his foot. Taylor is holding on for now.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Merde is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merde is trying to control the action in half guard but Taylor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Taylor wants to stand back up but Merde manages to pass into side control.
Merde working away.
Merde tries to score with some ground and pound. Taylor controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Merde working the head with strikes.
Taylor wants to control but Merde postures up.
Merde has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Merde moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor leaves Merde with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Merde moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gerard Merde's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Merde avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Merde fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taylor avoids it really well and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Merde has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Taylor finds it's way round the side to connect with Merde's head.
Taylor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Taylor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Merde.
Taylor looks to land a combination. Merde sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nathan Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor sizes up Merde with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Taylor gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Merde to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Merde in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merde missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Merde won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Taylor controlling the position.
Merde trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Merde missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Taylor lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Merde backs up against the cage.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but Merde bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Merde circles away and keeps his distance.
A left and a right from Taylor both land. Nice combination.

Gerard Merde's cut is getting worse.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
Merde avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merde missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taylor throws a leg kick which misses Merde's front leg but catches the back leg as Merde tries to avoid it.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Merde needs to keep his hands up - Taylor had a free shot at his head there.
Nice takedown defense from Taylor. No joy for Merde on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerard Merde. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Taylor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Merde.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Taylor feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Merde's calf.
Taylor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Merde shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taylor pinned against the cage. Taylor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Gerard Merde has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor stuffs the takedown.
Taylor stalks Merde and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Merde's face. Merde staggers backwards, shaken.
Merde checks the leg kick nicely there.
The crowd cheers as Taylor lands an impressive looking overhand right. Merde doesn't seem phased though.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.
Merde showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
Taylor swinging wilding here.
Taylor lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Merde just misses with a punch to the body.
Merde misses with an uppercut. Taylor saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merde swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taylor stuffs the takedown.
A shot to the body from Merde misses
enabling Taylor to counter with a crisp jab.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Merde looks to land a left hand but Taylor moved out of range nicely.
Taylor ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nathan Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Merde tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merde throws a hook but Taylor avoids it easily.
Merde throws a hook to the side of Taylor's head but Taylor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Merde backs up against the cage.
Taylor throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Taylor throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Merde.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merde takes a head kick and keeps coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Taylor winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

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