PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between General Taft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Flair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). General Taft has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Taft
vs
Flair

190 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

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 New York, General Taft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shane Flair!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Chad Campbell and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Flair fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Taft sprawls well initially but Flair persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Flair is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Flair is working for a submission of some sort.
Taft is looking for a sweep. Flair is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taft trying to control here.
Taft is trying to get back to full guard.
Taft manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Flair drops back, looking for a kneebar! Taft looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Taft looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Taft!
The ground and pound from Taft seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Flair looks gassed!
Flair dodges the ground and pound from Taft.
Taft passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Flair!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taft connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Taft cracks Flair with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Taft is landing with some decent strikes but Flair is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taft controlling the pace for now.
Taft unloading with bombs!
Flair taking shots to the head.
Taft scoring with strikes but Flair is staying in there.
Flair in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Taft.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taft with good strikes from the mount here!
Taft looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Taft 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Flair is squirming around, avoiding Taft's attempts to control the action.
Flair is looking to get to half guard.
Taft trying to control but Flair is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

General Taft dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Taft pulls out of a head kick attempt.
General Taft seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taft is looking to clinch but Flair is avoiding it.
General Taft is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Flair is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Taft's half guard.
Flair is thwarting Taft's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taft strikes from the bottom but Flair passes into mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taft gets back to half guard.
Flair is breathing heavily.
Flair blocks the strikes from Taft.
Taft slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Taft manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taft working the ground and pound effectively.
Flair in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Taft working the ground and pound effectively.
Taft lands a big shot there that rocks Flair but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Taft trying to control but Flair is having none of it.
Taft is really struggling to control Flair but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Flair can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taft landing punches.
Taft looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Taft lands with some strikes.

Taft working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Flair is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taft is landing with some decent strikes but Flair is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Taft lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
General Taft overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A nice elbow there by Taft.
Taft postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Flair looks a forlorn figure.
Flair wants to control but Taft is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

General Taft dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Taft feints and as Flair raises his hands in defense, Taft changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Flair is trying to control the position but Taft postures up.
Flair really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taft. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taft trying to control the position from guard on top but Flair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flair keeping full guard, as Taft tries to pass.
Taft passes Flair's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Flair is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Taft pulls his head out easily.
Taft will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Flair wants to improve his position but Taft is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flair is not content to let Taft control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taft tries to clinch but Flair moves out of range.
Taft tries to clinch but Flair is having none of it.
Taft has his takedown stuffed

and Flair counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flair wants to work for an arm triangle but Taft is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Taft is looking to control Flair's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taft avoid being mounted?

Flair is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Taft as he works his way to full guard.
Taft trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flair avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
General Taft is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taft manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Flair manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Flair keeping moving, preventing Taft from controlling successfully.
Taft pushes down on Flair's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Flair trying to hold on to Taft's head to control him but Taft postures up.
Taft thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
General Taft showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taft 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... General Taft!