PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Foti Vasa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Taylor could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Foti Vasa's chin.

Taylor
vs
Vasa

185 cm
19
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

183 cm
18
199 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Sweet-Tooth Supplements

Global Nutritional - ACME - (Q145 for $16)

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Foti Vasa!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Vasa darts in and clinches Taylor up against the cage.
Vasa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Taylor gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Vasa has picked Taylor up - he's going for a ride! Vasa dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Taylor regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Vasa.
Vasa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taylor. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vasa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Taylor is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Taylor wants a takedown but no success here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Vasa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Vasa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vasa can't get the takedown.
Taylor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor looking for a takedown.
Vasa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taylor fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Vasa closes the distance and clinches.
Vasa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Taylor prevents it.
Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vasa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Taylor wants a takedown but no success here.
Vasa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Taylor gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vasa prevents a takedown attempt there.
Taylor is breathing heavily.

Vasa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Vasa is keeping the position.
Vasa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.
Vasa lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Taylor connects with a couple of short punches.
Taylor stops Vasa from standing up.
Vasa is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Vasa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor distracts Vasa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taylor working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vasa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor prevents Vasa from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasa is retaining full guard.
Taylor connects with a couple of short punches.
Vasa wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taylor's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taylor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Taylor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Taylor postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Taylor prevents Vasa from getting back to his feet.
Taylor lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Taylor content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Taylor chips away with some ground and pound.
Vasa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor passes Vasa's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Taylor lands strikes from half guard.
Taylor lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Taylor is nestled in close to Vasa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Vasa is trying to stand up here but Taylor is controlling him well.
Taylor working over Vasa with some ground and pound. Vasa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Taylor stops Vasa from getting back to his feet.
Vasa throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Taylor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Vasa which made him look bad.
Paul Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vasa throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Taylor takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Vasa slaps away a takedown attempt from Taylor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vasa throws a head kick that misses.

Vasa rushes Taylor and presses him up against the cage.
Vasa has Taylor pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Taylor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Vasa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Vasa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vasa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taylor lands a couple of digs.
Taylor scoring with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor landing some decent shots from guard.
Vasa 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasa keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Taylor working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vasa has momentary wrist control but Taylor slips an elbow through the middle.
Vasa wants to sweep but no luck.

Taylor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taylor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Taylor postures up and lands a big shot to Vasa's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Taylor lands a couple of elbows.
Taylor content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Taylor bucks up and throws Vasa to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Taylor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vasa defends it nicely.
Vasa lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasa gets the takedown into side control.
Taylor prevents Vasa from moving into mount.
Taylor is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Vasa decides to stand back up.
Vasa lands a head kick. Taylor smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Vasa shoots in and drives through. Taylor sprawls well.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Vasa circles away easily

and Vasa counters by clinching up.

Vasa lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Vasa prevents Taylor from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vasa decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Vasa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Vasa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Taylor drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor working the ground and pound.
Vasa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Taylor's best efforts.
Nice strikes from Taylor there.
Vasa is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Taylor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Foti Vasa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Vasa bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Vasa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vasa wants it to stay on the feet.

Vasa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taylor is trying to stand up here but Vasa is controlling him well.
Vasa is taking a breather. Taylor says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Vasa wants to get back to his feet.
Vasa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasa is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Vasa is taking a breather. Taylor says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Taylor pushes Vasa off and gets back to his feet.
Taylor has his takedown stuffed
and Vasa counters with a left and a right that stings Taylor.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Vasa circles away easily
and Vasa counters with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vasa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Vasa is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Taylor's half guard.

Vasa is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasa wants to get back to his feet.
Vasa trying to control from Taylor's half guard. Taylor has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Vasa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Taylor wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Vasa counters by clinching up.

Vasa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Vasa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Taylor with a nice head shot there.
Vasa lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Taylor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vasa 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 in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vasa will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Taylor won't allow Vasa to get back to his feet.
Vasa wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Taylor stops Vasa from standing up.
Taylor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vasa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taylor is in close to Vasa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Vasa wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.
Taylor works over Vasa with some ground and pound from guard.
Paul Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vasa working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taylor fails with the takedown
and Vasa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Foti Vasa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vasa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Foti Vasa!