PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luis Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stacey Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Washington
vs
Taylor

178 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

South Side Swagger

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luis Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stacey Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Roberts and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Washington scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Washington shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Washington gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taylor gets underhooks to prevent Washington's takedown attempt.
Taylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Washington has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Taylor clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Taylor has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Washington.
Washington punches the canvas rather than the man.
Washington throws a series of strikes and Taylor wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Taylor is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Washington sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Washington connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Taylor really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Washington 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.
Washington wants to control the pace but Taylor is squirming around nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taylor can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taylor tries to hold on but Washington pushes him away.

Washington looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Washington is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Taylor has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Taylor!
Washington tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor content to stall in guard here.
Taylor passes into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Washington makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Washington.
Washington trying to keep a closed guard but Taylor is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Washington looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Taylor has picked Washington up and slammed him! Washington can't keep hold of the triangle and Taylor manages to pass to side control!
Washington is breathing heavily.
Washington is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Taylor is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Taylor with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor avoids the attempt from Washington to control.
Taylor wants to control the pace but Washington is squirming around nicely.
Taylor controlling from mount.

Taylor looking to secure an arm triangle but Washington defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Washington can't escape the position.
Taylor is landing with some decent strikes but Washington is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Washington really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Washington is working hard here to advance position.
Washington throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Taylor content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stacey Taylor will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Washington fails in his attempt to clinch.
Washington shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taylor pinned against the cage. Taylor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Washington takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Washington is rocked!
Washington throws the left hand but Taylor avoids the punch easily.
Oh Washington is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Washington moves into the clinch.
Washington keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Washington seems to have got his legs back now.
Taylor is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Washington is keeping busy.
Taylor wants to break free but Washington has control.
Taylor is trying to break free.
Washington looking to stall.

Washington drags the fight down to the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Let's hope that Taylor has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Washington looking for a sweep. Not yet Washington, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington tries to strike from the bottom.
Washington 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 working some strikes from top position.
Washington working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taylor.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taylor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Washington's guard.
Taylor with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Washington trying to hold on to Taylor's head to control him but Taylor postures up.
Taylor has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Taylor content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington is looking to improve his position but Taylor isn't that keen on the idea.
Taylor landing punches.
Washington is trying desperately to improve position.
Taylor controlling the pace for now.
Washington is desperately trying to improve his position but Taylor has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington tries to hold on but Taylor postures up.
Taylor controlling from the full mount.
Taylor putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Taylor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Taylor avoids the attempt from Washington to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor looking to control but Washington is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Taylor landing strikes from the mount and Washington is in trouble!
Washington tries to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.
Washington tries to buck Taylor off but he can't manage it.
Taylor is landing with some decent strikes but Washington is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Washington is squirming around, avoiding Taylor's attempts to control the action.
Stacey Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Washington manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Taylor lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stacey Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Washington throws a front kick aimed at Taylor's knee but Taylor avoids it well.

Taylor rushes Washington and presses him up against the cage.
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Washington landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Taylor pushes Washington back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Washington throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taylor swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Washington has Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Washington has him pressed against the cage.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Washington shoots in and drives through. Taylor sprawls well.
Taylor throws a front kick that sends Washington stumbling back into the cage.
Washington closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taylor circles away.
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 throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Washington shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luis Washington. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Washington fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Taylor sprawls well initially but Washington persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Washington missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Taylor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taylor regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor can't keep his opponent in guard - Washington advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Taylor tries to roll over but Washington keeps him under control.
Taylor holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Washington misses with a head shot. Taylor uses the momentum to regain guard.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Washington is one step ahead there.
Taylor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Washington wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Washington slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
Washington fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Washington shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Taylor but Taylor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Taylor looks to land a combination but Washington avoids it well.
Washington is looking to clinch.
Taylor stuffs the takedown.
Taylor slips a jab and a cross from Washington.

Washington clinches up with Taylor and pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Washington tries to pull guard but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Washington has him pressed against the cage.
Washington tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Washington tries for a takedown but Taylor manages to get underhooks.
Taylor is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Good body shot from Taylor.
Washington tries for a takedown. No joy.
A right handed body shot lands from Washington.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. Washington 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.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Washington moves out of range easily.
No luck for Washington with that takedown attempt.
Taylor connects with a looping right hand.
Taylor stuffs the takedown.

Washington drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
Washington tries for a takedown. No joy.
Luis Washington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Washington prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.
Washington tries to pull guard but Taylor holds him up against the cage and eventually Washington drops back down to his feet.

Washington has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Taylor uses from the top position.

Washington is looking for a triangle but Taylor pushes his legs off easily.

Washington looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Taylor has picked Washington up and slammed him! Washington can't keep hold of the triangle and Taylor manages to pass to side control!
Taylor scoring with punches and elbows.
Washington is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Taylor is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Washington tries to escape but Taylor is in control.
Washington is looking for a sweep.
Washington gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Washington manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Washington trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Washington isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Taylor stacks Washington on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Taylor!
Taylor is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stacey 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

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