PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tokito Sacuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tokito Sacuraba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taylor
vs
Sacuraba

188 cm
23
202 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tokito Sacuraba!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sacuraba slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taylor. Sacuraba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sacuraba slips a jab from Taylor.
Taylor tries to bum rush Sacuraba with a series of wild strikes but Sacuraba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sacuraba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taylor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sacuraba somewhat.
Taylor misses with a hook. Sacuraba ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor tries to bum rush Sacuraba with a series of wild strikes but Sacuraba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Sacuraba moves out of range.
Taylor misses with a straight right.
Sacuraba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sacuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Horrible takedown by Sacuraba or perhaps it was just good defense by Taylor which made him look bad.
Tom Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tokito Sacuraba.
Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two 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.
Taylor throws a right hand that Sacuraba ducks under and follows up with a left that Sacuraba also avoids with ease.
Taylor moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Taylor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taylor throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Sacuraba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taylor throws out the jab.
Taylor throws a right and a left that Sacuraba avoids nicely.
Taylor stuffs the takedown attempt from Sacuraba. Sacuraba gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Sacuraba dives in and grabs Taylor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes down on Sacuraba's head and hops out.
Taylor misses the jab.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Tom Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sacuraba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Taylor's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sacuraba shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor misses with a few strikes there.
Tom Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sacuraba shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taylor manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A jab from Taylor misses.
Taylor throws a right hand that Sacuraba ducks under and follows up with a left that Sacuraba also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sacuraba closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Sacuraba pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Sacuraba moves away from the strike by Taylor.
Sacuraba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taylor.
Taylor throws a jab but it's blocked by Sacuraba.

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 throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sacuraba.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but Sacuraba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taylor uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sacuraba has time to react.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sacuraba defending well as Taylor loads up on a big left hand.
Sacuraba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
A slow jab from Taylor misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Sacuraba slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
Sacuraba slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but Sacuraba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sacuraba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
Tom Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tokito Sacuraba.
Sacuraba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Sacuraba shoots in for a double leg but Taylor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taylor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Taylor darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sacuraba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
Sacuraba slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Taylor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Taylor's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taylor throws a right and a left that Sacuraba avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
Sacuraba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taylor avoids it really well and circles away.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sacuraba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sacuraba closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Sacuraba pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tom Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tokito Sacuraba.
Taylor tries to bum rush Sacuraba with a series of wild strikes but Sacuraba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taylor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sacuraba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Taylor throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sacuraba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taylor looks to land a left hand but Sacuraba moved out of range nicely.
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tom Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taylor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taylor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sacuraba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a jab when Sacuraba was well out of range.
Sacuraba dodges the punch combination from Taylor.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Taylor throws a lazy right hand but Sacuraba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Sacuraba has a takedown stuffed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sacuraba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taylor, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

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