PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marlin Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cornell Haynes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Love is my Religion. Marlin Taylor had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 137.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Taylor
vs
Haynes

180 cm
27
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

215 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marlin Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cornell Haynes!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haynes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Taylor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Haynes throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Haynes scores with a kick to the midsection.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Haynes.
Haynes is looking to land body kicks.

Taylor feints and as Haynes raises his hands in defense, Taylor changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taylor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Taylor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Haynes is keeping the position.
Haynes 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.
Taylor is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Taylor drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taylor jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haynes wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling him.

Taylor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Haynes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Taylor.
Cornell Haynes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haynes throws a low kick, looking for Taylor's leg but Taylor calmly moves out of range.
Taylor checks a leg kick nicely.
Haynes thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Taylor if he has to take too many more of those.
Haynes lands a nice looking kick to the body. Taylor takes a step back to recover.
An inside leg kick from Haynes misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haynes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Haynes throws a leg kick

and Taylor counters with a takedown into side control.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Haynes tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Haynes is trying to stand back up.
Taylor keeps control of the position easily here as Haynes tries to buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Haynes knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Haynes for a finish.

Taylor has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Haynes has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haynes wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haynes covering up well under a series of strikes from Taylor.
Taylor misses with an elbow to the head.
Will Taylor go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Haynes is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Taylor off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Taylor is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Haynes has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haynes looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marlin Taylor dominated that round.
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.

Taylor avoids the body shot from Haynes.
Taylor takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Haynes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Taylor.
Haynes misses with a body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Haynes. Taylor shrugs it off though.
Haynes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Haynes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Haynes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Taylor looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Haynes!
Haynes holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Taylor tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Taylor looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor with the ground and pound from mount.

Taylor working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Haynes is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Taylor locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Haynes is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Marlin Taylor!