PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Laursen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Laursen
vs
Taylor

175 cm
23
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Laursen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Laursen moves out of range easily.

Laursen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Laursen controlling the action here.
Laursen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Taylor makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Taylor.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taylor trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Laursen wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Laursen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taylor wants to stand but Laursen is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laursen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Laursen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Laursen prevents Taylor from getting back to his feet.
Laursen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laursen distracts Taylor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taylor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Laursen is controlling him.
Laursen postures up and lands a big shot to Taylor's brow.
Taylor thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Taylor looks gassed!
Laursen looking to pass the guard.
Taylor is looking to stand up but Laursen isn't so interested in that idea.
Laursen looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Taylor scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Laursen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Taylor sprawls well initially but Laursen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Laursen lands a nice short elbow.
Laursen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Taylor is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Laursen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Laursen trying to pass the guard but Taylor defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laursen lands with a punch from half guard.
Taylor is refusing to be controlled, as Laursen sits in half guard.
Ground and pound from Laursen.
Laursen tries to pass to full mount but Taylor defends it.
Laursen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Laursen is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laursen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Laursen wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling the position.
Taylor is trying to stand.
Laursen stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laursen is looking to take a break and control but Taylor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taylor is looking to escape.
Laursen is controlling the pace.
Taylor works his way to full guard. Good work.
Laursen stops Taylor from standing up.
Laursen controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because James Laursen just wasn't active enough.

Taylor tries to sprawl but Laursen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Laursen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Laursen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Laursen gets the takedown into side control.
Taylor trying to remain calm as Laursen controls from the top position.
Taylor is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Laursen taking a breather here.
Laursen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Taylor throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
James Laursen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor prevents Laursen from moving into mount.
Laursen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Taylor sneaks back into half guard.
Laursen winds up and cracks Taylor with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laursen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Laursen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Laursen is keen to just control but Taylor is a slippery customer.
Taylor is trying to stand back up but Laursen is controlling him
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Laursen lands a nice short elbow.
Laursen not doing much here.
Laursen tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Laursen slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Laursen wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up because James Laursen just wasn't active enough.

Laursen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Laursen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Taylor is trying to stand back up but Laursen is controlling him
Taylor has hold of Laursen's hands but Laursen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Laursen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Laursen trying to control the pace.
Laursen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laursen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Taylor makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Taylor.
Laursen is pushing down on Taylor's leg trying to pass to half guard. Taylor is fighting to maintain full guard but Laursen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Laursen wants to pass to mount but Taylor is defending the position.
Taylor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Laursen is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Taylor won't allow Laursen to pass to mount.
Laursen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Laursen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Laursen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laursen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Laursen in particular looking to stall.

Taylor kicks off Laursen and gets to his feet.
Taylor tries to clinch but Laursen moves away

and Laursen counters with a shoot takedown. Taylor fights it but they end up in guard.
Laursen looking to pass the guard.
Laursen wants to get up but he can't break Taylor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Laursen stops Taylor from standing up.
Laursen looking to pass the guard.
Taylor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Laursen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taylor looks to clinch

and Laursen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taylor won't be happy with that.

Taylor throws Laursen to one side and escapes!
Laursen avoids the head kick by Taylor.

Laursen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Taylor to the mat! Taylor manages to get full guard.
Laursen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taylor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Laursen wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Laursen is stalling in the full guard.
Laursen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Laursen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laursen stops Taylor from standing up.
Laursen controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laursen advances position into side control!
Taylor tries to escape but Laursen is in control.
Laursen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
Laursen working the ground and pound from side control.
A lull in the action here as Laursen stalls from top position.
Taylor takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Taylor prevents Laursen from moving into mount.
Laursen controls the position from side control.
Taylor on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to bench press Laursen off him but Laursen keeps the position.
Taylor is not content to let Laursen control the position.
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taylor is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Taylor is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Laursen content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Laursen lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor pushes Laursen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Laursen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Laursen working the body and head with strikes.
Laursen trying to control the action but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor is trying to get back to his feet.
Taylor takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Laursen tries to advance to mount but can't.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet but Laursen drags him back down.
Laursen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Taylor's legs.
Laursen taking a breather here.

Laursen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Laursen gets a takedown into half guard.
Taylor pushes Laursen off looking to stand but Laursen dives back in and keeps control.
Taylor gets full guard.
Laursen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Laursen from controlling successfully.
James Laursen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor tries to strike from the bottom.
Laursen stops Taylor from standing up.
James Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Laursen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because James Laursen just wasn't active enough.

Laursen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Taylor looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Laursen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Laursen 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Laursen!