PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tayeb Taheri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Brophy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brophy has chosen LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Taheri
vs
Brophy

185 cm
22
180 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

170 cm
24
175 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Tayeb Taheri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Grant Brophy!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brophy misses with a hook

and Taheri counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Brophy's guard now.
Brophy is looking to stand back up but Taheri counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Brophy.

Taheri is working for a kimura but Brophy is defending it quite comfortably.
Taheri works his way into full mount!
Brophy's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Taheri throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Brophy in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brophy trying desperately to get to his feet.
Taheri breaks from Brophy's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Taheri won't let Brophy get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Taheri goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Brophy is on top in guard.
Taheri is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Brophy being controlled here momentarily.
Brophy wants to stand and escape but instead Taheri has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Brophy wants to stand and escape but Taheri is having none of it.
Taheri trying to control the position from guard on top but Brophy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brophy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taheri is controlling him.
Taheri postures up in Brophy's guard and throws a big left but Brophy blocks it.

Taheri thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Taheri wants to control from the top but Brophy keeps moving.
Brophy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Taheri thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Taheri trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taheri prevents Brophy from getting back to his feet.
Brophy keeping full guard, as Taheri tries to pass.
Taheri 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.
Taheri cracks Brophy with a solid left hand.
Brophy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Taheri tries to free his leg and advance position but Brophy is retaining full guard.
Brophy keeping moving, preventing Taheri from controlling successfully.

Brophy is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Brophy wants to stall.

Taheri breaks the clinch.

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.
Brophy lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Brophy falls off balance throwing a combination

and Taheri counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Taheri is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Brophy wants to stand and escape but Taheri is having none of it.
Taheri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Brophy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Taheri wants to control from the top but Brophy keeps moving.

Brophy pushes Taheri off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Taheri shoots in looking for a takedown. Brophy tries to sprawl out of it but Taheri keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Brophy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tayeb Taheri dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Taheri closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Taheri lands in his opponent's guard.
Brophy is looking to stand up but Taheri isn't so interested in that idea.

Brophy kicks Taheri off and gets to his feet.
Taheri shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Brophy sprawls well. Brophy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taheri gets slowly back to his feet.
Taheri fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taheri takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tayeb Taheri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taheri avoids the head kick by Brophy.
Taheri shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Brophy counters with a low kick, right behind Taheri 's knee.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tayeb Taheri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brophy throws a body punch but Taheri moves out of range.
Taheri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Brophy tries to avoid it but Taheri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Brophy to the ground. Brophy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Brophy tries to close the distance and clinch but Taheri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grant Brophy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick from Brophy misses.
Brophy connects with the punch.

It looks like Tayeb Taheri has been cut.

Brophy has closed the distance and engaged Taheri in a clinch.

Brophy breaks the clinch.
Taheri fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brophy throws a head kick that misses.
Brophy tries to clinch there but Taheri circles away.
Brophy buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Brophy lands a leg kick that knocks Taheri off balance momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brophy feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Taheri's calf.
Brophy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Brophy thumps Taheri with a low kick.
Brophy lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Taheri on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Brophy scores with a leg kick.

Brophy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Brophy stalling the fight.
Taheri drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Brophy gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brophy effectively controlling the action here.

Brophy breaks the clinch.
A slow jab from Brophy misses its intended target.
Brophy turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
That kick from Brophy tenderised Taheri's leg. Taheri is trying to keep his angry face on.
Taheri closes the distance looking to clinch
and Brophy counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Brophy lands a big head kick that sends Taheri tumbling to the mat! Brophy takes a step backwards and waves Taheri back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Taheri is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Brophy closes the distance and clinches.
Brophy taking a breather.
Taheri takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brophy taking a breather.
Brophy tries a knee to the head but Taheri blocks it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Brophy - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Grant Brophy.
Brophy stuns Taheri with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Brophy.
Nice shot by Brophy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Brophy pushes Taheri up against the cage in a clinch.
Taheri wants a takedown but no success here.
Brophy displaying some good clinch control by pressing Taheri up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Brophy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tayeb Taheri's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Taheri misses with a takedown

and Brophy counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Brophy.
Taheri tries to score a body lock takedown but Brophy shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Taheri is looking to control Brophy's arms but Brophy gets an underhook and turns him. Now Taheri has his back to the cage.
Taheri looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tayeb Taheri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brophy lands a shoulder strike.
Brophy will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Taheri up against the cage.
Brophy throws a knee to the head but misses.
Brophy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brophy lands an elbow inside.

Tayeb Taheri's cut is getting worse.

Taheri successfully pulls guard.

Brophy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brophy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taheri moves away.
Brophy wants to clinch.
Brophy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taheri takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Brophy scores with a shot to the body.
Brophy just misses with a punch to the body.
Brophy throws a push kick but Taheri slaps the foot to one side.
A bone on bone clash there as Taheri blocks the leg kick.
Taheri avoids the body shot from Brophy.
Taheri misses with a few strikes there.
Brophy looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Brophy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taheri paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Brophy.
Brophy is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Taheri rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brophy clinches with his opponent.
Brophy has Taheri pushed against the cage.
Brophy stops a takedown attempt from Taheri.
Taheri is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Brophy is struggling to control the position.

Brophy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Brophy.
An inside leg kick lands from Brophy.

Brophy moves into the clinch successfully.
Taheri misses with a punch on the inside.
Brophy slowing the pace effectively.
Taheri takes a knee right on the jaw!
Taheri has Brophy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Brophy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Brophy.
Brophy landing knees to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brophy stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brophy breaks from the clinch.
Taheri shoots and misses
and Brophy counters with a nice leg kick.
Brophy throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Taheri.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Brophy - that will leave a mark!

Brophy rushes Taheri and presses him up against the cage.
Taheri tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Brophy smiles and moves away.

Brophy has closed the distance and engaged Taheri in a clinch.
Brophy looking to throw knees to the head but Taheri is blocking nicely.
Taheri has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Brophy is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brophy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Tayeb Taheri's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Brophy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taheri has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Brophy.
Brophy receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

Brophy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Brophy moves into the clinch.
Brophy stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Brophy misses with a knee strike.
Brophy slowing the pace effectively.
Taheri can't get the takedown.
Brophy stalls.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taheri tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Brophy smiles and moves away.
Taheri doesn't manage to clinch there - Brophy circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Brophy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Brophy 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grant Brophy!