PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Herald Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor comes to the cage accompanied by Smoke the Fire!!. Rafael Rua will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Taylor
vs
Rua

198 cm
25
129 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

175 cm
26
136 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Herald Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Rua!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua throws a head kick that misses.

Taylor takes the fight into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Taylor.
A left hand lands to the body for Taylor.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taylor.
Rua fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
Taylor keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rua's efforts to push away.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rua wants to clinch but Taylor slips to the side

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rua won't be happy with that.
Rua is pushing Taylor's head away, looking to escape. Taylor manages to hold on to the position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Taylor decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rua tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Taylor decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rua's guard.
Rua is looking to stand back up but Taylor counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua actively working from the bottom here.
Rua looks like he's trying to stand up.
Taylor keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Taylor decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Rua gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taylor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rua, up you get!

Taylor closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor lands a few punches from side control.

Taylor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rua is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Taylor stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a leg kick but Rua checks it.
Rua misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Rua throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rua throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
Rua throws a leg kick but Taylor sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rua on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Taylor. Taylor obviously looking to wear him down.
Taylor shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taylor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.

Taylor shoots in and bounces Rua off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
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.

Taylor gets to his feet. Rua looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Taylor fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rua tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
Rua misses with the combination.
Rua tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
Taylor tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herald Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Rua throws out a leg kick but Taylor moves out of range and Rua only half commits.
Good leg kick by Rua there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rua throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Taylor.

Taylor closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rua's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Taylor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua tries to clinch but Taylor moves away

and Taylor moves into the clinch.
Rua is trying to push Taylor away but Taylor has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Taylor lands a body punch.
Rua jumps guard but Taylor stands there with Rua around his waist. Rua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor leaves Rua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Taylor is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense.
Rua throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Rafael Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rua quickly recovers to half guard.
Taylor working over Rua with some ground and pound. Rua looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rua tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
Taylor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Taylor is taking a breather. Rua says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Rua actively working from the bottom here.
Taylor trying to control the pace.

Rua actively working from the bottom here.
Herald Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rua is looking to escape.
Taylor trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua pushes Taylor off looking to stand but Taylor dives back in and keeps control.
Rua is breathing heavily.

Taylor escapes and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua throws a leg kick that is checked

and Taylor counters with a single leg into guard. Rua didn't expect that.
Rua wants to stand but Taylor is controlling the position.
Taylor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Taylor showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Taylor here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Taylor stands and steps away. Rua gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Herald Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Taylor closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rua to the mat! Rua manages to get full guard.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taylor jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rua looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Taylor puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Taylor is looking for a kimura but Rua is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Taylor to get the leverage.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Taylor in particular looking to stall.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rua can do to turn this around?
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Rua is defending well.
Taylor stops Rua from getting back to his feet.

Taylor decides to stand and escape the position.
Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua tries to land a leg kick but Taylor saw it coming and moves away.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taylor throws a push kick but Rua slaps the foot to one side.
Rua throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.

Taylor clinches up with Rua and pushes him back against the cage.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Taylor will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rua up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Taylor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herald Taylor dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Taylor has managed to clinch.
Rua is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A frustrated look appears on Rua's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taylor keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rua's efforts to push away.

Rua manages to break the clinch.
Taylor shoots in but no luck this time.
Rua misses with a kick to the body.
Rua tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taylor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rua somewhat.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herald Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rua is defended easily by Taylor.

Taylor instigates a clinch.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt

and Taylor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Taylor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rua walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Good work by Taylor as he checks the leg kick.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Rua looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taylor avoids the head kick by Rua.

Taylor shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rua's guard.

Rua is working an open guard so Taylor takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rua gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taylor throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ruas head.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
Rua wants to clinch.
Rafael Rua seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rua is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rua tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor has a takedown stuffed.
Rua pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Herald Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rua misses with a low kick.
Taylor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Rua throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Taylor closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rua quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to escape.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taylor is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rua is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua punching from the bottom.
Taylor sitting and controlling from the half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Herald Taylor.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt - Rua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rafael Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Herald Taylor.
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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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