PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harvey Slack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harvey Slack looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Slack
vs
Taylor

225 cm
18
300 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

213 cm
18
290 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Harvey Slack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Richard Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Slack throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Slack finishes the takedown easily into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Taylor is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Slack displaying some good clinch control by pressing Taylor up against the cage.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor throws a right hand that Slack ducks under and follows up with a left that Slack also avoids with ease.
Slack avoids a punch combination nicely.
Slack has a takedown stuffed.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but Slack bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor looks gassed!
Slack fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taylor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Slack counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Slack shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taylor as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvey Slack. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Slack fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Taylor to the ground. Slack is now in Taylor's guard.
Slack cracks Taylor with a solid left hand.
Taylor wants to stand but Slack is controlling the position.
Slack tries to free his leg and advance position but Taylor is retaining full guard.

Taylor uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Slack looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slack showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.

Taylor gets caught napping as Slack dives in and scores a takedown. Taylor manages to retain guard.

Taylor manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Slack shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Slack pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Slack gets a clinch.

Slack manages to pull guard.

Taylor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Slack, up you get!
Slack fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor avoids the head kick by Slack.
Richard Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but Slack bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Slack shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Taylor eats them both and turns towards Slack to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Slack is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taylor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Slack fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Taylor throws a left and a right that both miss

so Slack counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Slack wants to stand but Taylor has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor pushes Slack off and scrambles back to his feet.
Slack slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Slack looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Slack will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Slack shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Slack gets slowly back to his feet.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harvey Slack dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Slack dives in and scores a takedown into Taylor's guard.

Taylor is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Slack is trying to break the clinch but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Slack makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taylor lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Slack backwards.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Slack is controlling the position.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Slack has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slack has him pressed against the cage.
Slack is trying to pull guard but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Slack trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Slack is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Slack manages to pull guard.

Slack is working an open guard so Taylor takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slack shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taylor as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slack avoids a punch combination nicely.
Slack shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvey Slack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slack fails with an attempt to clinch.
Slack shoots in looking for a takedown but Taylor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Slack's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Taylor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Slack misses with a double jab.
Slack shoots in for a double leg but Taylor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Taylor in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Slack is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taylor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor throws a series of strikes that have Slack backpedaling.
Taylor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Slack tries to land a front kick but Taylor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor looks to land a combination but Slack avoids it well.
Slack closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Slack pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.

Slack drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Taylor sneaks out the side door and pushes Slack away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Slack looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Slack persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Slack tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Slack throws a low kick, looking for Taylor's leg but Taylor calmly moves out of range.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Slack fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.

Slack drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
Slack wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Slack wants to take the fight to the mat but Taylor manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Slack throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Slack finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Taylor is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Slack jumps guard but Taylor stands there with Slack around his waist. Slack gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Taylor wants to get back to striking at distance but Slack won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slack goes for a takedown in the clinch but Taylor prevents it.
Taylor can't break the clinch.
Slack prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.
Slack wants a takedown.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Slack moves into the clinch successfully.
Taylor is trying to pull guard but Slack turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Slack keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A right handed body shot lands from Slack.
Slack prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.

Slack escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Slack shoots in and gets a takedown into Taylor's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Harvey Slack will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Slack throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor checks the leg kick nicely there.
Slack fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Slack moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Slack or perhaps it was just good defense by Taylor which made him look bad.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Slack circles away quickly and effectively.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Harvey Slack is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Slack misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horrible takedown by Slack or perhaps it was just good defense by Taylor which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvey Slack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slack fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
Slack thows a left - swing and a miss!
Slack tries to work over Taylor's front leg with a kick but Taylor checks it.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Slack avoids them all with ease.
Slack tries for a takedown but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Taylor throws a combination that misses

so Slack counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Taylor wriggles free and stands up.
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slack shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Taylor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Slack gets the takedown into side control.

Taylor throws Slack to one side and escapes!
Taylor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Slack.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Slack.
Richard Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taylor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Taylor.
Slack shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Slack's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Taylor looks to land a combination but Slack avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Slack wants to land a leg kick but Taylor is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slack shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Slack avoids them all with ease.
Slack looks for a takedown but Taylor sprawls well.
Taylor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Slack tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Slack tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor swinging wildly here.
Slack jabs Taylor to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Taylor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Slack cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Slack showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
Taylor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Richard Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slack moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Slack shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor swinging wildly here.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Taylor misses with a double jab

and Slack moves into the clinch.

Slack manages to pull guard.
Slack is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Harvey Slack overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Slack is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Slack will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

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 Harvey Slack.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Slack, 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harvey Slack!