PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shane Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatu Tikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tikki has chosen Ratatat - Loud Pipes as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taylor
vs
Tikki

185 cm
29
202 lbs
26 - 15 - 0

183 cm
34
197 lbs
29 - 17 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

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 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shane Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Tatu Tikki!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikki lands with a cross.
Tikki looks gassed!

Taylor moves into the clinch.
Tikki lands a body punch.
Taylor struggles to land a body shot inside as Tikki controls his hands.
Taylor struggles to land a body shot inside as Tikki controls his hands.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Taylor.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the body.
Taylor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taylor misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor tries to work over Tikki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taylor working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

It looks like Tatu Tikki has been cut.
Taylor lands a nice uppercut.
Taylor lands a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor lands a left hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Taylor creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Good body shot from Taylor.
Taylor lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tikki backwards.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Tikki takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tikki on the side of the head.
Taylor misses with an uppercut. Tikki saw that one coming.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Tikki avoids the body shot from Taylor.
Taylor scores with a body shot.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor works Tikki's body with a nice hook.
Taylor cracks Tikki with a right hand to the side of the head.
Taylor digs a good hook to Tikki's body.
Taylor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tikki. Tikki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A punch lands to the side of Tikki 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Taylor drives through and clinches with Tikki against the cage.
Taylor working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tikki backwards.
Tikki can't find room to land a body shot as Taylor controls the action.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Taylor lands a body punch in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Taylor scores with a nice short uppercut.
Taylor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taylor.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike.

Tikki is rocked!

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tikki is still on wobbly legs! Can Taylor finish him?
Tikki on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Tikki looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor clinches with his opponent.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but Tikki avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the cage.
Taylor lands a body shot.

Taylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the body.
Taylor misses with a body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Taylor.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tikki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taylor.
Taylor scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tests Tikki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taylor connects with a crisp jab.
Taylor connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Taylor blocks a low kick nicely.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tikki blocks a body shot from Taylor.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor misses with some punches.
Taylor misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tikki or not.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tatu Tikki's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tikki takes one to the chin there.
Tikki seems to have recovered his senses.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tikki takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Taylor throws a shot to the body.
Taylor comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Taylor jabs Tikki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Taylor dips to his left and cracks Tikki with an uppercut!
Shane Taylor is winning the standup battle so far.
Taylor misses with a straight left.
Taylor cracks Tikki with a good jab.
Taylor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tikki at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tikki on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikki swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Tikki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
Taylor scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Taylor changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor lands with a nice body punch.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tikki takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Taylor lands with a right to the head.
Taylor lands with a right to the head.
Tikki misses with a punch on the inside.
Taylor lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tikki backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a body punch.
Good body shot from Taylor.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Taylor scores with a shoulder strike.
Taylor has a couple of punches blocked by Tikki.
Tikki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tikki prevents a body shot from Taylor.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice straight punches there by Taylor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taylor.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tikki can do to turn this around?
Taylor lands a head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tikki tries to score with a low kick but Taylor moves his leg out of the way.
Taylor lands a nice shot that snaps Tikki's head back.
Taylor thuds his right hand into Tikki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Taylor digs a good hook to Tikki's body.
Taylor lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Tikki motions for Taylor to come forward. Tikki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tikki swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tikki misses with a jab to the body
and Taylor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Tikki is just out of range.

Taylor drives through and clinches with Tikki against the cage.
Tikki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Tikki tightens his grip and picks Taylor up, before dumping him to the ground. Taylor manages to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tikki with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tikki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to keep a closed guard but Tikki is proving a slippery customer.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tikki tries to free his leg and advance position but Taylor is retaining full guard.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tikki is one step ahead there.
Tikki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tikki trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Taylor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tatu Tikki'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!

Taylor scores with a shot to the body.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor throws a hook but Tikki avoids it easily.
Taylor punishes Tikki's body with a nice straight punch.
Taylor looks to throw the jab but Tikki is out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Taylor. That snapped Tikki's head back.
A leg kick checked by Taylor.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tikki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tikki has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor dips to his left and cracks Tikki with an uppercut!
Taylor lands with an overhand left.
Tikki takes one on the button.
Taylor throws a one two combo.
Shane Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taylor misses with a looping right.

Tikki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Taylor tries to buck Tikki off but Tikki is having none of it.
Tikki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Taylor tries to bench press Tikki off him but Tikki keeps the position.
Taylor is letting Tikki control him for a moment.
Tikki throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Tatu Tikki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikki trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.
Tikki throws an elbow but Taylor slips to the side and avoids it well.
Tikki laying and praying for a moment but Taylor takes advantage and regains half guard.
Tikki is trying to control. Taylor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tikki throwing shots but Taylor is blocking nicely.

Tikki is looking for a kimura but Taylor is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tikki to get the leverage.
Taylor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tikki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikki throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Taylor to regain full guard.
Tikki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tikki trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Tikki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Tikki trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tatu Tikki wasn't active enough on the ground.
Tikki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
Tikki misses with an uppercut.
Tikki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Taylor counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Taylor lands with an overhand left.
Taylor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tikki at a distance.
Tikki tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tikki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tikki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

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 Shane 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Taylor!
Shane Taylor tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.