PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roger Xu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernhard Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Xu might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Metallica - Creeping Death. Bernhard Taylor acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Xu
vs
Taylor

180 cm
23
185 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

188 cm
23
187 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Brute

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roger Xu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xu slips a jab from Taylor.
Xu tries to clinch up.
Xu tries to clinch but Taylor moves away
and Taylor counters with a nice body shot.
Taylor throws a hook to the side of Xu's head but Xu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Taylor has closed the distance and engaged Xu in a clinch.
Taylor avoids a wild elbow strike from Xu.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the body.
Xu throws an elbow that misses.
Taylor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Xu misses with a knee strike.
Xu landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Xu pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Taylor avoiding damage as Xu throws knees to the body.
Xu prevents a body shot from Taylor.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Xu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Xu.
Xu tries a body shot but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor can't break the clinch.
Xu throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu working aggressively here.
Taylor avoiding damage as Xu throws knees to the body.
Xu tries a body shot but Taylor blocks it.
Xu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Taylors head.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Xu.
A left and a right from Taylor both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Roger Xu has been cut.
Taylor scores with a jab to the body.
Xu takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Taylor crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Xu - the referee stops the clock and Taylor gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Xu. Taylor manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Xu tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
Xu tries to clinch but Taylor moves away
and Taylor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Xu lands a nice looking kick to the body. Taylor takes a step back to recover.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Taylor digs a right hand into Xu's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Xu's gas tank.
Xu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taylor is trying to maintain a safe position but Xu gets an underhook and turns Taylor into the cage.
Taylor lands with a short shot to the head.
Taylor blocks the elbow strike.
Taylor blocking some punches.
Xu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Xu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taylor is defending well for now.
Taylor stalling the fight.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Xu's elbow.
Taylor slows down the pace here.
Taylor misses with a punch on the inside.
Xu lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A hook to the body from Taylor.
Taylor tries a body shot but Xu blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Xu as Taylor tries to tie him up.
Xu misses with an elbow over the top.
Xu tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
Xu tries a body shot but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Xu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Xu fails to land.
Xu blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Xu.
Taylor blocks the elbow strike.
Taylor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Xu lands a nice elbow.
Taylor misses with the head strike.
Xu utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor stalling in the clinch but Xu improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands with a short shot to the head.
Taylor misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Xu.
Taylor is looking to control Xu's arms but Xu gets an underhook and turns him. Now Taylor has his back to the cage.
Taylor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Xu landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Xu's elbow.
Taylor lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Xu lands with a right to the head.
Taylor stalling in the clinch but Xu improves position.
Xu comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Xu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taylor working hard to break the clinch.
Xu lands a hook that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Xu lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Roger Xu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Roger Xu'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.

Xu lands a leg kick that knocks Taylor off balance momentarily.
Xu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Xu lands a nice looking body kick.
Xu connects with a solid leg kick.
Xu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Taylor if he has to take too many more of those.
Taylor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Xu's head backwards.
Taylor moves out of range as Xu strikes.
Xu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
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!
Xu lunges at Taylor with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Taylor's hand.
Xu thumps Taylor with a low kick.
Roger Xu is winning the standup battle so far.
Taylor scores with a jab to the head.
Xu throws a head kick that half lands.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Xu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Xu tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu scores with a jab to the body.
Good leg kick by Xu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Xu throws the kick towards the body but Taylor avoids it.
Taylor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xu.
Xu connects with a solid leg kick.
Xu cracks Taylor with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Xu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Xu doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Xu tries to clinch up.
Xu throws a leg kick but Taylor sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Taylor takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A chopping leg kick lands by Xu.
Xu tries to land a body kick
and Taylor counters with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor misses with a looping left.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
A low kick from Xu misses
and Taylor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Xu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A nice leg kick lands there from Xu.
Taylor takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Taylor moves out of range of the body kick.
Xu connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Xu scores with a jab to the body.
Xu throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Xu misses with a body shot.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Xu.
Xu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taylor manages to avoid it.
Xu misses with a body punch
and Taylor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor swings widly with a right hand

and Xu counters by clinching up.
Xu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Xu is controlling the position.
Xu has a couple of punches blocked by Taylor.
Xu misses with an elbow strike.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor walks into a straight right hand from Xu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Xu.
Xu moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Taylor keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Taylor throws a hook but Xu blocks it.
Xu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Taylor takes the fight into the clinch.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but Xu avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the cage.
Xu swings wildly with an uppercut but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
Roger Xu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Xu throws an elbow but it misses.
Xu tries to land knees in the clinch but Taylor avoids the damage to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Taylor.
Nice elbow from Xu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Xu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roger Xu's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Xu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Taylor takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Taylor throws a push kick but Xu slaps the foot to one side.
Xu tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
Xu slips a jab from Taylor.
Xu throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Taylor to counter with a crisp jab.
Roger Xu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Xu scoring well with a low kick there.
Xu swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Xu has Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor working hard to break the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Xu throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu tries a body shot but Taylor blocks it.
Xu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Taylor lands a hook to the side of the head.
Xu lands a nice knee to the body.
Taylor misses with a punch to the body.
Xu landing knees to the head.
Xu tries to throw a body punch but Taylor avoids it by throwing Xu back against the cage.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike.
Taylor can't find room to land a body shot as Xu controls the action.
Taylor tries a body shot but Xu blocks it.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Xu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Taylor lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Xu backwards.
Taylor taking a breather.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xu lands a knee to the body.
Taylor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Xu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Xu unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bernhard Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xu scores with a shoulder strike.
Xu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Xu lands an elbow inside that Taylor shrugs off.
Xu is leaning against Taylor and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Xu scores with a shoulder strike.
Xu comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Xu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Xu lands a nice knee to the body.
Xu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Taylor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Xu connects with a knee to the head.
Xu looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Xu lands an elbow just above Taylor 's eye.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
Xu lands a nice knee to the body.
Xu scores with a hook to the body.
Roger Xu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to break free.
Xu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taylor is defending well for now.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taylor.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
Taylor avoiding damage as Xu throws knees to the body.
Taylor looking to stall.
Xu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taylor avoids it.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Xu crunches a lovely knee into Taylor's ribcage.
Taylor working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries a body shot but Xu blocks it.
Taylor pushes Xu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taylor dodges an elbow strike from Xu.
Taylor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Xu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Xu landing knees to the head.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Taylor blocks a body shot from Xu.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Xu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Xu 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Xu!
A relieved looking Roger Xu thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.