PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin McCann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCann is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Bitches. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taylor
vs
McCann

191 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin McCann!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taylor.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.

Taylor has closed the distance and engaged McCann in a clinch.
McCann swings wildly with an uppercut but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor misses with a body punch.
McCann stalls.
Taylor stalling against the cage.
McCann working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McCann escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taylor misses with a low kick.
Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by McCann which made him look bad.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but McCann sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCann.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Taylor thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
McCann wants to control but Taylor is having none of it.
McCann is in all sorts of trouble here.
McCann wants to control but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor unloads with some shots from mount but McCann bucks and avoids them well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCann is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Taylor is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But McCann has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from McCann!
Taylor controls McCann momentarily but McCann frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCann controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCann would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCann controls from within his opponent's guard.

McCann gets to his feet. Taylor looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Taylor looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McCann is fending him off so far but Taylor persists. Nope, McCann circles away and we're back to standing.
McCann moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.

McCann forces Taylor back against the cage and clinches.
McCann goes for a takedown attempt but Taylor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Taylor tries to clinch but McCann moves away

and McCann counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McCann.
McCann lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCann lands with a short shot to the head.
Taylor fails to pull guard.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taylor throws a left and a right that both miss

and McCann counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
McCann stalling.
McCann thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

McCann escapes and gets back to his feet.
McCann moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Horrible takedown by McCann or perhaps it was just good defense by Taylor which made him look bad.
Taylor wants to clinch but McCann slips to the side

and McCann counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin McCann dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McCann closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. McCann pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taylor clinches but McCann breaks the clinch

and McCann counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Taylor manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Taylor trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Taylor throws a strike there. McCann manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Taylor prevents McCann from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor wants to stand up but McCann has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Taylor tries to pass to full mount but McCann defends it.
McCann is staying active underneath Taylor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taylor with the ground and pound but McCann uses the opportunity to regain guard.
McCann should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Taylor won't allow McCann to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

McCann gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McCann lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McCann scores with a nice hook to the head.
Taylor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McCann has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Taylor is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

McCann jumps into guard, dragging Taylor to the mat.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCann is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but McCann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor is fighting to break McCann's control of his arms but McCann is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor won't allow McCann to get back to his feet.

McCann kicks Taylor off and gets to his feet.
Taylor is looking to chop away at McCann's legs.
McCann stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Taylor.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
McCann throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCann throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.
McCann looks to clinch

and Taylor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McCann can't get the takedown.
Mike Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin McCann.
McCann lands a right hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
McCann wants to break free but Taylor has control.
McCann is working Taylor over against the cage.
McCann cracks Taylor with a nice body shot.
McCann tries to pull guard but Taylor holds him up against the cage and eventually McCann drops back down to his feet.

McCann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCann scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
McCann throws a combination that misses

and Taylor counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin McCann showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taylor misses with a takedown

and McCann moves into the clinch.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.

McCann decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
McCann wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling the position.
McCann lands strikes from half guard.
Taylor scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but McCann manages to mount him!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCann controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Taylor really doesn't like being in this position too much.
McCann controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that McCann has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Taylor is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two 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.
McCann controlling the pace for now.
Taylor is trying to escape the mount.
McCann takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is desperately trying to improve his position but McCann has a good base and remains in mount.
Justin McCann has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McCann takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Despite being in the dominant position, Justin McCann just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McCann has managed to clinch.
McCann lands with a short punch from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McCann creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Taylor tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McCann just stands there and leans against the cage.
Taylor prevents a takedown attempt there.
McCann scores with a nice hook to the head.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but McCann is controlling the position.
A right handed body shot lands from McCann.
McCann drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. McCann has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taylor down to the mat. Taylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mike Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin McCann.
McCann misses with a combination

and Taylor counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taylor.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin McCann comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McCann has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin McCann!