PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andrusha Avel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Avel
vs
Taylor

185 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Andrusha Avel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Connor Taylor!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avel shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Avel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Avel gets a clinch.
Taylor tries to circle away but Avel has him pinned against the cage.
Avel taking a breather.
Avel with a knee to the head.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Avel tries a head kick but it misses.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Taylor prevents a takedown attempt there.
Avel misses with an elbow strike.
Avel is pressed up against the cage. Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Avel down to the mat. Avel avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That kick from Taylor tenderised Avel's leg. Avel is trying to keep his angry face on.
Avel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Taylor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taylor looks winded!
Taylor throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Avel stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Avel shoots in and gets a takedown into Taylor's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Avel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Avel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Taylor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Avel is controlling him.
Avel landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Avel gets to his feet. Taylor looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Avel throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Taylor's head.
Avel tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Avel moves into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Avel.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Avel is controlling the position.

Avel jumps into guard, dragging Taylor to the mat.
Avel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor postures up.

Avel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Avel throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor stands up and waves to Avel to follow him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Avel tries to sprawl but Taylor drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Avel wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Taylor there.
Avel flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Taylor is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Taylor scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Avel kicks off Taylor and gets to his feet.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Avel moves out of range.
Taylor walks forward, straight into a front kick from Avel.
Taylor connects with a crisp jab.
Avel dodges the punch combination from Taylor.
Avel tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor scores with a sloppy right hand. Avel should have avoided that one.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.

Taylor gets tackled into the cage by Avel. Avel maintains the clinch.

Avel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor throws a lazy right hand but Avel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Avel wants to clinch.
Taylor takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Avel throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.
Taylor comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Avel takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Avel doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Avel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Avel fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor moves into range and clinches up with Avel.
Avel lands a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Taylor as Avel tries to tie him up.
Avel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Avel misses with an elbow strike.
Avel jumps guard but Taylor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrusha Avel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
Taylor blocks a head kick by Avel.
Taylor lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Avel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Taylor to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Avel wants to get back to his feet but Taylor is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Avel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Avel 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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andrusha Avel will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taylor cracks Avel with a good jab.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Andrusha Avel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Avel tries to clinch up.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Avel scores with a head kick.
Avel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taylor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Avel on the side of the head.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Avel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Avel tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Taylor gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Avel looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Avel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Avel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Avel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor wants to stand but Avel is controlling the position.
Avel lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Avel distracts Taylor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Avel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Avel cracks Taylor with a solid left hand.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Avel.

Taylor uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Avel.
Avel moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avel tries to clinch up.
Avel tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor scores with a jab to the jaw.

Avel has taken the fight to the clinch.
Avel pushes off an throws an elbow but Taylor leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Avel looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Avel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor is working for takedown but Avel is calmly controlling the position for now.
Taylor working hard to break the clinch.
Avel misses with a knee strike.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
Avel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Taylor is trying to force a seperation but Avel has the dominant position.

Avel breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avel doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Avel.
Avel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor avoids the head kick by Avel.

Avel rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Avel.
Avel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Avel.
Avel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor with a hook.
Avel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Avel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor connects with a looping right hand.
Avel wants to clinch.

Avel closes the distance and clinches.
Avel lands an elbow inside.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Avel doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Taylor stalks Avel and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Avel's face. Avel staggers backwards, shaken.
Avel fails in his attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Avel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Avel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Taylor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrusha Avel dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Taylor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Avel is looking to clinch.
Avel shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Avel forces Taylor back against the cage and clinches.
Avel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Taylor stops a takedown attempt from Avel.
Avel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Avel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Avel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Avel.
Avel jumps guard but Taylor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrusha Avel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor can't break the clinch.
Avel misses with a knee to the head.
Avel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Taylor's defenses.

Taylor manages to pull guard.
Taylor has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avel stopping the sweep attempt from Taylor.
Avel wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Avel preventing the sweep.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taylor looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Avel tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Avel tries a head kick but it misses.
Andrusha Avel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Avel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to avoid it but Avel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taylor to the ground. Taylor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Avel tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Avel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Taylor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Avel. Avel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Avel looks for a takedown but Taylor sprawls well.
Taylor throws a leg kick but Avel checks it.
Avel tries to clinch up.
Avel tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Avel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Avel there as he acknowledges the shot.
Avel is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Avel closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Avel pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Taylor manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Avel on his heels. He'll look to pass Avel's guard now, I'm sure.
Avel wants to stand and escape but Taylor is having none of it.

Taylor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taylor.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Avel is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
Avel tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Avel stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Taylor.
Avel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.

Avel moves into the clinch.
Avel misses with an elbow over the top.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Avel clinches up with Taylor and pushes him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Avel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Taylor lands an uppercut.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Avel.
Avel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Avel misses with a knee strike.
Avel wants to get back to striking at distance but Taylor won't allow it.
Avel jumps guard but Taylor stands there with Avel around his waist. Avel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Avel has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Taylor after a bit of a struggle.
Avel unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Andrusha Avel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Taylor clinches.
Taylor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Connor Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Connor Taylor.
Well Avel 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrusha Avel!