PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Sichev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan 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.

Sichev
vs
Taylor

207 cm
31
221 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

180 cm
29
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Sichev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor misses with a straight right.
Sichev shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Sichev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sichev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Taylor with a hook.
Taylor scores with a jab.
Sichev closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Sichev pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taylor lands a jab.
Taylor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Taylor scoring well with a low kick there.
A lazy left from Taylor finds it's target.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
A shot to the liver by Taylor. Beautiful body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sichev was well out of range. Poor timing from Taylor.
Sichev 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 stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Taylor throws the left hand but Sichev avoids the punch easily.
Sichev really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sichev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sichev gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Sichev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Taylor throws a hook but Sichev blocks it.
Taylor bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sichev's head.
Sichev takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Taylor looks to throw the jab but Sichev is out of range.
Sichev has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Academy of Combat in the buildup to the fight.
Sichev slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
Taylor's corner calls for a 1-2. Taylor obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sichev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taylor pinned against the cage. Taylor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Taylor has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Taylor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sichev.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Taylor tries to escape but Sichev is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sichev wants to stand but Taylor is controlling his arm.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sichev scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Taylor to see if he's OK.
Sichev is chipping away with strikes.
Sichev working the ground and pound but Taylor is defending the strikes.
Sichev prevents Taylor from escaping the position.
Sichev working the ground and pound.
Taylor is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Sichev throws a strike aimed at the side of Taylor's head but Taylor avoids it well.
Sichev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sichev grinds an elbow into Taylor's temple.
Sichev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sloppy strikes there by Sichev.
The ground and pound from Sichev seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sichev sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Taylor is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Taylor is pushing Sichev's head away, looking to escape. Sichev manages to hold on to the position though.
Sichev lands a few punches from side control.
Sichev looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Taylor is avoiding damage well.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
Taylor parries the strikes from Sichev easily there. Sichev is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Taylor to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sichev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sichev throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sichev lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sichev in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Taylor wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Sichev tries for a kimura but Taylor is defending well.
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 Yuri Sichev will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Taylor throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Sichev circles away.

Sichev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Taylor wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sichev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Taylor managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sichev.

Sichev swings around for an armbar but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sichev's guard.
Sichev tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sichev is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Taylor frees his head nicely. Oh but Sichev has switched to an armbar! Taylor is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Yuri Sichev!