PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tony Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Meldrick Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meldrick Taylor acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Benson
vs
Taylor

179 cm
24
190 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

178 cm
23
190 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tony Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Meldrick Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Paulsen Ambrosius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taylor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Benson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Benson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Benson avoids them all with ease.
Benson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benson moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Taylor gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Benson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Taylor is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Meldrick Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Benson throws a good cross that connects.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benson cracks the inside of Taylor's front leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benson wants to land a leg kick but Taylor is out of range.
Benson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Taylor blocks a head kick by Benson.
Benson misses with a head kick.
Benson is breathing heavily.
Taylor connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Benson's hands.
Benson misses with a head kick.
Taylor lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Benson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Taylor throws a one two combo.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Taylor scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor lands a head shot.
Taylor lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Taylor lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Benson backs up against the ropes.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Taylor lands with a cross.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.
Benson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Benson misses with a series of wild punches.
Taylor with a jab.
Benson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Taylor finds it's way round the side to connect with Benson's head.
Taylor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Taylor scores with a punch to the head.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Benson.
Taylor throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Benson takes one on the button.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor lands with a good body shot.
Taylor misses with a two punch combination.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Benson moves out of range.
Taylor tries a head kick but it misses.
Benson throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.
Taylor lands a body shot.
Benson is looking to slow Taylor down with leg kicks.
Taylor moves out of range as Benson strikes.
Taylor cracks Benson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Taylor lands with a nice combination. Benson backs away looking to recover.
Taylor swinging wildly here.
Benson lands a jab to the head.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taylor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Benson dodges the punch combination from Taylor.
Taylor scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson looks for the body kick but Taylor saw that one coming.
Benson wants to clinch.
Taylor works Benson's body with a nice hook.
Benson avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor throws a right and a left that Benson avoids nicely.
A swing and a miss from Benson.
Taylor lands a jab.
Taylor lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Taylor takes one to the chin there.
Taylor is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Benson had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Benson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Benson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Taylor lands with a slapping head kick.
Taylor tries to work over Benson's front leg with a kick but Benson checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Taylor checks it well.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benson tries to land a front kick but Taylor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Taylor closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Benson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Benson.
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!
Benson throws a jab but it's blocked by Taylor.
Benson doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Taylor feints a jab promting Benson to slip. Taylor then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Benson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Benson motions for Taylor to come forward. Benson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Benson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Taylor connects with a body shot that sends Benson's belly button to the back.
Taylor thuds a left hand into Benson's body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Benson eats them both and turns towards Taylor to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Benson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taylor.
Taylor lands a nice hook to Benson's body. Benson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Taylor throws a wild body kick that Benson sees coming a mile off.
Benson throws a good cross that connects.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Meldrick Taylor dominated that round.
That's time! Benson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Benson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Benson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Taylor scores with a nice head shot.
Taylor throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Benson counters with a right hand to the body.
Taylor is working the combinations to good effect here.
Benson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Taylor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benson. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benson on the side of the head.
Benson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Taylor connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Benson scrambles back to his feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taylor.
A head kick misses from Benson.
Taylor lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Taylor lands with a nice body kick.
Taylor misses with a two punch combination.
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benson throws out a loose jab but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good shot there by Taylor.
Taylor scores with a one two! Benson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Tony Benson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries a head kick but it misses.
Benson has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benson circles away quickly and effectively.
Benson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Benson.
Benson tries to land a front kick but Taylor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Taylor swinging wildly here.
Taylor throws a low kick but it's checked well by Benson.
Benson tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Benson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Benson walks into a straight right hand from Taylor.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benson.
Taylor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Benson misses with a low kick as Taylor jumps back.
Taylor works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Taylor avoids the head kick by Benson.
Taylor throws a leg kick but Benson checks it.
Benson throws a low kick, looking for Taylor's leg but Taylor calmly moves out of range.
Taylor lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A slapping leg kick lands for Benson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benson wants to slow Taylor down by chopping away at his legs.
A head kick misses from Taylor.
Benson tries to move into range but Taylor moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the body.
Benson throws a wild body kick that Taylor sees coming a mile off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Taylor.
Benson throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benson scores with a jab. Taylor acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Benson tries to work over Taylor's front leg with a kick but Taylor checks it.
Taylor is looking to slow Benson down with leg kicks.
Benson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Taylor tries a head kick but it misses.
Taylor moves out of range of the strikes.
Taylor scores with a sloppy right hand. Benson should have avoided that one.
Benson on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor works Benson's body with a nice hook.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.

Benson clinches up with Taylor and pushes him back against the ropes.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
Taylor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Meldrick Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benson lands a leg kick that knocks Taylor off balance momentarily.
Benson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Taylor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Benson missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A head kick misses from Taylor.
Taylor throws a right hand that Benson ducks under and follows up with a left that Benson also avoids with ease.
Nice uppercut lands for Taylor. That snapped Benson's head back.
Benson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Benson throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
A jab lands there for Taylor.
Benson is looking to slow Taylor down with leg kicks.
Taylor moves away from the strike by Benson.
Taylor lands a right hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson tries to land a front kick but Taylor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Taylor scores with a three punch combo!
Benson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benson throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
Taylor connects with a single shot there.
Taylor pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Benson back to the ropes. Taylor follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Taylor lands with a good body shot.
Benson scores with a decent looking hook.
Benson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Taylor throws a low kick but Benson avoids it.
Taylor connects with a body shot.
Taylor throws a right and a left that Benson avoids nicely.
Taylor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Taylor throws a body punch but Benson moves out of range.
Benson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Benson.
Taylor avoids the head kick by Benson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Meldrick Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Benson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Taylor lands a nice shot that snaps Benson's head back.
Taylor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Benson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Taylor lands with a straight right. Benson didn't see that one coming.
Taylor keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Taylor throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Benson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Taylor connects with a body shot that sends Benson's belly button to the back.
Benson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Benson tries to land a front kick but Taylor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Taylor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Benson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor throws a good cross that connects.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benson misses with a few strikes there.
Taylor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Decent striking displayed by Taylor there.
Benson with a jab.
Benson slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Taylor.
Benson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Taylor scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Benson doesn't seem bothered though.
Taylor changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taylor. Benson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Taylor lands with a shot to the body.
Benson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Taylor tries to land a front kick but Benson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Benson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taylor circles away quickly and effectively.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Benson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Taylor thuds a left hand into Benson's body.
Benson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Taylor.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benson moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Benson throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor slips a straight right by Benson.
Taylor lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Benson backs up against the ropes.
Taylor scores with a crisp jab that stopped Benson in his tracks.
Taylor's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Taylor duly obliges.
Taylor tries to bum rush Benson with a series of wild strikes but Benson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taylor fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Benson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benson takes one to the chin there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Taylor.
Benson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Taylor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Taylor.
Taylor checks a leg kick.
Benson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Taylor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taylor.
Benson walks into a left hand.
Benson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taylor throws the kick towards the body but Benson avoids it.
Taylor stalks Benson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Benson's face. Benson staggers backwards, shaken.
Taylor misses with a leg kick.
Benson misses with a wild body shot.
Taylor scores with a jab.
Benson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A right-left combo lands from Taylor.
Benson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taylor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Taylor connects with a right hand. Benson shakes it off.
Danga de danga de dang - Benson scores with a four punch combination!
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Taylor is out of range and Benson settles back down.
Taylor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Taylor slips a jab from Benson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benson tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Benson lands with a slapping head kick.
Meldrick Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Benson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Taylor lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
No joy there for Benson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benson throws a jab but it's blocked by Taylor.
Taylor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Benson's head backwards.
Taylor ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Benson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Taylor.
Danga de danga de dang - Taylor scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benson moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Benson moves out of range easily.
Benson misses with a body shot.
Tony Benson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benson on the side of the head.
Taylor moves out of range of the leg kick from Benson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Meldrick Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Taylor winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Meldrick Taylor!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Meldrick Taylor made sure he mentioned Blood Bank ($10), along with how happy he was to win his fight.