PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Greg Bice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernhard Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Greg Bice has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Bice
vs
Taylor

199 cm
24
186 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

188 cm
26
187 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

World class MT
Cardio machine

Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Greg Bice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left lands for Taylor.
A big left from Bice misses.
Bice fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.
Bice with a knee to the head.
Bice trying to control the position but instead, Taylor has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bice into the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bice.
Bice tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Taylor is pushing Bice up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Taylor lands a right hand.
Taylor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bice avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Taylor throws an elbow but misses.
Taylor is looking to control Bice's arms but Bice gets an underhook and turns him. Now Taylor has his back to the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bice up against the ropes.
Bice utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bice throws an elbow that misses.
Taylor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Taylor lands a good knee to the midsection. Bice won't want to take too many of those.
Bice on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short right from Taylor.
Taylor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taylor lands a good knee to the midsection. Bice won't want to take too many of those.
Taylor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bice misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bice doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taylor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor lands a good knee to the midsection. Bice won't want to take too many of those.
I was talking to Bice's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taylor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Taylor scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bice taking a breather.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bice.
Bice doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bice utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Bice.
Bice comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bice tries to land knees in the clinch but Taylor avoids the damage to the body.
Bice misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Bice blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bice prevents a body shot from Taylor.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bice's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard Taylor dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taylor blocks a head kick by Bice.
Bice uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A swing and a miss from Bice.
Bice lands with a hook. Taylor tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bernhard Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bice tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bice takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Taylor connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bice on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Bice is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bice fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Taylor.
Taylor jabs Bice to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Taylor takes one to the side of the head.
Bice connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Taylor feints and then cracks Bice's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bice down.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor staying out of range there.
Taylor looks to throw the jab but Bice is out of range.
Bice misses with a looping left.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bice takes one to the side of the head.
Bice feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Taylors jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Taylor darts in and clinches Bice up against the ropes.
A hook to the body from Taylor.
Bice missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Taylor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Taylor misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bice.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taylor lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bice backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bice lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bice tries a body shot but Taylor blocks it.
Bernhard Taylor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bice is trying to maintain a safe position but Taylor gets an underhook and turns Bice into the ropes.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bice.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Taylor as Bice tries to tie him up.
Bice really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
Bice is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Taylor tries to land knees in the clinch but Bice avoids the damage to the body.
Taylor can't find room to land a body shot as Bice controls the action.
Bice blocks an elbow strike.
A shot in the inside from Taylor.
Taylor controlling the action here for a moment.
Bice trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bice avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
Bice with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bice uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taylor.

Taylor forces Bice back against the ropes and clinches.
Taylor avoiding damage as Bice throws knees to the body.
Taylor misses with a punch to the body.
Bice on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Greg Bice has been cut.
Taylor content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Taylor struggles to land a body shot inside as Bice controls his hands.
Bice throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bice managing to block the knees to the body from Taylor.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
Bice has a couple of punches blocked by Taylor.
Bice blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor lands a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bice tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bice tries a body shot but Taylor blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taylor throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bices head.
A short uppercut from Taylor.
Bice tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taylor avoids it.
Bice blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Taylor lands a left hand.
Bice misses with a knee strike.
Taylor stalling in the clinch.
Taylor blocking some punches.
A knee to the head by Bice.
A short uppercut from Taylor.
Oh Bice is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bice tries a body shot but Taylor blocks it.
Bice seems to have got his legs back now.
Taylor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Taylor breaks the clinch momentarily and cracks Bice with a big right hook that drops him to the canvas! Bice looks like he might be in big trouble here! The referee has started the count straight away and we're up to 5 already. Bice get to one knee - can he make it back to his feet? Yes, he's struggled back up to his feet and seems OK to continue. The referee agrees so we're back to the action!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bice is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Bernhard Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bice defending well as Taylor loads up on a big left hand.
Taylor avoids the body shot from Bice.
Bice takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Taylor rushes Bice and presses him up against the ropes.
Bice is trying to maintain a safe position but Taylor gets an underhook and turns Bice into the ropes.
Taylor scores with a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Taylor creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Bice.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bice.
A short body shot lands from Taylor as the two fighters clinch.
Taylor pushes Bice back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor wants to stall.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A hook to the body from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard Taylor takes the third round.
The cut man is working on Greg Bice's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taylor misses with a straight left.
Taylor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bice misses with a double jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Taylor. That snapped Bice's head back.
Bice steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taylor.
Bice takes a swing at Taylor's ribcage but misses.
Taylor scores with a decent looking hook.
Taylor takes one on the button.
Bice feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Taylors jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Bice doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Bice is looking to slow Taylor down with leg kicks.
Bice tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Bice.
Bice misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor looks to land a left hand but Bice moved out of range nicely.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bice.
Taylor lands a leg kick that knocks Bice off balance momentarily.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Taylor tries a head kick but it misses.

Taylor clinches with his opponent.
Taylor lands with a left to the head.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bice avoids it.
Taylor lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bice or not.
Taylor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Bice.
Bice prevents a body shot from Taylor.
Bice lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bice cracks Taylor with a nice body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bice tries to work over Taylor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bice fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Taylor.
Nice body punch from Taylor.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bice goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taylor lands a right hand.
Bice's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Taylor gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Taylor tries to land knees in the clinch but Bice avoids the damage to the body.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bice.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor stalling against the ropes.
Bice with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bice managing to block the knees to the body from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard Taylor dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Greg Bice's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Bice fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big left from Taylor misses.
Bice throws a push kick but Taylor slaps the foot to one side.
Bice takes a swing at Taylor's ribcage but misses.
Bice throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
A left and a right from Taylor both land. Nice combination.
Bice doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Bice takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bice is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
Taylor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bice swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bice cracks Taylor with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor lands with a good body shot.
Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bice throws a nice head kick!
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Bice circles away.
Bice checks a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bice tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Bernhard Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bice tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Bice thows a body shot but no joy.
Bice drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bice throws a predictable looking body shot
and Taylor counters with a thumping low kick.
Bice tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bice moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bice throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor looks to land a combination. Bice sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Bice slips under a jab.
Taylor throws a hook but Bice avoids it easily.
Greg Bice has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Taylor connects with a body shot.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor looks to land a left hand but Bice moved out of range nicely.
Taylor throws a leg kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body punch from Taylor.
Taylor lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taylor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick
and Bice counters with a good low kick that Taylor was not able to check.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernhard Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taylor 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 44:50
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 44:50
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernhard Taylor!
Bernhard Taylor made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'Greg Bice, you weren't good enough to fight with The Thunder Squad, your run was sweet, but Thunder taught me how to beat you!'.