PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Herald Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuya Mifune (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor comes to the cage accompanied by Smoke the Fire!!. Herald Taylor had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Taylor
vs
Mifune

198 cm
38
129 lbs
11 - 15 - 0

178 cm
21
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Good knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Herald Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tatsuya Mifune!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mifune connects with a right hand. Taylor shakes it off.
Mifune tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Mifune.
Taylor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mifune, as that shot connected.
Mifune swinging wildly here.
Good exchange - Mifune coming out on top.

Taylor has taken the fight to the clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Mifune has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taylor.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Taylor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Mifune scores with a one two! Taylor had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mifune has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mifune there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mifune tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mifune connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.

Taylor has managed to clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taylor.

Mifune wants the takedown. Taylor is fighting it off but Mifune persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Taylor's guard against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taylor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mifune's guard.

Mifune looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mifune looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Taylor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mifune working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taylor.
Mifune manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mifune landing strikes, looking to finish!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Mifune.
Mifune can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taylor is looking to escape.
Taylor tries to reverse the position but Mifune maintains control.
Taylor regains half guard.
Mifune is thwarting Taylor's attempts to control the position.
Mifune prevents Taylor from improving his position.
Mifune sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mifune is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Taylor sees it coming and defends easily.
Mifune tries to pass to full mount but Taylor defends it.
Mifune uses his free foot to push down on Taylor's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Taylor.
Taylor can't escape the position.
Mifune lands a big elbow.
Mifune is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mifune fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Taylor in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Taylor is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor taking shots to the head.
Oh Taylor is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mifune lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Mifune has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taylor flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Mifune pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mifune postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Taylor in real trouble here! The ref calls for Taylor to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tatsuya Mifune!
An out of breath Tatsuya Mifune thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.