PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Blackbeard The Pirate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tat Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

The Pirate
vs
Taylor

174 cm
31
148 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

175 cm
27
155 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blackbeard The Pirate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tat Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor throws a head kick but The Pirate moves out of range.
The Pirate throws out a leg kick but Taylor moves out of range and The Pirate only half commits.
Taylor wants to clinch up but The Pirate keeps it at a distance.
The Pirate is looking to counter with a body kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Taylor 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.
Taylor lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Taylor throws the left hand but The Pirate avoids the punch easily.
The Pirate was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
The Pirate misses with a looping left.
Taylor with the counter takedown but The Pirate avoids it easily.
Taylor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps The Pirate's head backwards.
The Pirate throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The Pirate sizes up Taylor with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Taylor throws a shot to the body.
Taylor scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. The Pirate doesn't seem bothered though.
The Pirate slips under a jab.
Taylor avoids the head kick by The Pirate.
Taylor scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The Pirate dips to his left and cracks Taylor with an uppercut!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor misses with a leg kick.
Taylor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to clinch there but The Pirate circles away.
Taylor misses with a wild body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Taylor.
The Pirate avoids the head kick by Taylor.
The Pirate with a jab.
Taylor misses with a body kick.
The Pirate scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Taylor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Taylor looks to land a body kick but The Pirate moved away.
The Pirate slips under a jab from Taylor.
The Pirate moves to clinch but Taylor breaks away

and Taylor counters with a shoot takedown. The Pirate fights it but they end up in guard.
The Pirate utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taylor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The Pirate looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The Pirate is working hard here to advance position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The Pirate tries a low kick but Taylor avoids it.
Taylor tries to clinch up but The Pirate circles away and keeps his distance.
The Pirate is looking to counter punch.
Taylor catches The Pirate with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

The Pirate closes the distance and pushes Taylor back into the cage.
The Pirate misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
The Pirate tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taylor avoids it.
Taylor tries a body shot but The Pirate blocks it.
The Pirate fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from The Pirate fails to land.
The Pirate misses with a short punch on the inside.
The Pirate avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
The Pirate throws a punch but it's blocked by Taylor.
The Pirate throws a punch but it's blocked by Taylor.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The Pirate prevents a body shot from Taylor.
Taylor misses with a knee strike.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and The Pirate avoids it.
The Pirate fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor has The Pirate pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. The Pirate manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Taylor misses with the head strike.
Taylor is trying to drag The Pirate to the mat but The Pirate just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate prevents a body shot from Taylor.
Taylor throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Taylor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The Pirate makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The Pirate tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for The Pirate.
The Pirate blocking some punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The Pirate lands a left hand.
Taylor misses with a punch on the inside.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
The Pirate unloads a knee to the mid-section. Taylor lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
I was talking to The Pirate's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Taylor has a couple of punches blocked by The Pirate.
The Pirate misses with some punches.
The Pirate scores with a shot to the side of Taylor's head.
The Pirate misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and The Pirate avoids it.
The Pirate looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tat Taylor will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taylor fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and The Pirate has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The Pirate pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The Pirate throws a big shot that misses.
Taylor throws an uppercut from half a mile away. The Pirate sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
The Pirate uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taylor.
The Pirate is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Taylor.
Tat Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taylor throws a low kick but it's checked well by The Pirate.
Taylor feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to The Pirate's calf.
Taylor connects with a body shot.
Taylor lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The Pirate displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taylor throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor tries to score with a low kick but The Pirate moves his leg out of the way.
Taylor throws a front kick aimed at The Pirate's knee but The Pirate avoids it well.
The Pirate looks to score with a jab to the body but Taylor is just out of range.
Taylor stuns The Pirate with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Taylor misses with a hook
and The Pirate counters with a good, hard body kick but Taylor shrugs it off.
The Pirate pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by The Pirate.
The Pirate on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Taylor. Taylor obviously looking to wear him down.
The Pirate lands a nice leg kick that just misses Taylor's sensitive parts.
The Pirate staying out of range there.
Taylor avoids a kick to the body.
The Pirate slips a jab from Taylor.
The Pirate misses with a straight right.
The Pirate throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
The Pirate throws a quick inside leg kick.
Taylor misses with a body shot.
Taylor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Taylor throws a leg kick that misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for The Pirate.
Taylor misses with a leg kick
and Taylor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Taylor shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The Pirate wants to get back to full guard but Taylor has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate tries to improve position but can't.
Taylor scores with a couple of short elbows.
Taylor landing a few strikes.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but The Pirate is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The Pirate regains half guard, as Taylor was trying to land strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taylor is working away from the top position though.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Taylor seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The Pirate is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taylor trying to control the action but The Pirate is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The Pirate is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The Pirate trying to control here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Taylor is trying to control. The Pirate wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Taylor with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Taylor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Taylor tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and The Pirate is able to avoid easily.
The Pirate swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The Pirate tries to score with a low kick but Taylor moves his leg out of the way.
The Pirate throws a body kick that misses.
The Pirate fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Taylor.
The Pirate takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Taylor misses with a hook to the body
and The Pirate counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tat Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

The Pirate lands with a nice body kick.
The Pirate scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The Pirate throws a jab but it's blocked by Taylor.
The Pirate finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The Pirate tries a head kick but it misses.
The Pirate takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The Pirate moves out of range of the body kick from Taylor.
Taylor throws the kick towards the body but The Pirate avoids it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as The Pirate checks a leg kick.
Taylor tries to land a body kick
and The Pirate counters with a straight right hand.
Taylor swings for the body but The Pirate moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Pirate cracks the inside of Taylor's front leg.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Taylor gets tackled into the cage by The Pirate. The Pirate maintains the clinch.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Pirate lands a shoulder strike.
Taylor throws a blind hook that connects with the side of The Pirates head.
The Pirate misses with the head strike.
Taylor throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The Pirate working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The Pirate missing with knees to the body.
A short uppercut from The Pirate.
The Pirate with a knee to the head.
The Pirate is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Taylor content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Taylor's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The Pirate lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taylor lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The Pirate misses with some punches.
The Pirate stalling in the clinch but Taylor improves position.
Taylor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor scores with a nice hook to the head.
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!
Taylor is working The Pirate over against the cage.
The Pirate softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Taylor tries to land knees in the clinch but The Pirate avoids the damage to the body.
The Pirate lands with a short head shot on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Taylor just misses with a elbow thrown towards The Pirate's brow.
The Pirate with a knee to the head.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Taylor landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The Pirate blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The Pirate with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as The Pirate takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The Pirate looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
The Pirate scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Taylor trying to stall but The Pirate improves his position.
The Pirate misses with a punch on the inside.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The Pirate scores with a nice hook to the head.
Taylor tries a body shot but The Pirate blocks it.
The Pirate misses with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor misses with a knee to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from The Pirate.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The Pirate tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Taylor tries to stall but The Pirate uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The Pirate trying to stall but Taylor improves his position.
Taylor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by The Pirate.
The Pirate tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taylor avoids it.
Taylor being controlled against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
The Pirate connects with a knee to the head.
Taylor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The Pirate on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short uppercut from The Pirate.
The Pirate on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Taylor is trying to work for a single leg takedown but The Pirate pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The Pirate prevents a body shot from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blackbeard The Pirate clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The Pirate missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taylor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The Pirate seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Taylor misses with a low kick as The Pirate jumps back.
It appears The Pirate was looking to counter with a kick there.
The Pirate tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

The Pirate has Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
The Pirate scores with a shot to the side of Taylor's head.
Taylor is working for takedown but The Pirate is calmly controlling the position for now.
The Pirate trying to control the position but instead, Taylor has worked for underhooks and has pushed The Pirate into the cage.
The Pirate blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for The Pirate to work.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and The Pirate avoids it.
The Pirate scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The Pirate avoids a wild elbow strike from Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Taylor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Taylor.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The Pirate taking a breather.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The Pirate is pushing Taylor up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A quick uppercut on the inside from The Pirate.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taylor throws a knee to the head but misses.
The Pirate scores with a nice hook to the head.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate has a couple of punches blocked by Taylor.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but The Pirate avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from The Pirate.
The Pirate softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The Pirate blocks an uppercut.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from The Pirate.
The Pirate is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Taylor is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Taylor fails to land.
The Pirate lands with a right to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, The Pirate creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The Pirate scores with a shoulder strike.
Taylor misses with an elbow strike.
The Pirate blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blackbeard The Pirate has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The Pirate blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The Pirate lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor swings wildly with an uppercut but The Pirate uses good head movement to avoid it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The Pirate lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Taylor misses with the head strike.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but The Pirate avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the cage.
Taylor throws an elbow that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short right from The Pirate.
A head punch on the inside from Taylor fails to land.
The Pirate landing knees to the body.
The Pirate lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Taylor misses with some punches.
The Pirate throws a punch but it's blocked by Taylor.
The Pirate scores with a knee to the head.
Taylor pushes off an throws an elbow but The Pirate leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Taylor is rocked!
Taylor is leaning against The Pirate and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The Pirate working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taylor is still on wobbly legs! Can The Pirate finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor blocking some punches.
Taylor seems to have recovered his senses.
Taylor is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Taylor lands an elbow inside that The Pirate shrugs off.
The Pirate tries to land a knee to the head but Taylor blocks with his arms.
Taylor lands a body shot.
The Pirate lands with a short shot to the head.
The Pirate stalling in the clinch but Taylor improves position.
The Pirate has a couple of punches blocked by Taylor.
Taylor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. The Pirate is defending well for now.
The Pirate blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The Pirate blocks a body shot from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blackbeard The Pirate had his way with Tat Taylor in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Taylor throws a leg kick but The Pirate sees it coming and moves out of range.
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The Pirate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The Pirate scores with a leg kick.
Taylor feints and then cracks The Pirate's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow The Pirate down.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by The Pirate.
Taylor takes a swing at The Pirate's ribcage but misses.
The Pirate tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A good leg kick by The Pirate.
Taylor throws a leg kick which misses The Pirate's front leg but catches the back leg as The Pirate tries to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is looking to clinch.
The Pirate throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The Pirate throws a leg kick but Taylor moved away.
Taylor connects with a body shot that sends The Pirate's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Taylor shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The Pirate on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Taylor prevents The Pirate from improving his position.
The Pirate trying to control but Taylor postures up.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The Pirate regains full guard. Nicely done.
Taylor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from The Pirate.
The Pirate utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The Pirate keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taylor is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down The Pirate rather than just go for the knockout.
The Pirate tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor misses with a low kick.
Taylor cracks a nice hook into The Pirate's ribs.
Taylor swings for the body but The Pirate moves out of range.
A jab from Taylor misses.
Taylor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The Pirate misses with a leg kick

and Taylor counters by clinching up.
The Pirate fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate pushes Taylor back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The Pirate looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Taylor content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Taylor gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Taylor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The Pirate makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The Pirate tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taylor avoids it.
Taylor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The Pirate is looking to control Taylor's arms but Taylor gets an underhook and turns him. Now The Pirate has his back to the cage.
Taylor can't find room to land a body shot as The Pirate controls the action.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taylor is trying to maintain a safe position but The Pirate gets an underhook and turns Taylor into the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from The Pirate.
A shot in the inside from The Pirate.
The Pirate gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Taylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The Pirate lands a nice uppercut.
The Pirate putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Taylor in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The Pirate lands with a short shot to the head.
Taylor struggles to land a body shot inside as The Pirate controls his hands.
Taylor stalling in the clinch but The Pirate improves position.
The Pirate throws a head punch that misses.
A short uppercut from The Pirate.
Taylor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The Pirate stalls.
The Pirate with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tat Taylor.
I think Taylor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight for Blackbeard The Pirate!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Blackbeard The Pirate!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Blackbeard The Pirate!

Blackbeard The Pirate wins by unanimous decision!
Blackbeard The Pirate decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.