PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Adams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor has chosen This Fire Burns as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Samuel Adams looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Adams
vs
Taylor

190 cm
21
260 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

190 cm
28
240 lbs
4 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Samuel Adams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shawn Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Taylor as Adams shoots in.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Adams.
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Adams circles away.
Adams tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Adams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Adams tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Adams to the ground. Adams escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Adams closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Adams is breathing heavily.
Taylor wants to improve his position but Adams is controlling well.
Taylor is trying to maintain the position but Adams is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adams is trying to control. Taylor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Adams thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taylor's head.
Taylor is not content to let Adams control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is pressing down on Adams's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Adams manages to get himself to full guard.

Taylor wants to control from the top but Adams keeps moving.
Adams is controlling Taylor's posture.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Adams keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adams wants to sweep but no luck.
Adams bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taylor's guard.

Adams throws a big elbow that misses.
Taylor lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Taylor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Adams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adams controls Taylor momentarily but Taylor frees himself.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but Adams has wrist control.
Taylor preventing the sweep.
Adams bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taylor's guard.

Adams won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
We've been hearing that Adams has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor controls Adams momentarily but Adams frees himself.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor keeps trying to improve his position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Adams accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adams chips away with some ground and pound.
Adams throws an elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Adams's guard. Nice move by Taylor!

Adams controls Taylor momentarily but Taylor frees himself.
Adams wants to sweep but no luck.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Adams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Adams has his feet on Taylor's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Adams doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Taylor counters with a series of strikes. Adams will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice sprawl there from Taylor as Adams shoots in.
Adams doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shawn Taylor will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Taylor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Taylor is looking to land body kicks.
Taylor dives in for a single leg takedown but Adams sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Adams fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Adams goes for a double leg but Taylor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Taylor continues to drive forward.
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taylor cracks Adams with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Samuel Adams has been cut.
Adams stuffs the takedown.
Taylor throws a head kick but Adams moves out of range.
Adams tries for a takedown but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Adams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adams moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Taylor fails to land the takedown.
It looked like Adams was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Samuel Adams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Taylor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Adams circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Taylor. No joy for Adams on that attempt.
Taylor thuds a left hand into Adams's body.
Taylor misses with a low kick as Adams jumps back.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Adams paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Adams circles away and keeps his distance.
Adams 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 wants to clinch up but Adams keeps it at a distance.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Adams as he jumps to the side.
Taylor darts in looking for a takedown but Adams gets double underhooks and turns Taylor into the cage.
Adams shoots in looking for a takedown but Taylor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Adams's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adams fails to land the takedown.
Taylor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Taylor lands with a nice body punch.
Adams takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Adams clinches up against the cage.

Taylor pulls Adams into guard.
Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taylor controls Adams momentarily but Adams frees himself.

Adams drops back looking for a leg! Taylor is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Taylor manages to kick Adams off! Adams jumps back into Taylor's guard.
Adams wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.
Adams has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taylor is proving hard to escape from.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Adams postures up.
Adams chips away with some ground and pound.
Taylor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Adams's guard.

Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Adams swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Adams not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Adams.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but Adams has wrist control.
Taylor preventing the sweep.
Taylor wants to get up but he can't break Adams's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Adams fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taylor avoids it really well and circles away.
Adams circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor slaps away a takedown attempt from Adams, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Samuel Adams's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taylor.
Shawn Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taylor walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Adams checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.

Adams has taken the fight to the clinch.
Taylor stops a takedown attempt from Adams.

Adams lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Samuel Adams overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Adams stops Taylor from getting back to his feet.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is doing well to control the position and prevent Adams from advancing to side control.
Taylor tries to roll over but Adams keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is pressing down on Adams's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Taylor trying to keep a closed guard but Adams is proving a slippery customer.
Adams trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Adams pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
Adams wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Adams throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Adams finishes the takedown easily into guard.
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.
Adams lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Adams postures up.
Adams missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Adams.
Adams loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to keep Adams in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Adams feinted with a counter takedown.
Adams shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taylor as he avoids it easily.
Adams has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Adams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor tries a head kick but it misses.
Adams shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Taylor but Taylor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Adams's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Taylor connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Adams scrambles back to his feet.
Taylor fails with the takedown.
Taylor slaps away a takedown attempt from Adams, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Taylor throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor dips to his left and cracks Adams with an uppercut!
Taylor lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Taylor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Adams.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Adams moves out of range easily.
Samuel Adams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Taylor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Adams looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Taylor is looking to stand up but Adams isn't so interested in that idea.
Shawn Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taylor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shawn Taylor.
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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shawn Taylor!
Shawn Taylor seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.