PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Badri Dadiani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dadiani
vs
Taylor

171 cm
18
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
27
169 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Hates pizza

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Badri Dadiani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keith Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dadiani counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dadiani missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Taylor gets full guard.
Dadiani wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Dadiani seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Dadiani loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is controlling Dadiani's posture.
Dadiani trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dadiani throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dadiani preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dadiani tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Dadiani.
Taylor changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Dadiani has a takedown stuffed.
Dadiani tries to move into range but Taylor moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
No luck for Dadiani with that takedown attempt.
We've been informed that Taylor has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Dadiani misses with a hook.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt - Dadiani sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dadiani bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dadiani feinted with a counter takedown.
Taylor throws a left and a right that both miss

and Dadiani counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
Taylor is controlling Dadiani's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
Taylor tries to get to full guard but Dadiani has control of the leg.
Dadiani working over Taylor with some ground and pound. Taylor looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor keeping hold of Dadiani's head, controlling as best he can.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
Dadiani thows a huge punch but Taylor dodges it nicely.
Dadiani sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taylor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dadiani.
Dadiani misses with a straight right.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Dadiani drops down looking for a counter takedown but Taylor sprawls and moves away.
Good standup being displayed there by Dadiani as he connects with a hook.
Dadiani slips a jab from Taylor.
Dadiani keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taylor.
Dadiani looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dadiani will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taylor misses with a hook.
Dadiani changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Taylor takes a jab right on the kisser.
Taylor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dadiani.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Dadiani is just out of range.
Dadiani misses with a wild body shot.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taylor throws a lazy right hand but Dadiani sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor throws a shot from downtown. Dadiani moves away and avoids it.
Taylor jabs Dadiani right on the nose. Dadiani blinks but takes it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Dadiani shows good takedown defense.

Taylor gets caught napping as Dadiani dives in and scores a takedown. Taylor manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badri Dadiani dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dadiani scores with a jab to the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Dadiani.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dadiani fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dadiani defending well as Taylor loads up on a big left hand.
Taylor getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Taylor lands an overhand right.
Dadiani cracks Taylor with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Taylor keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Taylor lands the left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor works over Dadiani's head and body with a nice combination.
Dadiani feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Taylors jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A slow jab from Taylor misses its intended target.

Dadiani shoots in and bounces Taylor off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dadiani is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dadiani trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taylor has momentary wrist control but Dadiani slips an elbow through the middle.
Dadiani scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dadiani trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dadiani accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taylor is pulling down on Dadiani's head. It's preventing any offense from Dadiani, at least for the moment.
Dadiani sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Dadiani won't allow Taylor to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Keith Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dadiani scores with a decent looking hook.
Dadiani is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taylor can do to turn this around?

Dadiani throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Dadiani finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Dadiani with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dadiani postures up.
Dadiani pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
Dadiani content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dadiani with a flurry of punches that miss.
Taylor keeping full guard, as Dadiani tries to pass.
Dadiani postures up.
Badri Dadiani overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dadiani working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Taylor's head.
Dadiani missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Dadiani from controlling successfully.
Dadiani stopping the sweep attempt from Taylor.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A slow jab from Dadiani misses its intended target.
Taylor leaves Dadiani with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dadiani bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dadiani scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dadiani feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badri Dadiani dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Dadiani thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dadiani throws the left hand but Taylor avoids the punch easily.

Dadiani shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Taylor napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Taylor tries to bench press Dadiani off him but Dadiani keeps the position.
Taylor manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Taylor looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Taylor stalling away here and it's allowed Dadiani to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Dadiani keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Dadiani working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Dadiani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taylor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dadiani looking for a sweep. Not yet Dadiani, not yet.
Taylor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taylor with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dadiani looking to control.
Taylor trying to control but Dadiani is working from the bottom.
Taylor throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taylor scores with the left hand. Dadiani knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice straight punches there by Dadiani. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dadiani.
Taylor uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Dadiani takes a jab right on the kisser.
Taylor throws a body punch but Dadiani moves out of range.
Jab by Taylor.
Dadiani throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Taylor walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Keith Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dadiani throws a lazy right hand but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taylor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dadiani was well out of range. Poor timing from Taylor.
Dadiani connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Taylor momentarily.
Taylor looks to throw the jab but Dadiani is out of range.
Dadiani feinted with a counter takedown.
Dadiani waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taylor.
Keith Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dadiani scores with a jab to the head.
Dadiani steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taylor.
Dadiani is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Dadiani connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Taylor momentarily.
Dadiani lands with an uppercut that bounces Taylor off the cage and back into range.
Taylor throws a shot from downtown. Dadiani moves away and avoids it.
Dadiani has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dadiani there as he acknowledges the shot.
Taylor thows a left - swing and a miss!
A combination from Dadiani does no damage.

Dadiani is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Taylor's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dadiani thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor wants to control but Dadiani is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dadiani trying to mount his opponent but Taylor defends it.
Taylor wants to control but Dadiani is keeping busy.
Dadiani with the ground and pound but Taylor uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Dadiani is fighting to break Taylor's control of his arms but Taylor is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Badri Dadiani.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dadiani, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

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