PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Araujo comes into the arena with Who Shot Ya? blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Araujo
vs
Taylor

187 cm
24
214 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

180 cm
35
205 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luiz Araujo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor throws a big shot that misses.
Araujo swinging wildly here.
Taylor takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Araujo misses with a wild body shot.
Araujo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Taylor jabs Araujo right on the nose. Araujo blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo loads up on a big right hand but Taylor slips the punch.
Araujo throws a sloppy head kick

and Taylor moves into the clinch.
Taylor looking for a takedown.

Taylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Taylor.
Araujo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taylor.
Luiz Araujo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Araujo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Taylor misses with a hook.
Taylor works Araujo's body with a nice hook.
Araujo throws the kick towards the body but Taylor avoids it.
Taylor lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Araujo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Taylor just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromAraujo.
Taylor takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Araujo connects with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo tries to work over Taylor's front leg with a kick but Taylor checks it.
Taylor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Araujo on the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good shot there by Araujo.
Araujo missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice sprawl there from Araujo as Taylor shoots in.
Luiz Araujo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Taylor.
Araujo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Araujo throws a left and a right that both miss

and Taylor counters with a single leg into guard. Araujo didn't expect that.
Araujo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Araujo pulls Taylor in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Araujo has a closed guard, preventing Taylor from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo is pulling down on Taylor's head. It's preventing any offense from Taylor, at least for the moment.
Taylor throws a strike but Araujo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Araujo trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Araujo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Araujo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
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 keeping moving, preventing Araujo from controlling successfully.
Araujo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Taylor is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Taylor looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Araujo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Araujo throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Araujo circles away quickly and effectively.
Araujo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Taylor is out of range and Araujo settles back down.
Luiz Araujo is winning the standup battle so far.
Taylor slips a jab from Araujo.
Araujo walks into a stiff left hand from Taylor.
Donk. Taylor catches Araujo right on the button with a cross.
A head kick by Araujo misses

and Taylor counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taylor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taylor's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taylor slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Araujo is retaining full guard.
Taylor postures up and lands a big shot to Araujo's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taylor is one step ahead there.

Taylor got a little sloppy there for a moment and Araujo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Taylor has managed to get both his arms back between Araujo's legs - danger averted.
Araujo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taylor.
Araujo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taylor's guard.

Araujo trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Araujo lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Araujo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
Araujo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Araujo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ryan Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Araujo with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Some wild striking there from Araujo.
Taylor feints the counter takedown.
Taylor goes for a double leg but Araujo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Araujo continues to drive forward.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Araujo circles away quickly and effectively.
Araujo throws a right hand that Taylor ducks under and follows up with a left that Taylor also avoids with ease.
Taylor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Araujo defends it well.
Araujo misses with a head kick.
Taylor with the counter takedown but Araujo avoids it easily.
Araujo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araujo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A nice combination there by Taylor.
Araujo looks to score with a jab to the body but Taylor is just out of range.
Taylor feints the counter takedown.
Araujo tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taylor is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Taylor throws the left hand but Araujo avoids the punch easily.
A head kick from Araujo lands but Taylor takes it in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Araujo looks to throw the jab but Taylor is out of range.
Taylor steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Araujo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Araujo's calf.
Taylor avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Taylor is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Araujo with a body shot.
Araujo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Taylor will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Araujo throws a head kick that misses.
Araujo throws a right and a left that Taylor avoids nicely.
Taylor scores with a three punch combo!
A looping hook to the body misses from Araujo. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Araujo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Taylor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Araujo defends it well.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.
Araujo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor looks to land a left hand but Araujo moved out of range nicely.
Araujo throws a quick counter head kick but Taylor was just out of range.
Taylor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Araujo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Taylor on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Taylor as he connects with a hook.
Araujo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taylor manages to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Araujo.
Taylor tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Araujo throws a head kick that misses.
Araujo scores with a nice strike.
A big right from Araujo misses.
Taylor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Araujo pinned against the cage. Araujo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Araujo throwing a counter right hand but Taylor manages to avoid it.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Luiz Araujo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taylor.
Taylor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Araujo defends it well.
Araujo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Araujo throws a solid leg kick but Taylor takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Araujo.
And Taylor tries to counter it with a takedown but Araujo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Luiz Araujo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taylor scores with a hook to the body. Araujo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Araujo.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
It looked like Araujo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Araujo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice defenses there by Taylor.
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Araujo.
It looked like Araujo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Araujo misses with a combination
letting Taylor counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a shot to the body.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Araujo throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Taylor shoots in looking for a takedown. Araujo tries to sprawl out of it but Taylor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Araujo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taylor walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araujo throws a low kick, looking for Taylor's leg but Taylor calmly moves out of range.
Taylor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Araujo throws a body punch but Taylor moves out of range.
Araujo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Araujo misses with a head kick.
A punch combination from Araujo misses.
Araujo misses with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryan 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28

The fight is ruled a draw!