PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tat Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rosen Strasser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rosen Strasser will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Taylor
vs
Strasser

175 cm
29
155 lbs
16 - 11 - 1

192 cm
29
159 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Fast

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 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tat Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rosen Strasser!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor tries to clinch there but Strasser circles away.

Taylor clinches up against the cage.
Taylor working aggressively here.
Strasser is trying to break free.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
Strasser is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Strasser blocking some punches.
Taylor misses with the head strike.
Taylor misses with the head strike.
Taylor prevents Strasser from breaking the clinch.
Strasser tries for a takedown but Taylor manages to get underhooks.

Strasser breaks the clinch.
Strasser thuds his shin into the meat of Taylor's side.
Taylor has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Strasser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taylor gets through Strasser's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Strasser's coach down at The Warehouse was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Strasser's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Taylor misses with the head strike.
Taylor misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Strasser tries to pull guard but Taylor forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Taylor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Taylor working aggressively here.
Strasser wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Strasser breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good exchange - Strasser coming out on top.
Strasser ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taylor moves away.
Strasser swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taylor looks to clinch
letting Strasser counter with a right hand.

Taylor closes the distance and pushes Strasser back into the cage.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
Strasser is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Taylor is defending well.
Tat Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rosen Strasser.
Strasser blocks an uppercut.
Taylor swings wildly with an uppercut but Strasser uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Strasser breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Strasser lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Strasser circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nice body kick there by Strasser.
Strasser misses with a jab, cross combination.
Strasser throws a big shot that misses.
Taylor tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Strasser counters with a straight right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Strasser.
We've been told by Taylor's head coaches at Franklin D. Bluth Memorial Supergym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Strasser unleashes a big counter combination but Taylor bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Strasser throws a big shot that misses.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Taylor blocks a jab.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Strasser pushes him off.
Taylor wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Strasser avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Strasser.
Taylor walks into a stiff left hand from Strasser.

Strasser tries to keep at a distance but Taylor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Strasser blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strasser blocks an uppercut.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
Strasser blocking some punches.

Strasser breaks from the clinch.
Strasser tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Strasser.
Taylor has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Strasser finds it's way round the side to connect with Taylor's head.
Strasser lands a really nice looking cross but Taylor seems unphased.
Strasser has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Strasser circles away from the clinch attempt.
Strasser scores with a nice body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Strasser scoring well with a low kick there.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Strasser swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Taylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Strasser tries to circle away but Taylor has him pinned against the cage.

Strasser's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Strasser avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A little jabbing left from Strasser on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Taylor is looking to clinch.
Strasser avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor dodges the punch combination from Strasser.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Strasser pushes him off.
Strasser is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Taylor moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Strasser keeps the fight on the outside.
It seemed like Strasser was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rosen Strasser dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Strasser keeps the fight on the outside.
Strasser lands with an uppercut that bounces Taylor off the cage and back into range.
Strasser swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Strasser looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Strasser tries to score with a low kick but Taylor moves his leg out of the way.
Strasser avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strasser doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Taylor is looking to clinch.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Strasser keeps it at a distance.
Strasser lands a body shot.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Strasser on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Strasser throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Strasser has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strasser's corner calls for a 1-2. Strasser obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Strasser pushes him off.
Taylor closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Taylor is looking to clinch but Strasser is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strasser throws a nice head kick!
Taylor avoids a kick to the body.
Strasser looks for the body kick but Taylor saw that one coming.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Strasser pushes him off.
Strasser scores with a nice head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Strasser circles away and keeps his distance.
Rosen Strasser is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strasser lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taylor circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to clinch but Strasser moves out of range.
Taylor is looking to clinch.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Strasser paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Strasser keeps it at a distance.

Taylor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Strasser, pushing him back against the cage.
Strasser blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Strasser blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Strasser wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Strasser.
Strasser wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taylor has a couple of punches blocked by Strasser.
Strasser tries for a takedown but Taylor manages to get underhooks.
Taylor misses with the head strike.
Strasser blocks an uppercut.
Taylor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strasser blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taylor swings wildly with an uppercut but Strasser uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Strasser blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taylor lands with a short shot to the head.
Strasser blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Taylor fails to land.
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!
Strasser blocking some punches.
Strasser blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Strasser blocking some punches.
Strasser blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Taylor.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taylor.
Taylor misses with a punch on the inside.
Taylor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taylor has a couple of punches blocked by Strasser.
Taylor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Taylor swings wildly with an uppercut but Strasser uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Strasser.
Taylor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strasser blocks an uppercut.
Taylor has a couple of punches blocked by Strasser.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.

Strasser breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strasser goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Taylor clinches.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strasser blocks an uppercut.
Tat Taylor has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Taylor throws a punch but it's blocked by Strasser.
Taylor working aggressively here.
Strasser blocking some punches.
Taylor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taylor.
Taylor misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Taylor fails to land.
Taylor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Strasser.
Strasser blocks an uppercut.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
Taylor has a couple of punches blocked by Strasser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tat Taylor dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Strasser lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nice jab there from Strasser.
Taylor tries to clinch up.

Taylor darts in and clinches Strasser up against the cage.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
Strasser wants to get back to striking at distance but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Taylor fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taylor.

Strasser pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rosen Strasser seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Strasser swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strasser misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taylor is looking to clinch but Strasser is avoiding it.
Strasser explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Strasser scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Taylor has managed to clinch.
Strasser blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strasser pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor dodges the punch combination from Strasser.
Strasser circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strasser lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Strasser circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Strasser swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor blocks a jab.
Taylor ducks right into an uppercut from Strasser.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Strasser circles away.
Taylor takes a jab right on the kisser.
Taylor is looking to clinch but Strasser is avoiding it.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Strasser swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Strasser pushes him off.

Taylor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Strasser, pushing him back against the cage.

Strasser breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strasser swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Strasser swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strasser manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strasser just misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Strasser pushes him off.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Strasser circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor tries to clinch but Strasser moves out of range.
Taylor is looking to clinch.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strasser manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strasser manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strasser unleashes a big counter combination but Taylor bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Taylor has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Strasser finds it's way round the side to connect with Taylor's head.
Strasser circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor tries to clinch
letting Strasser counter with a right hand.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Strasser circles away.
Tat Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Strasser keeps it at a distance.
Taylor tries to clinch
and Strasser counters with a left to the body.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Strasser paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Strasser lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taylor circles away quickly and effectively.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Strasser circles away and keeps his distance.
Strasser fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor has Strasser up against the cage in a clinch.
Strasser goes for a takedown attempt but Taylor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strasser throws a quick inside leg kick.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Strasser keeps it at a distance.
Strasser avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strasser was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Strasser circles away.
Taylor tries to clinch
and Strasser counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Strasser pushes him off.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor tries to clinch but Strasser is having none of it.
Taylor tries to clinch but Strasser moves out of range.
Donk. Strasser catches Taylor right on the button with a cross.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Strasser circles away and keeps his distance.
Strasser is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Taylor clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor gets through Strasser's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Strasser blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Strasser jumps guard and drags Taylor to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Strasser looking to control.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taylor throws a big elbow that misses.
Taylor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Strasser's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Strasser.
Taylor chips away with some ground and pound.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rosen Strasser comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Strasser 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rosen Strasser!