PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Alvarez Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banner's entrance music is Raining Blood by Slayer. A fine choice. Taylor has chosen Bow Down as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alvarez Banner
vs
Taylor

180 cm
44
185 lbs
39 - 24 - 1

187 cm
35
186 lbs
24 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Bruce Alvarez Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Jordan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Taylor tenderised Banner's leg. Banner is trying to keep his angry face on.
Taylor loads up on a big right hand but Banner slips the punch.
Banner has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Banner there as he acknowledges the shot.
Banner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banner circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Banner is just out of range.
Banner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Banner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taylor throws a poor cross that misses
and Banner counters with a stiff right hand.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taylor.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banner moves away.
Banner throws a big counter combination but Taylor scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Taylor throws a lazy right hand but Banner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Banner shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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!
Banner wants to free his trapped foot but Taylor is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Banner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is not content to let Banner control the position.
Banner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taylor's head.
Taylor tries to roll over but Banner keeps him under control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Banner lands a nice short elbow.
Taylor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Banner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taylor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Banner has managed to get both his arms back between Taylor's legs - danger averted.
Banner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Taylor wants to sweep here but Banner controlling him for the moment.
Taylor trying to keep a closed guard but Banner is proving a slippery customer.
Banner looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Taylor wants to control from the top but Banner keeps moving.
Banner is controlling Taylor's posture.
Taylor preventing the sweep.
Taylor trying to control but Banner is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Banner's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor lands a couple of digs.
Taylor lands a couple of digs.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Banner is on top in guard.

Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Banner postures up.
Taylor trying to control the position here.

Banner stands up and waves to Taylor to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner blocks a jab.
Taylor throws a body punch but Banner moves out of range.
Taylor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Taylor looks to land a combination but Banner avoids it well.
Taylor misses with a wild body shot.
Banner throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Taylor throws an overhand right that lands on Banner's shoulder, as Banner tries to avoid the shot.
Banner misses with a two punch combination.
Jordan Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice straight punches there by Taylor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taylor.
Taylor lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Banner moves into the clinch successfully.
Taylor misses with some punches.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banner.

Banner has managed to clinch.
Taylor lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Banner.
Taylor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Banner prevents a body shot from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Banner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.

Banner shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Taylor manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banner postures up and lands a big shot to Taylor's brow.
Taylor seems keen to control Banner's posture.
Banner chips away with some ground and pound.
Banner pushes down on Taylor's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Taylor is trying to maintain the position but Banner is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner looks to land a strike but Taylor avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Banner decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Taylor, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to bum rush Banner with a series of wild strikes but Banner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taylor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Banner at a distance.
A combination from Banner does no damage.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banner moves away.
Banner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taylor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taylor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banner was well out of range. Poor timing from Taylor.
Taylor throws a push kick but Banner slaps the foot to one side.
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Banner closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Banner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taylor defending well though.
Taylor works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bruce Alvarez Banner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor wants to sweep but no luck.

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner looking to pass the guard.
Banner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Banner is now in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor is trying to maintain the position but Banner is very close to passing his half guard.
Banner winds up and cracks Taylor with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Banner.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Banner from controlling successfully.
Taylor managing to control the position.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Banner trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor working a defensive guard but Banner passes into half guard.

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.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.
Banner is keen to just control but Taylor is a slippery customer.
Banner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Banner wants to take a breather but Taylor is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taylor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Banner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taylor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Taylor. No joy for Banner on that attempt.
Taylor lands with a good body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor swings away with a body shot that misses
and Banner counters with a one-two to the body.
Jordan Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taylor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Banner.
Bruce Alvarez Banner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taylor lands a right hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bruce Alvarez Banner will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taylor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taylor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Banner's head backwards.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taylor. Banner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor is looking to slow Banner down with leg kicks.
Banner cracks Taylor with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Banner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taylor regains full guard. Nicely done.
Banner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Banner slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Banner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Taylor, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Taylor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.
Banner working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Taylor takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Banner trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.
Taylor is working to avoid the ground and pound but Banner connects with a decent elbow.
Taylor being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to get back to half guard.
Banner wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.
Banner cracks Taylor with an elbow. That is naaassty.
You can see the frustration on Taylor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Taylor is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner misses with the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Banner.
Taylor is looking to regain half guard here but Banner keeps moving and retains side control.

Banner decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Banner checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Banner went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Jordan Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Taylor.
Banner moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Banner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taylor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Banner somewhat.
Banner shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Banner gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Banner.
Taylor throws a good cross that connects.

Banner moves into the clinch.
Taylor misses with a body punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Banner shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Taylor's guard.
Banner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taylor wants to hit a switch here but Banner passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Taylor there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Alvarez Banner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Banner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Alvarez Banner!
Bruce Alvarez Banner thanked the fans post fight for their support.