PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stacey Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Welsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Taylor
vs
Welsh

183 cm
20
179 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

181 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stacey Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Welsh !
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, David Schapiro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor tries to clinch but Welsh is having none of it.
A lazy left from Taylor finds it's target.
Welsh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Welsh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick misses from Welsh .

Taylor bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Taylor lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Welsh is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Welsh is trying to improve his position.
Taylor taking a breather here.
Taylor working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Welsh really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taylor. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taylor cracks Welsh with a big right hand but Welsh just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Welsh being controlled for a moment.
Welsh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Taylor wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Taylor lands some shots froms side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor trying to control the position but Welsh is working away.
Taylor grinds an elbow into Welsh 's temple.
Taylor has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Welsh is trying to work for a sweep but Taylor has mounted him!
Welsh tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Taylor working for a guillotine from mount but Welsh is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor with a couple of short strikes.
Taylor looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Welsh is looking to improve his position but Taylor isn't that keen on the idea.
Welsh is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the head.
Taylor prevents Welsh from getting the reversal.
Welsh is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Welsh looks gassed!
Taylor is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Welsh can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Taylor connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Taylor tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Taylor punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor landing strikes, looking to finish!
Taylor wants to control the pace but Welsh is squirming around nicely.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taylor cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Taylor prevents Welsh from getting the reversal.
Taylor looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Welsh is squirming around, avoiding Taylor's attempts to control the action.
Taylor is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Welsh can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Welsh can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taylor looking to control but Welsh is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Taylor unloading with bombs!
Taylor landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor landing punches.
Taylor working Welsh over with strikes here.
Welsh keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Welsh throwing hammer fists to the chest of Taylor. What's that going to do exactly?
Taylor tries to control but Welsh wriggling away.
Taylor lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Welsh takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Taylor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Taylor landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stacey Taylor dominated that round.
That's time! Taylor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Welsh misses with a straight left.
Welsh uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Taylor has time to react.
Taylor tries to move into range but Welsh moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Welsh looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Taylor has managed to clinch.

Welsh gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Taylor gets back to full guard.
Welsh wants to stand but Taylor is controlling his posture from full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taylor is on top in guard.
Taylor with a nice head shot there.
Welsh is breathing heavily.
Taylor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Taylor lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Taylor trying to control but Welsh is working from the bottom.
Welsh is trying to keep Taylor in close.
Taylor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Welsh keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor controlling from the top position.
Taylor scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Welsh wants to stand and escape but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor trying to control but Welsh is working from the bottom.
Taylor is really struggling to control Welsh but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Taylor scoring with punches to the head and body.
Taylor trying to control but Welsh is working from the bottom.
Welsh is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Taylor is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Taylor drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taylor jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Welsh wants to sweep but no luck.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.

Taylor stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Taylor pushes Welsh up against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Taylor moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Stacey Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor lands with a thumping leg kick.
Taylor scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor moves into range and clinches up with Welsh .
Welsh has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Taylor is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Taylor scores with a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Taylor darts in and clinches Welsh up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Taylor.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
Welsh thows a body shot but no joy.

Taylor clinches.
Welsh has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Taylor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
Chris Welsh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A solid leg kick lands there for Taylor.

Taylor has Welsh up against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor pressing his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stacey Taylor dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taylor moves out of range of the leg kick from Welsh .
Welsh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taylor digs a good hook to Welsh 's body.
Welsh takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Welsh shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Taylor counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Taylor forces Welsh back against the cage and clinches.
Taylor scores with a hook to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Taylor.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor scores with a hook to the body. Welsh takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Welsh can do to turn this around?
Welsh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Taylor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Welsh , pushing him back against the cage.
Taylor has Welsh pushed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Taylor - that landed with a thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Taylor fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Welsh .

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Taylor stalls.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Taylor throws a one two combo.
Taylor lands with a cross.
Taylor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taylor clinches up against the cage.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice cross by Taylor.

Taylor has taken the fight to the clinch.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh throws a sloppy head kick

and Taylor counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taylor.
Welsh can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taylor controls the pace.
Taylor prevents Welsh from getting back to his feet.
Taylor is working Welsh over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taylor with a nice head shot there.
Taylor slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Taylor scoring with some ground and pound.
Welsh wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Welsh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is in close to Welsh 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Welsh keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Welsh working a defensive guard here.
Stacey Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.
Taylor has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Taylor content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.
Welsh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Welsh trying to keep a closed guard but Taylor is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor 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.
Chris Welsh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Stacey Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taylor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Stacey Taylor!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Stacey Taylor!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Stacey Taylor!

Stacey Taylor wins by unanimous decision!