PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Kalaway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Taylor
vs
Kalaway

156 cm
28
138 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

150 cm
20
130 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joseph Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Kalaway!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Chris Dean and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Taylor is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kalaway's half guard.

Kalaway kicks off Taylor and gets to his feet.
Taylor dives in and grabs Kalaway's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kalaway pushes down on Taylor's head and hops out.
Kalaway defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.
Taylor closes the distance and clinches up with Kalaway, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes Kalaway against the cage but Kalaway circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kalaway sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor fails with the takedown
and Kalaway counters with a nice uppercut.
Kalaway defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.
Taylor goes for a double leg but Kalaway avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kalaway continues to drive forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taylor dives in and grabs Kalaway's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kalaway pushes down on Taylor's head and hops out.
It seemed like Kalaway was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kalaway leaves Taylor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taylor looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kalaway is fending him off so far but Taylor persists. Nope, Kalaway circles away and we're back to standing.
Joseph Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor closes the distance and clinches up with Kalaway, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes Kalaway against the cage but Kalaway circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It seemed like Kalaway was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taylor goes for a double leg but Kalaway avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kalaway continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kalaway now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Taylor could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taylor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kalaway counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

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.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kalaway! But no joy.
Taylor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kalaway's waist but Kalaway gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taylor off to one side.
Kalaway swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taylor.
It seemed like Kalaway 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.

Mark Kalaway dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taylor darts in looking for a takedown but Kalaway gets double underhooks and turns Taylor into the cage.

Taylor drives through and clinches with Kalaway against the cage.

Kalaway gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Taylor manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Kalaway keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Kalaway is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Taylor can't fight it off and eventually Kalaway manages to take the fight to the floor. Taylor looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kalaway wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Taylor looking to control.
Kalaway trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taylor's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Kalaway from controlling successfully.
Mark Kalaway has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kalaway content to stall in guard here.
Kalaway has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taylor is proving hard to escape from.
Taylor is trying to keep Kalaway in close.
Kalaway controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taylor dives in for a single leg takedown but Kalaway sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kalaway doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Kalaway tries to sprawl but Taylor drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Taylor is working for an americana but Kalaway has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Taylor was thinking about the submission.
Kalaway keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taylor postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kalaway is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Taylor, into his guard.

Kalaway stays in close to Taylor's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalaway trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taylor's guard.
Kalaway trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kalaway passes Taylor's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kalaway trying to control from half guard but Taylor is working away.
It looks like Kalaway is going to stand back up.
Kalaway passes to full mount!
Kalaway looking to control but Taylor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaway is looking to stand but Taylor has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Kalaway can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taylor is looking to escape.
Taylor is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kalaway content just to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kalaway tries to control but Taylor wriggling away.
Kalaway takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kalaway showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Taylor tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kalaway defends well and Taylor ends up having to push Kalaway into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Kalaway misses.
Joseph Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kalaway defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalaway slaps away a takedown attempt from Taylor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kalaway on his heels. He'll look to pass Kalaway's guard now, I'm sure.

Kalaway has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Taylor off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kalaway but Kalaway pushes him off and we're back to square one.
It seemed like Kalaway was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kalaway as he avoids it easily.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kalaway but Kalaway pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kalaway throws out a counter right but Taylor avoids it with no problem.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Kalaway shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor dives in and grabs Kalaway's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kalaway pushes down on Taylor's head and hops out.
Kalaway let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Taylor dives in and grabs Kalaway's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kalaway pushes down on Taylor's head and hops out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kalaway avoids it really well and circles away.
Joseph Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor closes the distance and clinches up with Kalaway, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes Kalaway against the cage but Kalaway circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kalaway! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Taylor fails to land the takedown.
Kalaway stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kalaway wants it to stay on the feet.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Kalaway circles away easily
and Kalaway counters with a lovely shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Kalaway comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kalaway winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Kalaway!
After winning the bout, Mark Kalaway thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.