PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mark Kalaway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph Taylor will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kalaway
vs
Taylor

150 cm
21
130 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

156 cm
28
138 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good takedowns
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Kalaway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joseph Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

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 fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kalaway avoids it really well and circles away.
Kalaway appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Taylor shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kalaway is trying to defend but Taylor finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor stops Kalaway from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kalaway pushes Taylor off and gets back to his feet.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Kalaway sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taylor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kalaway circles away.
Kalaway is looking to counter punch.
Mark Kalaway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Taylor.
Taylor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kalaway pinned against the cage. Kalaway gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A little feinted left hand from Kalaway on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but Kalaway sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kalaway is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
No luck for Taylor with that takedown attempt.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt - Kalaway sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the 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.
Taylor dives in for a single leg takedown but Kalaway sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Taylor has managed to clinch.

Taylor gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Kalaway has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Taylor is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Kalaway is trying to trip Taylor. He has hold of a leg but Taylor is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kalaway persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kalaway wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Kalaway loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has a closed guard, preventing Kalaway from standing up.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Kalaway from controlling successfully.
Taylor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kalaway trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kalaway not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kalaway dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Kalaway shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taylor is defended easily by Kalaway.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kalaway sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.
Mark Kalaway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kalaway swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
No luck for Taylor with that takedown attempt.
Kalaway slaps away a takedown attempt from Taylor, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taylor is defended easily by Kalaway.
Taylor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kalaway avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Kalaway as Taylor shoots in.
Kalaway slaps away a takedown attempt from Taylor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
It looked like Kalaway was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Taylor.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Kalaway sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joseph Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Kalaway sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Kalaway. No joy for Taylor on that attempt.
Kalaway throwing a counter right hand but Taylor manages to avoid it.
Taylor fails to land the takedown.
Kalaway swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nice sprawl there from Kalaway as Taylor shoots in.
Kalaway was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor shoots in but Kalaway avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kalaway is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kalaway defends it nicely.
No luck for Taylor with that takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Kalaway misses its target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taylor dives in and scores a takedown into Kalaway's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor slips nicely into half guard.
Kalaway desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Taylor scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Taylor is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kalaway defends it well.
Kalaway avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Taylor is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kalaway is just riding it out for now. Taylor eventually gives up the hold.
Mark Kalaway overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kalaway is looking to escape.

Taylor is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kalaway is just riding it out for now. Taylor eventually gives up the hold.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalaway is trying to stand up here but Taylor is controlling him well.
Kalaway is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kalaway is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taylor can do to turn this around?
Taylor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kalaway swivels and escapes.
Joseph Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Kalaway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Taylor.

Taylor scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kalaway wants to get back to his feet.
Kalaway could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaway has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taylor is working away from the top position though.

Taylor is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kalaway is trying to stand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mark Kalaway is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Taylor is working for a kimura but Kalaway is defending it quite comfortably.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kalaway 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Kalaway!
A relieved looking Mark Kalaway thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.