PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Norbert Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Franklin has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Norbert Taylor's chin.

Taylor
vs
Franklin

181 cm
24
194 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Norbert Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, David Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franklin shoots in and gets a takedown into Taylor's guard.
Taylor has control of Franklin's left arm, preventing Franklin from doing any damage.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Franklin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Franklin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Franklin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Taylor looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Taylor looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Taylor!

Franklin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor controls the position.
Franklin is trying to buck Taylor off.
Franklin is looking to reverse the position.

Taylor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Franklin is being controlled here.

Taylor stands up.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin misses with a series of wild punches.
Franklin misses with a head kick.
Taylor throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Franklin.
Franklin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Taylor counters with a one-two to the body.
Taylor lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Franklin backs up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taylor tries to sprawl but Franklin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Franklin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at WildBoar's Pig Pen (Strength and Conditioning) $40. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Franklin looks winded!
Franklin tries to pass to full mount but Taylor defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Franklin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Franklin trying to mount his opponent but Taylor defends it.
Taylor is controlling Franklin's trapped leg to prevent Franklin from advancing to side control.
Franklin is stalling here. Taylor is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Franklin seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Taylor has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Taylor stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franklin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Franklin showed some decent athleticism there.

Franklin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Taylor is just riding it out for now. Franklin eventually gives up the hold.
Taylor is doing well to control the position and prevent Franklin from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norbert Taylor dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Franklin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor is adopting a defensive guard.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franklin can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor continues to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franklin is one step ahead there.
Franklin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Franklin tries to clinch up.

Franklin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Taylor is concentrating on defense, preventing Franklin from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taylor is pressing down on Franklin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Franklin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Franklin trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Franklin is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Franklin looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Norbert Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor postures up.
Franklin is breathing heavily.
Taylor slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Franklin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Franklin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franklin throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.

Franklin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Taylor bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Franklin avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Franklin misses the shot to the body.
Taylor went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.
Franklin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Taylor gets caught napping as Franklin dives in and scores a takedown. Taylor manages to retain guard.
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 Norbert Taylor will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Norbert Taylor is winning the standup battle so far.
Franklin misses with a head kick.
Franklin throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.

Franklin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Franklin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Taylor trying to control the position here.
Franklin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin throws a strike but Taylor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taylor controls the pace.

Taylor is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Taylor slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two 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 decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Franklin gets a double leg takedown into Taylor's guard.
Franklin 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 is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franklin looking for a guillotine here but Taylor defends easily.

Taylor stands up and waves to Franklin to follow him.

Taylor gets the takedown into side control.
Franklin tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Norbert 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norbert Taylor!