PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanderson
vs
Taylor

200 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Daniel Sanderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jesse Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanderson tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Sanderson gets caught napping as Taylor dives in and scores a takedown. Sanderson manages to retain guard.
Sanderson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taylor won't allow Sanderson to get back to his feet.
Sanderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sanderson pulls Taylor in close to prevent any damage.
Sanderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Sanderson has his foot on Taylor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taylor works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor trying to move into half guard but instead Sanderson has managed to sweep!

Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson throwing strikes but missing.
Sanderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
Taylor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanderson is controlling him.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Taylor manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Taylor is looking for a takedown.
Sanderson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Taylor goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanderson prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Daniel Sanderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Taylor.
Sanderson misses with a punch to the body.

Sanderson manages to pull guard.
Taylor controlling from the top position.

Sanderson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanderson is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor preventing the sweep.
Taylor is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Sanderson is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanderson dives in for a single leg takedown but Taylor sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sanderson is breathing heavily.
Sanderson closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Sanderson pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Despite the aggression on Taylor's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Taylor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sanderson did well to prevent Taylor getting side control.
Taylor slows the pace down in half guard.
Let's hope that Taylor has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Taylor manages to move to mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanderson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Taylor lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor shoots for a takedown but Sanderson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sanderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Sanderson clinches.
Sanderson gets underhooks to prevent Taylor's takedown attempt.
Taylor jumps guard but Sanderson stands there with Taylor around his waist. Taylor gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Daniel Sanderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Taylor.
Taylor is looking to break free of the clinch but Sanderson has double underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sanderson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Taylor walks away with a smile on his face. Sanderson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Taylor with that takedown attempt.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanderson throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanderson tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanderson to the ground. Sanderson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Taylor tries to get set, Sanderson tries to push him back and clinch up but Taylor manages to avoid the attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taylor.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanderson tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanderson to the ground. Sanderson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanderson sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Sanderson moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.

Taylor is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sanderson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Taylor to the mat. Taylor regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Taylor manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Sanderson holds him up against the cage and eventually Taylor drops back down to his feet.

Sanderson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Taylor has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Sanderson is on him like a limpet, forcing Taylor back against the cage.
Taylor goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanderson prevents it.

Sanderson breaks from the clinch.

Sanderson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Taylor kicks off Sanderson and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Sanderson shows good takedown defense.
Taylor misses with a two punch combination.
Sanderson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Daniel Sanderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sanderson has managed to clinch.

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

Taylor closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sanderson quickly recovers to half guard.

Sanderson has one foot on Taylor's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor tries to clinch up.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sanderson wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson tries to kick Taylor off but Taylor keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Taylor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanderson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taylor is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Taylor is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Taylor working Sanderson over with strikes here.
Taylor working Sanderson over with strikes here.
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 Daniel Sanderson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanderson gets caught flat footed, as Taylor shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Taylor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sanderson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Taylor is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor won't allow Sanderson to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Taylor content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Taylor stands up over Sanderson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Taylor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sanderson can't keep his opponent in guard - Taylor advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Taylor trying to control the pace.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Taylor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sanderson trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Taylor manages to pass to mount!
Taylor controlling from mount.
Taylor is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor controlling the pace for now.
Taylor is continuing to stall.
Sanderson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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 dominating with strikes here.
Taylor lands a couple of good shots and Sanderson has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taylor loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Sanderson hold on?
Good control from Taylor.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanderson grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taylor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 26:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:30

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