PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nebojsa Mihattovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeffrey Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mihattovic's entrance music is Geto Boys - Still. A fine choice. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Mihattovic
vs
Taylor

177 cm
42
179 lbs
18 - 15 - 2

180 cm
25
183 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Good elbows
Good gas tank

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 18 - 15 - 2, fighting out of New York, Nebojsa Mihattovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jeffrey Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taylor changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mihattovic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mihattovic is not content to let Taylor control the position.
Mihattovic struggling a bit here.
Taylor wants to control but Mihattovic is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from Taylor seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Mihattovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mihattovic on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mihattovic is not content to let Taylor control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor controlling the position from side mount.
Taylor creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Mihattovic sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Taylor is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Mihattovic will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Taylor trying to control the action but Mihattovic is working from the bottom.
Taylor laying and praying for a moment but Mihattovic takes advantage and regains half guard.
Taylor content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taylor trying to mount his opponent but Mihattovic defends it.
Mihattovic is doing well to control the position and prevent Taylor from advancing to side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Mihattovic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Taylor! But no joy.
Mihattovic shoots in for a double leg but Taylor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taylor slaps away a takedown attempt from Mihattovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mihattovic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Taylor to counter with a crisp jab.
Taylor has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Mihattovic is landing a low percentage of strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nebojsa Mihattovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mihattovic shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taylor swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mihattovic misses with a takedown
and Mihattovic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mihattovic shoots and misses
and Mihattovic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taylor lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mihattovic has his takedown stuffed
and Taylor counters with a stiff right hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mihattovic.
It seemed like Taylor was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mihattovic misses with a takedown attempt - Taylor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
It seemed like Taylor was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mihattovic walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mihattovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mihattovic.
Taylor throws out a counter right but Mihattovic avoids it with no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Taylor dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Taylor slaps away a takedown attempt from Mihattovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Taylor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mihattovic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taylor's waist but Taylor gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mihattovic off to one side.
Mihattovic doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Taylor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nebojsa Mihattovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mihattovic.
Mihattovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.

Mihattovic goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Taylor has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mihattovic but great work by Taylor.
Jeffrey Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mihattovic struggling a bit here.
Taylor trying to control the position but Mihattovic is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor working the ground and pound but Mihattovic is defending the strikes.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mihattovic keeps working.
Mihattovic regains half guard, as Taylor was trying to land strikes.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Mihattovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taylor is looking to stall here but Mihattovic recovers full guard.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Mihattovic keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
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.
Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taylor stands and throws Mihattovic's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Taylor trying to control the position but Mihattovic is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mihattovic being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor tries for a kimura but Mihattovic is defending well.
Mihattovic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
An elbow from Taylor crashes against the mat.
Mihattovic is looking for a sweep.

That's four 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.
The referee asks Taylor politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Taylor prefers to stall for the moment though.
Mihattovic wants to control but Taylor postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Taylor taking a breather here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taylor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taylor wants it to stay on the feet.
Taylor is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nebojsa Mihattovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mihattovic with a poor takedown
and Taylor counters with a straight right hand.
Taylor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mihattovic.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Taylor! But no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mihattovic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.
Taylor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mihattovic shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taylor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mihattovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Taylor stuffs the takedown.
Taylor changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mihattovic shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mihattovic shoots in and drives through. Taylor sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nebojsa Mihattovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taylor closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mihattovic quickly recovers to half guard.
Taylor takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mihattovic is not content to let Taylor control the position.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taylor is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Taylor trying to control from half guard but Mihattovic is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mihattovic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mihattovic is staying active underneath Taylor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taylor is just content to waste time from the top position. Mihattovic takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.
Mihattovic controls Taylor momentarily but Taylor frees himself.
Nebojsa Mihattovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taylor engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Taylor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Taylor trying to control but Mihattovic is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nebojsa Mihattovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Mihattovic shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taylor swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Taylor with a nice cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mihattovic jabs at Taylor's body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mihattovic is defended easily by Taylor.
Mihattovic misses with a takedown
and Taylor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mihattovic manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Taylor on his heels. He'll look to pass Taylor's guard now, I'm sure.
Mihattovic throwing strikes but missing.
Mihattovic being controlled here momentarily.
Mihattovic throws a strike but Taylor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mihattovic 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.
Taylor looking to sit in guard and control but Mihattovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mihattovic scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mihattovic has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Taylor controlling Mihattovic's posture.

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

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Mihattovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeffrey Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taylor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeffrey Taylor!
During a confident post fight interview, Jeffrey Taylor thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.