PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lee Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Griffin McElroy (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
McElroy

179 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Versus

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lee Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Griffin McElroy!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

McElroy moves into the clinch.
Taylor changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McElroy fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Taylor rushes McElroy and presses him up against the cage.
Taylor is working for takedown but McElroy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taylor is trying to break free.

McElroy wants the takedown. Taylor is fighting it off but McElroy persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Taylor's guard against the cage.
McElroy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McElroy is continuing to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McElroy defends it easily.
McElroy 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 thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
McElroy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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.

McElroy decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Taylor looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

McElroy rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McElroy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor connects with an inside leg kick.
McElroy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McElroy tries a head kick but it misses.
As McElroy tries to get set, Taylor tries to push him back and clinch up but McElroy manages to avoid the attempt.

McElroy tries to keep at a distance but Taylor has taken the fight into the clinch.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Taylor avoids the head kick by McElroy.
Taylor changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

McElroy has taken the fight to the clinch.
McElroy is working Taylor over against the cage.
McElroy lands with a left to the head.
McElroy scores with a nice hook to the head.
McElroy lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McElroy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taylor looks for a takedown but McElroy sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
A punch combination from McElroy misses.
Taylor feinted with a counter takedown.

McElroy instigates a clinch.

McElroy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Griffin McElroy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McElroy moves into the clinch successfully.
Taylor tries to pull guard but McElroy won't allow it.

McElroy breaks the clinch.
McElroy connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Taylor's hands.
McElroy's corner calls for a 1-2. McElroy obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nice shot by McElroy.

McElroy clinches with his opponent.
McElroy lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McElroy is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Taylor gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
McElroy is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McElroy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McElroy lands a left hand.
McElroy has Taylor pressed against the cage.

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

McElroy has managed to clinch.
McElroy lands with a light punch inside.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. McElroy has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taylor down to the mat. Taylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.

McElroy clinches with his opponent.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
McElroy is working Taylor over against the cage.
McElroy leaning his opponent against the cage.
Taylor letting McElroy take a breather here.
McElroy receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McElroy works on Taylor's body with a couple of short punches.

McElroy manages to break the clinch.

McElroy moves into the clinch successfully.
Nice body punch from McElroy - that landed with a thud.
McElroy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but McElroy is defending well.

McElroy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McElroy lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Lee Taylor has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McElroy struggles to land a body shot inside as Taylor controls his hands.
McElroy scores with a nice hook to the head.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McElroy working some nice short punches in the clinch.

McElroy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

McElroy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taylor, pushing him back against the cage.
McElroy is looking for a takedown.
McElroy lands with a short head shot on the inside.

McElroy is trying to trip Taylor. He has hold of a leg but Taylor is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. McElroy persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.
McElroy content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor looking to control.
McElroy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McElroy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Taylor goes for a double leg but McElroy avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as McElroy continues to drive forward.
McElroy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McElroy punishes Taylor's body with a nice straight punch.
Lee Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McElroy misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor takes a head kick and keeps coming.
McElroy scores with a head kick. Taylor tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Griffin McElroy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taylor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McElroy.
Taylor changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Griffin McElroy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

McElroy darts in and clinches Taylor up against the cage.
McElroy lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Taylor or not.
McElroy presses Taylor against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

McElroy manages to break the clinch.

Taylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.

McElroy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

McElroy darts in and clinches Taylor up against the cage.

McElroy manages to break the clinch.
McElroy throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

McElroy rushes Taylor and presses him up against the cage.
McElroy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McElroy lands a hook that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
McElroy cracks Taylor with a nice body shot.

McElroy breaks from the clinch.
Taylor blocks a head kick by McElroy.
McElroy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Taylor on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

McElroy closes the distance and clinches.
A short body shot lands from McElroy as the two fighters clinch.
Taylor is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but McElroy is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body punch from McElroy.
McElroy avoiding damage.
McElroy lands a body punch.
Taylor tries for a takedown. No joy.

McElroy breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Griffin McElroy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lee Taylor's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McElroy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taylor.
Taylor shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
McElroy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.
McElroy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
McElroy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Taylor.

McElroy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taylor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McElroy walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McElroy moves into the clinch.
McElroy presses Taylor against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
McElroy is pressed up against the cage. Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McElroy down to the mat. McElroy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for McElroy.

McElroy gets in close and instigates a clinch.

McElroy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

McElroy pushes Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.

McElroy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor moves forwards but McElroy connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McElroy misses with a head kick.
McElroy scoring well with a low kick there.

McElroy moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
A short uppercut from McElroy.

McElroy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

McElroy moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
A body shot lands from McElroy.
McElroy has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Taylor is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
McElroy working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
McElroy displaying some good clinch control by pressing Taylor up against the cage.

McElroy breaks from the clinch.
McElroy lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

McElroy moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McElroy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McElroy cracks Taylor with an open hand slap.

McElroy drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
McElroy wants a takedown but no success here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McElroy.

McElroy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A hook to the body from McElroy.
Taylor letting McElroy take a breather here.

McElroy turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and McElroy manages to end up in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to work for a sweep but McElroy has mounted him!
McElroy controlling his opponent.
Taylor wants to control but McElroy is having none of it.

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.
McElroy looking to control and managing it successfully.
McElroy dominating with strikes here.
McElroy looking to control and managing it successfully.
McElroy's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Griffin McElroy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McElroy 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Griffin McElroy!
Griffin McElroy really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Versus logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.