PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Rockhold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor has chosen Pantera - Mouth For War as his entrance music. Phil Taylor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rockhold
vs
Taylor

191 cm
25
185 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

186 cm
24
195 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Demian Rockhold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Phil Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor throws a body punch but Rockhold moves out of range.
Taylor keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rockhold tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rockhold with a body shot.
Taylor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rockhold on the side of the head.
Rockhold throws a leg kick
and Taylor counters with a nice kick to the body.

Rockhold feints and as Taylor raises his hands in defense, Rockhold changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor being controlled here, momentarily.
Rockhold trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockhold is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rockhold trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Our spies down at at Death Valley Training Facility inform us that Taylor has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Well, if Rockhold is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Taylor manages to get to full guard.
Rockhold looking to pass the guard.
Rockhold trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rockhold sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've been hearing good reports from Rockhold's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Rockhold preventing the sweep.
Rockhold passes Taylor's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rockhold is trying to control the action in half guard but Taylor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taylor can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rockhold is pressing down on Taylor's thigh, looking to free his foot. Taylor is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold is trying to control. Taylor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rockhold throwing shots but Taylor is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taylor lands a jab to the nose.
Rockhold darts in looking for a takedown but Taylor gets double underhooks and turns Rockhold into the cage.
Rockhold looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rockhold pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rockhold throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rockhold throws a low kick but Taylor avoids it.
Taylor avoids the body shot from Rockhold.

Rockhold clinches up against the cage.
Rockhold fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold is trying to pull guard but Taylor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demian Rockhold. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rockhold is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rockhold feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Taylors jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rockhold tries to counter with a takedown but Taylor is quick to defend against it.
Rockhold swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Taylor.
Rockhold is looking to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rockhold looks to score with a jab to the body but Taylor is just out of range.
Rockhold misses with an uppercut
and Taylor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rockhold throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Taylor stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rockhold fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Rockhold 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 rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rockhold moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rockhold tries to clinch up.
Rockhold with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Taylor counter with a right hand.

Rockhold gets a takedown into half guard.
Taylor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taylor is not content to let Rockhold control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockhold missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rockhold is thwarting Taylor's attempts to control the position.
Rockhold works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold controlling his opponent.
Rockhold wants to control but Taylor has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Rockhold is trying to control. Taylor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Still in half guard, Rockhold seems content to control.

Rockhold 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. Rockhold eventually gives up the hold.
Rockhold is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taylor can do to turn this around?
Rockhold not doing much here.
Taylor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rockhold. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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 is defending against the submission attempts here by Rockhold.
Rockhold wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rockhold.
Rockhold is trying to control the action in half guard but Taylor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rockhold is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Taylor is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rockhold tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rockhold throws out the jab.
Taylor swings for the body but Rockhold moves out of range.
Rockhold tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor punishes Rockhold's body with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Rockhold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rockhold wants to clinch.
Taylor throws a good cross that connects.

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

Rockhold actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Taylor is working for a kimura but Rockhold is defending it quite comfortably.
Rockhold is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Taylor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Taylor's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Phil Taylor will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rockhold misses with a body shot.
Taylor cracks a nice hook into Rockhold's ribs.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rockhold 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 Rockhold off to one side.
Rockhold looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Rockhold persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Rockhold tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rockhold tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice straight punches there by Rockhold. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rockhold.

Rockhold has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockhold struggles to land a body shot inside as Taylor controls his hands.
Rockhold misses with a body punch.
Taylor is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demian Rockhold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rockhold tries a body shot but Taylor blocks it.

Taylor is trying to trip Rockhold. He has hold of a leg but Rockhold is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Taylor persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Rockhold working for a triangle but Taylor defends it easily.

Rockhold is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rockhold being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rockhold is pulling down on Taylor's head to control his posture.

Rockhold working for a triangle but Taylor defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Rockhold.
Demian Rockhold overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor throws a big elbow that misses.
Rockhold trying to keep a closed guard but Taylor is proving a slippery customer.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taylor throwing strikes from guard but Rockhold blocks nicely.

Rockhold had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Taylor defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rockhold had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Taylor defends it easily.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor working some strikes from top position.
Rockhold can't keep his opponent in guard - Taylor advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rockhold is trying to maintain the position but Taylor is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rockhold actively working from the bottom here.

Taylor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rockhold sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Phil Taylor!
Phil Taylor decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.