PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Montgomery (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Taibo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Taibo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Thomas Montgomery's chin.

Montgomery
vs
Taibo

180 cm
20
161 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

174 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Thomas Montgomery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Taibo!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Montgomery ducks right into an uppercut from Taibo.
Taibo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Montgomery swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Montgomery is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Taibo tries to clinch up.
Taibo is looking to clinch but Montgomery is avoiding it.
Taibo doesn't manage to clinch there - Montgomery circles away.
Montgomery tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Taibo manages to circle out of the way.
Montgomery avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taibo tries to clinch there but Montgomery circles away.

Montgomery moves into the clinch.
Montgomery tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Taibo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Montgomery looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taibo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Montgomery tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Taibo manages to move to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Montgomery throwing hammer fists to the chest of Taibo. What's that going to do exactly?
Montgomery tries to reverse the position but Taibo maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montgomery is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Taibo controlling the position easily from mount.
Montgomery tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Montgomery is working hard here to advance position.
Montgomery regains half guard.
Taibo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Montgomery does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taibo prevents Montgomery from improving his position.
Taibo is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Montgomery is trying to maintain the position but Taibo is very close to passing his half guard.
Montgomery is refusing to be controlled, as Taibo sits in half guard.
Montgomery won't allow Taibo to pass to mount.
Montgomery is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taibo wants to take a breather but Montgomery is having none of it.

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

Montgomery clinches.
Montgomery is trying to break the clinch but Taibo is controlling him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Taibo jumps into guard, dragging Montgomery to the mat.
Montgomery not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Taibo wants to improve his position but instead Montgomery has moved into half guard.

Montgomery decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Taibo has Montgomery up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taibo pulls guard successfully.
Montgomery stays in close to Taibo's body and controls the position.
Taibo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Montgomery is one step ahead there.
Montgomery is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taibo keeping moving, preventing Montgomery from controlling successfully.
Montgomery works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Taibo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Taibo tries to close the distance and clinch but Montgomery swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Montgomery darts in and clinches Taibo up against the cage.

Montgomery has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Taibo is trying to keep an underhook but Montgomery manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Montgomery throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Taibo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Montgomery.
Well, if Montgomery 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.
Taibo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Taibo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montgomery is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Montgomery gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Danga de danga de dang - Taibo scores with a four punch combination!

Taibo gets a takedown into half guard.
Montgomery landing a few short strikes.
Alex Taibo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montgomery wants to sweep but Taibo has passed to side control!
Montgomery regains half guard.
Montgomery is trying to maintain the position but Taibo is very close to passing his half guard.

Montgomery looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Montgomery is looking to control Taibo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Montgomery avoid being mounted?
Montgomery gets full guard.
Montgomery working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taibo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Taibo gets to his feet - Montgomery follows without any prompting.
Montgomery swats away the attempt to clinch by Taibo.
Montgomery tries to counter by clinching up but Taibo breaks away and moves out of range.
Taibo cracks Montgomery with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Montgomery darts in and clinches Taibo up against the cage.
Taibo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Montgomery is rocked!

Taibo jumps guard and drags Montgomery to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Oh Montgomery is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Taibo has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Montgomery has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

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

Taibo has closed the distance and engaged Montgomery in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taibo breaks from the clinch.

Montgomery tries to keep at a distance but Taibo has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Taibo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Taibo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Taibo is breathing heavily.
Taibo slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Montgomery.
Montgomery strikes from the bottom but Taibo uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Taibo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Montgomery is trying to escape the position but Taibo is controlling the position.
Montgomery is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Taibo is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Taibo controlling from the full mount.
Let's hope that Taibo 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.
Taibo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Montgomery seems to have got his legs back now.
Montgomery working to try and regain half guard.
Taibo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Taibo wants to control the pace but Montgomery is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Taibo 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Taibo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Taibo looking to score a takedown here. Montgomery is defending well but Taibo drives through and ends up in Montgomery's guard.
Taibo is looking to stand up but Montgomery won't let him.
Taibo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Montgomery has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taibo is working away from the top position though.
Taibo is trying to control the action in half guard but Montgomery is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montgomery tries to get to full guard but Taibo has control of the leg.
Montgomery is in trouble now - Taibo has advanced to mount!
Montgomery tries to hold on but Taibo pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montgomery is in all sorts of trouble here.
Montgomery is squirming around, avoiding Taibo's attempts to control the action.
Montgomery working to try and regain half guard.
Taibo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Montgomery is looking to escape.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montgomery can't escape the position.
Montgomery is squirming around, avoiding Taibo's attempts to control the action.
Montgomery regains half guard.
Montgomery is looking for a sweep. Taibo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alex Taibo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Taibo wants to take a breather but Montgomery is having none of it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taibo fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Taibo misses.

Montgomery takes the fight into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Taibo.
Montgomery on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Montgomery is trying to force a seperation but Taibo has the dominant position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taibo.
Thomas Montgomery has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Taibo gets control of Montgomery's arms and successfully pulls guard. Taibo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Taibo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taibo 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Taibo!