PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Barklong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Barklong
vs
Taylor

170 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
250 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Leo Barklong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barklong loads up on a big right hand but Taylor slips the punch.
Barklong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barklong manages to avoid it.
Barklong attempts a counter takedown but Taylor avoids it well and moves away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Taylor!

It looks like Leo Barklong has been cut.
Taylor throws a right hand that Barklong ducks under and follows up with a left that Barklong also avoids with ease.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Barklong just misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barklong with a body shot.
Taylor throws a body punch but Barklong moves out of range.
Barklong shoots in looking for a takedown but Taylor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barklong's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Taylor clobbers Barklong with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Taylor scores with a one two! Barklong had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barklong on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Taylor pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Barklong back to the ropes. Taylor follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nice straight punches there by Taylor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taylor.
Taylor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Barklong on the side of the head.
Barklong connects with a high kick.
Taylor throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Leo Barklong's cut is getting worse.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barklong clinches up with Taylor and pushes him back against the ropes.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Barklong has him pressed against the ropes.
Barklong fails to pull guard.
Taylor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barklong has him pressed against the ropes.
Taylor tries to circle away but Barklong has him pinned against the ropes.
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Barklong is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Barklong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barklong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor misses with a few strikes there.
Taylor connects with a looping right hand.
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taylor lands with a good body shot.
Taylor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barklong manages to avoid it.
Barklong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck for Barklong with that takedown attempt.
James Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taylor lands a right hook to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Taylor!
Taylor should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barklong.
Barklong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taylor.
Barklong closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Taylor scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Taylor is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Barklong rather than just go for the knockout.
Taylor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Barklong walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barklong has closed the distance and engaged Taylor in a clinch.
Taylor takes a knee to the side of the body.
Barklong keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Taylor's efforts to push away.
Taylor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Barklong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taylor has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Taylor moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Leo Barklong's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Barklong closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Taylor did well to prevent Barklong getting side control.

Taylor makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body kick there by Barklong.
Barklong shoots in and drives through. Taylor sprawls well.
Barklong is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Taylor as Barklong shoots in.
Barklong takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Barklong tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Taylor defends well and Barklong ends up having to push Taylor into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Taylor lands a two punch combo.
Barklong looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Taylor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barklong. Barklong circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Barklong moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
As Barklong backs off Taylor throws a huge counter combo but Barklong manages to avoid it all.
Taylor lands a nice hook to Barklong's body. Barklong takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Taylor connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barklong's hands.

Jeez, Leo Barklong's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Taylor connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor thuds a left hand into Barklong's body.
Taylor looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Barklong takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Barklong scores with a three punch combo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leo Barklong's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A combination from Taylor does no damage.
It looked like Barklong was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Taylor scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A right-left combo lands from Taylor.
Sloppy strikes from Barklong. Those never looked like landing.
A left and a right from Taylor both land. Nice combination.
Taylor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Danga de danga de dang - Taylor scores with a four punch combination!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barklong.
Taylor lands with a nice body punch.
Taylor throws a hook but Barklong blocks it.

Barklong scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Taylor is trying to maintain the position but Barklong is very close to passing his half guard.
Barklong is looking to take a break and control but Taylor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barklong content to control rather than advance.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Barklong looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Taylor is trying to stand back up but Barklong is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barklong's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barklong's back!
Barklong looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Taylor wants to control but Barklong is keeping busy.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Taylor is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barklong is trying to break free.
Taylor wants to control the position but Barklong frees himself and scrambles - Taylor manages to regain control in side control.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Taylor has eaten all the pies!
Barklong is trying to improve his position.
Barklong stops Taylor from passing to mount.
Barklong can't do much from the bottom here.

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 content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Taylor working away.
Barklong is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barklong keeps working.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leo Barklong's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Barklong shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Taylor lands with a cross.
Leo Barklong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Taylor scores with a punch to the head.
Barklong throws a right and a left that Taylor avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor misses with a few strikes there.
Barklong needs to keep his hands up - Taylor had a free shot at his head there.
James Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barklong takes a jab right on the kisser.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Leo Barklong's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). James Taylor!
A victorious James Taylor thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.