PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Grey Worm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Taphorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Worm comes to the cage accompanied by Der Kaptain. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Worm
vs
Taphorn

166 cm
30
140 lbs
19 - 14 - 1

170 cm
38
138 lbs
32 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Grey Worm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Peter Taphorn!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Roberts and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taphorn swings for the body but Worm moves out of range.
Taphorn looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Worm tries for a takedown but Taphorn circles away easily
letting Taphorn counter with a right hand.

Taphorn tries to sprawl but Worm drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Taphorn is trying to get back to full guard.
Taphorn is pressing down on Worm's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Taphorn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Taphorn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Worm got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taphorn has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Worm has managed to get both his arms back between Taphorn's legs - danger averted.
Worm postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Worm scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taphorn wants to sweep but no luck.
Worm postures up.

Taphorn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Taphorn working for submissions but it's allowed Worm to get to half guard.
Worm missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Taphorn looking for submissions off his back.

Taphorn is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Worm pulls his head out easily.
Taphorn trying to control here.

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.
Worm is trying to control. Taphorn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Worm seems to be working for a kimura but Taphorn defends the submission attempt.
Taphorn is looking to control Worm's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taphorn avoid being mounted?
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Taphorn tries to roll over but Worm keeps him under control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Worm lands a nice short elbow.
Worm trying to advance position but Taphorn counters by regaining guard.

Worm drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Taphorn dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worm keeping moving, preventing Taphorn from controlling successfully.
Taphorn postures up.
Taphorn looking to pass the guard.
Worm is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taphorn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Worm works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Taphorn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taphorn scoring with some ground and pound.
Taphorn postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Taphorn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Taphorn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taphorn throws an elbow that misses. Worm uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taphorn's guard. Nice move by Worm!

Worm avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Worm thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Worm looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Taphorn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Worm doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Worm manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Worm works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Grey Worm will probably get the nod.
That's time! Worm's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A big left from Taphorn misses.
Worm takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Taphorn tries to land a front kick but Worm steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A slapping body kick lands there for Taphorn.

Worm gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Worm is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Worm missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Worm is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Taphorn sees it coming and defends easily.
Taphorn is trying to get back to full guard.
Taphorn is pressing down on Worm's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taphorn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Worm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Worm pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taphorn is keeping the position for now.
Grey Worm overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Taphorn escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Worm gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taphorn controls Worm momentarily but Worm frees himself.
Worm is working Taphorn over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

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.
Taphorn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Taphorn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Worm doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Worm manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Worm wants to pass the guard but Taphorn is keeping the position.
Worm trying to control the position from guard on top but Taphorn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Worm is really struggling to control Taphorn but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Worm tries to free his leg and advance position but Taphorn is retaining full guard.

Taphorn throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Worm escapes and throws Taphorn's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Worm lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worm connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Taphorn some visible discomfort.
Worm misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Taphorn struggling a bit here.
Worm looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Taphorn is avoiding damage well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taphorn struggling a bit here.
Worm controls the position.

Worm is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taphorn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Taphorn is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taphorn sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Worm seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Taphorn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Worm trying to pass the guard but Taphorn defending well.

Worm is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Taphorn has managed to free his arm - good work.
Taphorn trying to hold on to Worm's head to control him but Worm postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Worm is working for a kimura but Taphorn is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Grey Worm will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Taphorn throws a looping overhand right but Worm ducks down to avoid it.
Taphorn moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A nice combination there by Taphorn.
Worm's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Taphorn connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Worm scrambles back to his feet.
Worm shoots for a takedown but Taphorn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Taphorn gets the takedown into side control.

Taphorn is trying to get an arm triangle but Worm is defending well.
Worm sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Worm looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taphorn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Worm's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taphorn has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Taphorn looking to finish Worm with some ground and pound. This is bad for Worm!
Taphorn landing strikes from the mount.
Taphorn postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Worm looks a forlorn figure.

Worm is rocked!
Worm sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Oh Worm is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Taphorn is working for a kimura but Worm is defending it quite comfortably.
Worm seems to have got his legs back now.

Worm looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taphorn thows a huge punch but Worm dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taphorn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Worm trying to control here.
Taphorn is trying to control. Worm wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Taphorn tries to pass to full mount but Worm defends it.
Worm is trying to get back to full guard.
Taphorn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Taphorn thows a huge punch but Worm dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worm trying to hold on to Taphorn's head to control him but Taphorn postures up.
Worm controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Worm regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Taphorn.
Taphorn preventing the sweep.
Peter Taphorn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Worm avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taphorn is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Worm is pulling down on Taphorn's head to control his posture.
Taphorn lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Taphorn distracts Worm with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taphorn throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taphorn scoring with some ground and pound.

Worm escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taphorn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taphorn stands up over Worm, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Worm working for a triangle but Taphorn defends it easily.
Worm has momentary wrist control but Taphorn slips an elbow through the middle.
Grey Worm is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Taphorn has gone for a leg lock! Worm slips out almost immediately though and dives into Taphorn's guard.

Worm trying to control the position from guard on top but Taphorn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Taphorn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Worm has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!