PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Mulligan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerome Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor has chosen Number #1 as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mulligan
vs
Taylor

182 cm
26
230 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
27
235 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Fatty's

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Mulligan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jerome Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mulligan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taylor pinned against the cage. Taylor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mulligan checks a leg kick.
Taylor throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Mulligan counters with a two punch combo.

Mulligan tries to keep at a distance but Taylor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mulligan tries to pull guard but Taylor holds him up against the cage and eventually Mulligan drops back down to his feet.
Mulligan letting Taylor take a breather here.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mulligan's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulligan working hard to break the clinch.
Mulligan is trying to drag Taylor to the mat but Taylor just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Mulligan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulligan is stalling here.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor dips to his left and cracks Mulligan with an uppercut!
Nice takedown defense from Taylor. No joy for Mulligan on that attempt.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Mulligan avoids a wild elbow strike from Taylor.
Mulligan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor wants a takedown but no success here.
Taylor stalling in the clinch.
Mulligan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Taylor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mulligan is proving hard to escape from.
Mulligan is controlling Taylor's posture.

Taylor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
No luck for Mulligan with that takedown attempt.
Mulligan shoots in looking for a takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl out of it but Mulligan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taylor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Taylor swings for the body but Mulligan moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mulligan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor throws a head kick but Mulligan moves out of range.

Mulligan moves into the clinch.
Mulligan tries for a takedown but Taylor manages to get underhooks.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Mulligan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mulligan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mulligan checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mulligan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mulligan circles away quickly and effectively.
Taylor leaves Mulligan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taylor tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Taylor throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a leg kick.

Mulligan takes the fight into the clinch.
Taylor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mulligan avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
Taylor drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mulligan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor wants a takedown.

Mulligan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mulligan shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taylor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mulligan attempts a counter takedown but Taylor avoids it well and moves away.
Taylor throws a head kick but Mulligan moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Taylor dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mulligan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mulligan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Mulligan darts in and clinches Taylor up against the cage.
Mulligan has had enough of the clinch but Taylor keeps him there for the moment.
Mulligan lands a nice shot to the body.
Mulligan is trying to force a seperation but Taylor has the dominant position.

Mulligan jumps guard and drags Taylor to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mulligan is proving hard to escape from.

Taylor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulligan dives in and grabs Taylor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes down on Mulligan's head and hops out.
Nice takedown defense from Mulligan. No joy for Taylor on that attempt.

Taylor clinches.
Mulligan is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Taylor fails to land.
Taylor stops a takedown attempt from Mulligan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Mulligan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mulligan 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.

Taylor turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Taylor manages to end up in side control.
Taylor wants to stand but Mulligan has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Taylor tries to stand but Mulligan is controlling from the bottom.
Mulligan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taylor controls the pace.
Taylor's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Mulligan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taylor manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mulligan drops back looking for a leg! Taylor is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Taylor manages to kick Mulligan off! Mulligan jumps back into Taylor's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Taylor wants to stand but Mulligan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Taylor with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Mulligan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mulligan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Taylor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mulligan is proving hard to escape from.
Mulligan is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Taylor wants to stand but Mulligan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Taylor stands up and waves to Mulligan to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor connects with a solid leg kick.

Taylor pushes Mulligan up against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mulligan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taylor avoiding damage.
Mulligan tries to pull guard but Taylor forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Mulligan successfully pulls guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mulligan keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Mulligan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Taylor clinches with his opponent.

Mulligan pulls guard effortlessly.
Mulligan has a closed guard, preventing Taylor from standing up.
Mulligan pulls Taylor in close to prevent any damage.
Mulligan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Mulligan is keeping the position.
Mulligan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Taylor wants to stand and escape but instead Mulligan has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taylor keeping full guard, as Mulligan tries to pass.
Mulligan throws a big elbow that misses.
Mulligan stops Taylor from standing up.

Mulligan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Taylor manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mulligan has Taylor in his guard.

Mulligan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor wants to stand but Mulligan is controlling his posture from full guard.

Mulligan is working an open guard so Taylor takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mulligan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mulligan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mulligan gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mulligan's hands.
Nice body kick from Taylor.

Taylor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Taylor preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor tries to stand but Mulligan is controlling from the bottom.

Taylor stands up from Mulligan's guard - Taylor perhaps looking for a knockout.
John Mulligan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor leaves Mulligan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice uppercut there from Taylor.

Taylor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mulligan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Mulligan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mulligan can't break the clinch.
Mulligan letting Taylor take a breather here.
Mulligan just leaning against Taylor, taking a breather.

Taylor has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mulligan regains guard immediately.
Mulligan is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Taylor dives into side control.
Jerome Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Taylor decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor dodges the punch combination from Mulligan.
It seemed like Taylor was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taylor moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taylor 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome Taylor!
Jerome Taylor tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.