PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abe Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scotty Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taylor
vs
Sullivan

152 cm
21
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abe Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Scotty Sullivan!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sullivan rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Taylor successfully pulls guard.
Taylor is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sullivan wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Sullivan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Taylor really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor slips a nice elbow through Sullivan's hands, connecting with Sullivan's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Taylor connects with a nice short shot to Sullivan's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sullivan looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sullivan is trying to stand.
Sullivan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Taylor preventing the sweep.

Sullivan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taylor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Taylor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taylor lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taylor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sullivan trying to control the position.
Taylor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sullivan is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Taylor dives into side control.
Taylor working the ground and pound.
Taylor slows the pace down.
Sullivan can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is chipping away with strikes.
Taylor scoring with punches from side control.

Taylor decides to stand back up.

Sullivan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A hook to the body from Taylor.

Taylor pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet but Sullivan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sullivan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taylor trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sullivan preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Sullivan throws an elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sullivan's guard. Nice move by Taylor!

Sullivan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sullivan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sullivan trying to strike off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abe 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.

Taylor takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Taylor moves into range and clinches up with Sullivan.

Taylor ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Taylor no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sullivan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Abe Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor wants to stand but Sullivan is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sullivan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sullivan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sullivan slaps away a takedown attempt from Taylor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sullivan chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sullivan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sullivan content to control rather than advance.
Sullivan prevents Taylor from improving his position.
Taylor is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sullivan jumps into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sullivan decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Sullivan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sullivan lands in his opponent's guard.
Sullivan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sullivan wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sullivan throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sullivan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sullivan wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Taylor gets caught flat footed, as Sullivan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Sullivan manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sullivan decides to stand and escape the position.

Sullivan gets the takedown into side control.

Taylor explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Scotty Sullivan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sullivan feints and as Taylor raises his hands in defense, Sullivan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scotty Sullivan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sullivan throws a head kick that half lands.

Sullivan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Sullivan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Taylor wants to stand but Sullivan is controlling the position.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Sullivan postures up.
Sullivan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sullivan throws an elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sullivan's guard. Nice move by Taylor!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sullivan looking to control but Taylor passes into half guard.
Sullivan taking some punishment here, with Taylor in his half guard.
Still in half guard, Taylor seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sullivan wants to get back to full guard.
Taylor is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Taylor is nestled in close to Sullivan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sullivan is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taylor seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Taylor gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sullivan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sullivan trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sullivan tries to free his leg and advance position but Taylor is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan throws a big elbow that misses.

Sullivan stands up from Taylor's guard - Sullivan perhaps looking for a knockout.

Sullivan rushes Taylor and presses him up against the cage.

Taylor manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sullivan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Taylor looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Scotty Sullivan.
I think Sullivan 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scotty Sullivan!