PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Angle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Angle has chosen The Doors - Roadhouse Blues as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taylor
vs
Angle

186 cm
25
203 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jesse Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kurt Angle!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Angle gets the takedown into side control.
Taylor wants to control but Angle postures up.
Angle trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.
Taylor tries to buck Angle off but Angle is having none of it.
Taylor wants to control but Angle postures up.
Angle looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Angle trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.
Angle tries to move to mount but Taylor blocks the move with his legs.
Angle trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Taylor is defending against the submission attempts here by Angle.
Taylor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle moves nicely into side control.
Taylor is trying to buck Angle off.
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Angle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Angle is trying to get an arm triangle but Taylor is defending well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Taylor tries to bench press Angle off him but Angle keeps the position.
Taylor is working hard here to advance position.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle working away.

Taylor explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Angle tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taylor lands a body shot.
Angle shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Angle tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
Jesse Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Angle.
Angle looks winded!
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Angle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Angle feints the counter takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Angle will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taylor seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Angle walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Kurt Angle has been cut.

Angle closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Taylor to the mat! Taylor manages to get full guard.
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 is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to control but Angle wriggling away.
Taylor wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Angle is looking to improve his position but Taylor isn't that keen on the idea.

Taylor stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Angle fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Angle tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taylor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Angle somewhat.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Angle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taylor as he jumps to the side.
Angle has a takedown stuffed.
Taylor jabs at Angle's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kurt Angle'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.

Taylor clobbers Angle with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Taylor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Angle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Angle closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Angle pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taylor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taylor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Angle was well out of range. Poor timing from Taylor.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor is looking to wear down Angle with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Taylor scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Angle doesn't seem bothered though.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor takes a swing at Angle's ribcage but misses.
Taylor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jesse Taylor is winning the standup battle so far.
Angle walks into a stiff left hand from Taylor.
Angle is breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Taylor throws a looping overhand right but Angle ducks down to avoid it.
Taylor throws a right hand that Angle ducks under and follows up with a left that Angle also avoids with ease.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taylor throws a low kick but Angle avoids it.
Taylor lands a two punch combo.
Angle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taylor as he jumps to the side.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taylor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kurt Angle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Angle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Angle persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Jesse Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Angle.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Angle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Angle was well out of range. Poor timing from Taylor.
Taylor throws a body punch but Angle moves out of range.
Angle shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Taylor was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Angle.
Taylor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Taylor.
Taylor misses with a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Angle shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Angle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jesse Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor lands a nice shot that snaps Angle's head back.
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.
Angle dives in and grabs Taylor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes down on Angle's head and hops out.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Angle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
Angle tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Taylor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Angle moves out of range of the leg kick from Taylor.
Taylor throws a right and a left that both miss.

Angle closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Angle lands in his opponent's guard.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Angle defends well.
Angle trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Jesse Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Angle prevents Taylor from getting back to his feet.

Angle drops back looking for a leg! Taylor is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Taylor manages to kick Angle off! Angle jumps back into Taylor's guard.
Taylor is trying to keep Angle in close.

Taylor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Angle defends it easily.
Angle works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Taylor tries to roll over but Angle keeps him under control.

That's four 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.
Taylor won't allow Angle to pass to mount.
Taylor keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Angle wants to pass to mount but Taylor is defending the position.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Angle can do to turn this around?
Taylor tries to get to full guard but Angle has control of the leg.
Angle is pressing down on Taylor's thigh, looking to free his foot. Taylor is holding on for now.
Taylor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Angle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor wants to stand and escape but Angle is having none of it.
Angle passes Taylor's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Angle stops Taylor from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Taylor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kurt Angle'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. This is the final round!

Taylor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Angle misses with a takedown
and Taylor counters with a two punch combo.
Angle goes for a double leg but Taylor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Taylor continues to drive forward.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Angle shoots and misses
and Angle takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jesse Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Angle.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Angle is just out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Angle.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Angle shoots in and bounces Taylor off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Angle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Angle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Taylor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Angle defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Taylor is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Angle is aware though and is defending well.
Angle wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.

Taylor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Angle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Angle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Taylor wants to stand up but Angle is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Angle wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taylor is on top in guard.

Taylor gets to his feet - Angle follows without any prompting.
Angle has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Angle shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.
Angle blocks a low kick nicely.
Taylor looks to land a combination but Angle avoids it well.
It looks like Taylor has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Angle.
Angle drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Taylor defends it well.

Angle looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle is looking to advance position but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor is pressing down on Angle's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Angle wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Taylor wants to stand and escape but Angle is having none of it.

Taylor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Angle gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Angle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Taylor has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Angle can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

That's four 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.
Angle slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Angle trying to control the action but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Angle asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Angle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet but Angle drags him back down.
Angle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.

Angle wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Taylor, who protects the arm well.
Kurt Angle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jesse Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor wants to control but Angle postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taylor, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Taylor!