PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cyprus Palmer (ranked 6580 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dylan Taylor (ranked 6548 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.

Palmer
vs
Taylor

183 cm
21
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 The Island, Cyprus Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dylan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palmer manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Taylor on his heels. He'll look to pass Taylor's guard now, I'm sure.

Taylor has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Palmer has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the head but Palmer blocks with his arms.
Palmer taking a breather.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
Palmer tries to pull guard but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor letting Palmer take a breather here.

Taylor jumps guard and drags Palmer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor wants to sweep but no luck.
Palmer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Palmer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Palmer postures up.
Palmer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Palmer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Palmer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palmer seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Palmer postures up.
Palmer is stalling in the full guard.

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

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.
Taylor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Palmer pinned against the cage. Palmer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Palmer seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Palmer closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Palmer lands in his opponent's guard.
Palmer wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Palmer stopping the sweep attempt from Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Palmer postures up.
Palmer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Palmer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Palmer's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Palmer moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Palmer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Palmer lands a jab to the head.
Palmer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taylor avoids it really well and circles away.
Taylor slaps away a takedown attempt from Palmer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cyprus Palmer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palmer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
Palmer dodges the punch combination from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dylan Taylor will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Palmer tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Palmer to the ground. Palmer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Palmer throws a quick counter kick to the body but Taylor avoids it.
Palmer shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Taylor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Taylor fails to pull guard.
Cyprus Palmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dylan Taylor.
Palmer lands a knee to the head.
Palmer holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Palmer keeps him there for the moment.

Palmer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Palmer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taylor wants it to stay on the feet.

Palmer rushes Taylor and presses him up against the cage.
Taylor has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Palmer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Palmer stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Palmer 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.
Palmer is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Palmer avoids it.
Taylor is trying to pull guard but Palmer turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Taylor is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer 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 missing with knees to the body.
Palmer tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Taylor smiles and moves away.
Palmer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Taylor throws out a counter right but Palmer avoids it with no problem.
Palmer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Palmer's waist but Palmer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taylor off to one side.
Nice sprawl there from Taylor as Palmer shoots in.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Palmer tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Palmer to the ground. Palmer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
It looked like Palmer was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Palmer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor dodges the punch combination from Palmer.
Taylor is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cyprus Palmer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palmer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taylor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor is looking for the big counter here.

Taylor scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Palmer manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Taylor jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Palmer has managed to clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Palmer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palmer goes for a takedown in the clinch but Taylor prevents it.

Palmer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.

Palmer has managed to clinch.
Palmer lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Taylor is working for takedown but Palmer is calmly controlling the position for now.
Taylor prevents the takedown attempt.
Palmer is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Palmer is trying to force a seperation but Taylor has the dominant position.
Palmer managing to block the knees to the body from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyprus Palmer dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Palmer shoots in looking for a takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl out of it but Palmer 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.
Palmer changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to avoid it but Palmer manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taylor to the ground. Taylor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taylor looks for a takedown but Palmer sprawls well.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Palmer circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Palmer, right into the meat.
Palmer shoots in for a double leg but Taylor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cyprus Palmer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Palmer fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Palmer defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor clinches with his opponent.
Palmer jumps guard but Taylor stands there with Palmer around his waist. Palmer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Taylor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taylor is looking to take this one to the mat.

Palmer breaks the clinch.

Taylor pushes Palmer up against the cage in a clinch.

Taylor gets control of Palmer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Taylor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Palmer from controlling successfully.

Taylor working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Palmer has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Palmer prevents Taylor from improving his position.
Palmer stalling.

Palmer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Taylor defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Palmer seems content to control.
Palmer wants to pass to mount but Taylor is defending the position.
Cyprus Palmer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Palmer stops Taylor from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Palmer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor misses with an uppercut
and Palmer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Palmer dives in and grabs Taylor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes down on Palmer's head and hops out.
Palmer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taylor circles away.
Palmer dives in and grabs Taylor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes down on Palmer's head and hops out.
Despite the aggression on Taylor's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Taylor looks for the body kick but Palmer saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Palmer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Palmer gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Palmer decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palmer trying to keep a closed guard but Taylor is proving a slippery customer.
Palmer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taylor on the ground.

Palmer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Taylor is aware though and is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Palmer keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dylan Taylor.
I think Taylor 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!