PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dorian Guerra (ranked 6632 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshall Taylor (ranked 4179 p4p, 544 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.

Guerra
vs
Taylor

214 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Los Angeles, Dorian Guerra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marshall Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Guerra clinches.
Guerra really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Guerra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taylor tries to clinch up.

Guerra looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Taylor controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Taylor is defending against the submission attempts here by Guerra.
Guerra will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Taylor is pressing down on Guerra's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guerra chips away with some ground and pound.
Guerra throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Guerra prevents Taylor from getting back to his feet.
Guerra looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Guerra is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Guerra swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Guerra is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.

Taylor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Guerra closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Taylor to the mat! Taylor manages to get full guard.
Taylor is pulling down on Guerra's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Guerra got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taylor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Guerra has managed to get both his arms back between Taylor's legs - danger averted.

Taylor looking for a guillotine here but Guerra defends easily.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Taylor trying to control the position.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Guerra defends well.
Taylor keeping full guard, as Guerra tries to pass.
Taylor looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guerra trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

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

Guerra wants to stand but Taylor is controlling the position.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Guerra keeps moving.
Taylor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Guerra is keeping the position for now.
Guerra keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Guerra being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor prevents Guerra from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marshall Taylor will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Taylor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Guerra sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Guerra.

Taylor gets tackled into the cage by Guerra. Guerra maintains the clinch.
Taylor letting Guerra take a breather here.

Taylor gets control of Guerra's arms and successfully pulls guard. Taylor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Guerra trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

Taylor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Guerra doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Guerra manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor trying to control the position.

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

Guerra is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is stalling in the full guard.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Guerra is retaining full guard.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Guerra keeps moving.
Taylor stops Guerra from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Taylor won't allow Guerra to sweep him here.
Guerra is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Guerra trying to control from half guard but Taylor is working away.
Marshall Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Guerra is looking to advance position but Taylor won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Guerra is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Guerra is thwarting Taylor's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Guerra is looking for a kimura but Taylor is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Guerra to get the leverage.
Guerra trying to control the action but Taylor is working from the bottom.

Guerra is working for a submission of some sort.

Taylor makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Taylor gets the takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Guerra taking punishment in the form of punches.
Taylor advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that Taylor has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Taylor raining down hammerfists from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Guerra throws a strike but has given up his back in the process.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Guerra.

Taylor looking to break Guerra's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Guerra remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Taylor will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Taylor misses with a body shot.

Guerra gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taylor wants a takedown.

Taylor has clasped his hands together around Guerra's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Guerra bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Guerra fails with an attempt to clinch.

Guerra drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Guerra drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Guerra jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Guerra trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

Guerra 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 Guerra has Taylor in his guard.

Taylor not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Guerra keeps moving.
Taylor is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Taylor throws an elbow that misses. Guerra uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taylor's guard. Nice move by Guerra!

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

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.
Guerra wants to clinch.
Taylor unleashes a big counter combination but Guerra bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Guerra fails with the takedown.

Taylor fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Guerra to the ground. Taylor is now in Guerra's guard.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Guerra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Guerra wants to stand but Taylor is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor landing some decent shots from guard.
Guerra is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Taylor forces his way into half guard.
Guerra wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taylor looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Taylor is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Guerra is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Guerra trying to hold on to Taylor's head to control him but Taylor postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Guerra is staying active underneath Taylor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Taylor looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Guerra!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Dorian Guerra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marshall Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Guerra trying his best to control but Taylor has mounted him.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dorian Guerra.
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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Marshall Taylor!