PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Irwin Ortiz (ranked 24337 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Taylor (ranked 5948 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Ortiz
vs
Taylor

186 cm
19
278 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Irwin Ortiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bob Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortiz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Ortiz.

Taylor gets the takedown into side control.

Taylor has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Taylor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Taylor.

It looks like Irwin Ortiz has been cut.

Taylor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Taylor has Ortiz pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Taylor pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ortiz tumbling to the mat - Taylor dives into Ortiz's guard.
Ortiz could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ortiz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taylor passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz is trying to get back to full guard.
Taylor not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ortiz tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
Taylor content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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 uses his free foot to push down on Ortiz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ortiz.
Taylor avoids the attempt from Ortiz to control.
Taylor controlling from the full mount.
Ortiz wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Taylor.
Poor strikes thrown by Taylor there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz wants to control but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Taylor prevents Ortiz from getting the reversal.
Taylor throwing strikes here but Ortiz is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ortiz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taylor on the ground.
Taylor content just to control the position here.

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.
Ortiz has given up his back.

Taylor is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Ortiz is defending well though. Taylor let's go of the attempt for now.
Ortiz tries to escape but Taylor has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
What can Ortiz do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor punishes Ortiz with strikes from the back mount.
Ortiz is trying to get back to his feet but Taylor has full control of the position and if anything, Ortiz has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Irwin Ortiz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taylor fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ortiz to the ground. Taylor is now in Ortiz's guard.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bob Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ortiz looking to control.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor throws a big elbow that misses.
Taylor landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taylor is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortiz wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ortiz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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

Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ortiz is one step ahead there.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ortiz defends well.

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 is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ortiz trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

Taylor has his foot on Ortiz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ortiz works his way back into a safe position though.
Ortiz wanted to stand there but Taylor had control of the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Taylor looking for a guillotine here but Ortiz defends easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Ortiz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taylor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taylor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Taylor. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Taylor takes the fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ortiz wants a takedown.

Taylor jumps guard and drags Ortiz to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Irwin Ortiz's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Taylor drives through with a takedown into Ortiz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ortiz wants to get back to his feet but Taylor passes into half guard.

Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taylor not doing much here.

Taylor stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortiz takes one on the chin but seems OK.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor is looking for a kimura here.
Taylor controlling the action here.
Taylor working over Ortiz with some ground and pound. Ortiz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Still in half guard, Taylor seems content to control.

That's two 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 wants to pass to mount but Ortiz is defending the position.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Taylor decides to stand up.

Taylor clinches up with Ortiz and pushes him back against the cage.

Taylor successfully pulls guard.
Ortiz being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor working for a triangle but Ortiz defends it easily.
Taylor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ortiz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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.

Taylor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Taylor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taylor is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ortiz dives in and grabs Taylor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes down on Ortiz's head and hops out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ortiz gets caught flat footed, as Taylor shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Irwin Ortiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bob Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Taylor's corner is telling him to maintain position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Taylor!
Bob Taylor spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.