PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tim Markovic (ranked 3291 p4p, 348 weight class) and David Taylor (ranked 2815 p4p, 310 weight class). Tim Markovic could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to David Taylor 's chin.

Markovic
vs
Taylor

175 cm
23
164 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
181 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tim Markovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Taylor !
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor throws the left hand but Markovic avoids the punch easily.
Markovic's corner calls for a 1-2. Markovic obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Markovic with a lazy takedown attempt

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into side control. Markovic won't be happy with that.
Taylor in side control, throwing shots but Markovic defends.
Taylor working the head with strikes.
Markovic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Taylor wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Markovic is not content to let Taylor control the position.
Taylor tries to score with some ground and pound. Markovic controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markovic is trying to improve his position.
Taylor landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor lands some shots froms side control.
Markovic dodges the ground and pound from Taylor .
Markovic wants to control but Taylor postures up.
Taylor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Markovic taking punishment in the form of punches.
Markovic struggling a bit here.
Taylor throwing strikes but Markovic manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Markovic goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Taylor has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Markovic but great work by Taylor .
My spies in Just Scrap MMA and BJJ inform me that Taylor has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Taylor lands a decent elbow from side control.
Taylor working the ground and pound.

Markovic is rocked!
Taylor is chipping away with strikes.
Oh Markovic is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Markovic tries to buck Taylor off but Taylor is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws an elbow but Markovic slips to the side and avoids it well.
Markovic seems to have got his legs back now.
Taylor controls the position.
Taylor working the ground and pound from side control.
Taylor working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Taylor lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Markovic is not content to let Taylor control the position.
Markovic on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Markovic to see if he's OK.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Markovic can't do much from the bottom here.
Markovic sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Taylor looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Markovic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Markovic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Markovic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Taylor working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Taylor sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Markovic defending well though.
Taylor working the head and body with strikes.
Taylor is thwarting Markovic's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Markovic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taylor .
Taylor thows a huge punch but Markovic dodges it nicely.
Markovic wants to control the action here but instead Taylor manages to pass to full mount!
Markovic wants to control but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor controlling from mount.
Markovic tries to lock up and control but Taylor gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Markovic in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Taylor scoring with strikes but Markovic is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Taylor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Markovic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Markovic.
A countering left hand to the body from Taylor misses.
Taylor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Markovic.
Taylor takes a swing at Markovic's ribcage but misses.
Markovic misses with a body punch
and Taylor counters with a left to the body.
No luck for Markovic with that takedown attempt.
Markovic lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from Markovic. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A shot to the body from Markovic misses
and Taylor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Markovic throws a hook but Taylor avoids it easily.
Markovic missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taylor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Markovic lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor connects with a right hand. Markovic shakes it off.
Markovic slips under a jab.
Markovic appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Markovic tries to land a leg kick but Taylor saw it coming and moves away.
Taylor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Markovic defends it well.
Markovic keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taylor .
Taylor walks into a jab.
Taylor connects with a body shot that sends Markovic's belly button to the back.
Markovic misses with a head kick.
Taylor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Markovic throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
Taylor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Markovic.
A jab from Taylor misses.
Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taylor comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Markovic fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Markovic misses with an uppercut. Taylor saw that one coming.
Taylor with the counter takedown but Markovic avoids it easily.
Markovic misses with an uppercut

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Markovic trying to control but Taylor postures up.
Taylor not doing much here.
Taylor has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Taylor fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands a big shot there that rocks Markovic but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Markovic is trying to escape the mount.
Markovic regains half guard.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Markovic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Markovic wants to improve his position but Taylor is controlling well.
Markovic is controlling Taylor 's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Markovic is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Markovic taking some punishment here, with Taylor in his half guard.
Markovic tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
Taylor trying to control the action but Markovic is working from the bottom.
Taylor not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Taylor looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Markovic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Taylor trying to control from half guard but Markovic is working away.
Markovic has hold of Taylor 's hands but Taylor slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Markovic throws a jab when Taylor was well out of range.
Markovic swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.
David Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Markovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taylor tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Markovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to avoid it but Markovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taylor to the ground. Taylor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No joy there for Markovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Markovic throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor lands a slapping body shot.
Taylor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Markovic.
Markovic misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taylor manages to avoid it.
And Taylor tries to counter it with a takedown but Markovic pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Markovic stuns Taylor with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Taylor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nice body punch from Taylor .
Taylor uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tim Markovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor misses the shot to the body.
Taylor takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Markovic.
Taylor with the counter takedown but Markovic avoids it easily.
Markovic misses with a straight right.
Markovic throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor feints the counter takedown.
A big left from Markovic misses.
Taylor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Markovic.
Taylor let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Markovic misses with a looping right.
Taylor now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Taylor works Markovic's body with a nice hook.
A jab from Markovic misses.
Taylor changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Taylor misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markovic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taylor sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taylor throws a lazy right hand but Markovic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Markovic moves away from the strike by Taylor .
Taylor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taylor wants it to stay on the feet.
Markovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taylor manages to avoid it.
Markovic slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Markovic lands with an overhand left.
Taylor takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor cracks Markovic with a right hand to the side of the head.
Markovic throws a body shot but no joy.
Horrible takedown attempt by Markovic or perhaps it was just good defense by Taylor , which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Markovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Markovic avoids the body shot from Taylor .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markovic lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Taylor takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Taylor swings for the body but Markovic moves out of range.
Markovic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taylor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Markovic.
Taylor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Markovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taylor .
Taylor punishes Markovic's body with a nice straight punch.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Markovic throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Markovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Markovic throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Markovic throws an off balance right hand

and Taylor counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Markovic!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Markovic keeps working.
Taylor is putting a hurting on Markovic here, landing some big shots from side control.
Taylor cracks Markovic with a big right hand but Markovic just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Taylor scores with a couple of short elbows.
Taylor looks up at the clock and then as Markovic takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Taylor smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Taylor throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Markovic is not content to let Taylor control the position.
Taylor working the body and head with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to David Taylor .
I've got Taylor winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

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