PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zacarias Amurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Taylor is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Amurov
vs
Taylor

225 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
300 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zacarias Amurov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Amurov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Taylor is pushing down on Amurov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Amurov is fighting to maintain full guard but Taylor has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Amurov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Taylor prevents Amurov from improving his position.
Amurov desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Taylor working the head and body with strikes.
Amurov tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
Amurov is holding on to half guard well.
Amurov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.
Amurov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Amurov'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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor thows a huge punch but Amurov dodges it nicely.
Amurov is controlling Taylor's trapped leg to prevent Taylor from advancing to side control.
Amurov is looking to improve his position.
Amurov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.
Amurov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taylor.
Taylor tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Amurov.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Taylor feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Amurov looking for a sweep. Not yet Amurov, not yet.
Amurov pulls Taylor in close to his closed guard and prevents Taylor from doing any damage or advancing position.
Amurov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Amurov keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Taylor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Amurov is proving hard to escape from.
Amurov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Amurov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Amurov pulls Taylor in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amurov pulls Taylor in close to prevent any damage.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taylor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Amurov is controlling Taylor's posture.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor postures up.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Amurov is keeping the position for now.
Amurov is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Amurov is retaining full guard.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Amurov tries for a takedown but Taylor circles away easily

and Taylor counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Amurov is trying to control but can't.
Taylor sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Amurov defending well though.
Amurov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Amurov tries to get out of the position.
Amurov trying to control but Taylor postures up.
Amurov controlling the position well.
Amurov trying to hold on to Taylor's head to control him but Taylor postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Amurov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Amurov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Taylor throwing shots but Amurov is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Taylor dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Amurov shoots and misses

and Taylor counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
James Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Amurov 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 decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Amurov, up you get!

Taylor has closed the distance and engaged Amurov in a clinch.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Amurov has his takedown stuffed

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Amurov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Taylor thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor wants to stand but Amurov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Amurov pulls Taylor in close to prevent any damage.
Amurov looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor postures up in Amurov's guard and throws a big left but Amurov blocks it.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Amurov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Taylor!
Amurov looking to control but Taylor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Taylor is looking to improve his position but Amurov isn't that keen on the idea.
Taylor gets back to half guard.
Amurov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amurov is tying to control. Taylor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Amurov is really struggling to control Taylor but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Zacarias Amurov just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Taylor gets a takedown into half guard.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Taylor throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Amurov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Amurov is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amurov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taylor is thwarting Amurov's attempts to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Taylor closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Amurov to the mat! Amurov manages to get full guard.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taylor won't allow Amurov to sweep him here.
Taylor is looking to stand up but Amurov won't let him.
Amurov controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor passes Amurov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Amurov is trying to control but can't.
Taylor thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Amurov's head.
Amurov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Taylor decides to stand and escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Amurov doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Taylor counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zacarias Amurov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Amurov is on top in guard.
Amurov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James 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!

Amurov tries for a takedown but Taylor circles away easily

and Taylor counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Amurov!
Amurov tries to hold on but Taylor postures up.
Taylor landing strikes, looking to finish!
The referee warns Amurov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the head.
Taylor breaks from Amurov's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Amurov is rocked!
Taylor lands a big shot there that rocks Amurov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Oh Amurov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Amurov wants to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.
Taylor connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Taylor working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Taylor dominating with strikes here.
Taylor is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Taylor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Amurov's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor landing punches.
Taylor lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Amurov tries to hold on but Taylor postures up.
Taylor is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Amurov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Taylor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Amurov's face.
Taylor landing strikes from the mount.
Taylor lands a big shot there that rocks Amurov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Taylor lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Taylor looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Taylor lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Taylor cracks Amurov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Taylor working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Amurov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Taylor breaks from Amurov's wrist control and lands an elbow.

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 putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Taylor with the ground and pound from mount.
Taylor cracks Amurov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Amurov taking shots to the head.
Taylor in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Taylor is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Taylor unloading with bombs!
Taylor is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Taylor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Amurov's face.
Taylor connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Amurov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Taylor connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Amurov tries to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.
Taylor working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor dominating with strikes here.
Taylor unloading with bombs!
Taylor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Amurov's face.
A nice elbow there by Taylor.
Taylor landing punches.
Taylor is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Amurov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Taylor is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Amurov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Taylor lands a big elbow.
Taylor with shots to the head and body - Amurov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Taylor lands with some strikes.
Taylor pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Taylor lands a heavy elbow.
Taylor working the ground and pound effectively.

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.
Taylor connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Amurov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Taylor punishing his opponent with strikes.
Taylor looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Taylor with good strikes from the mount here!
Taylor with the ground and pound from mount.
Taylor scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Amurov?
Amurov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Taylor with shots to the head and body - Amurov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Taylor scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the head.
Zacarias Amurov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Amurov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
James 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

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