PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dylan Taylor (ranked 5938 p4p, 412 weight class) and XY Mondragon (ranked 23844 p4p, 0 weight class). XY Mondragon has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Dylan Taylor's chin.

Taylor
vs
Mondragon

185 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
26
145 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Shade Tree Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dylan Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, XY Mondragon!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor stalks Mondragon and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mondragon's face. Mondragon staggers backwards, shaken.
Mondragon misses with a body shot
letting Taylor counter with a right hand.
Mondragon connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Mondragon feints and as Taylor raises his hands in defense, Mondragon changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Taylor pushes Mondragon off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mondragon shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mondragon showed some decent athleticism there.

Taylor kicks Mondragon off and gets back to his feet.
XY Mondragon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mondragon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Taylor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taylor is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mondragon leaning against his opponent.
Taylor is trying to push Mondragon away but Mondragon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondragon prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.

Mondragon manages to break the clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Mondragon there.

Mondragon closes the distance and clinches.
Mondragon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Taylor tries to stall but Mondragon uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Taylor is trying to push Mondragon away but Mondragon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Mondragon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mondragon just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mondragon. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Mondragon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Taylor blocks a head kick by Mondragon.
Mondragon circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mondragon tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Mondragon misses with a wild body shot.
Taylor is looking to counter the offense by Mondragon and move into the clinch.

Mondragon scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mondragon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Taylor wants to control but Mondragon postures up.
Mondragon looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Taylor is avoiding damage well.

Mondragon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Mondragon working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor can't do much from the bottom here.
Taylor defending against the ground and pound.
Mondragon in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Taylor seems a little lost for a moment, as Mondragon dominates the positioning.

That's four 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.

Mondragon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Taylor knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
A lull in the action here as Mondragon stalls from top position.
Taylor gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

XY Mondragon dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mondragon comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Mondragon, which made it look bad.
Mondragon blocks a head kick by Taylor.
Mondragon looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Taylor walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Taylor.

Mondragon explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mondragon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mondragon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taylor moves away.

Mondragon closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Taylor did well to prevent Mondragon getting side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mondragon is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mondragon is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mondragon controlling the pace.
Mondragon thows a huge punch but Taylor dodges it nicely.

Mondragon postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Taylor to stand up.
Mondragon thuds a left hand into Taylor's body.
Mondragon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taylor.
Taylor appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mondragon drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
Mondragon digs a right hand underneath Taylor's ribcage. Taylor let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Mondragon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mondragon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mondragon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mondragon throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Mondragon throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
Dylan Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mondragon slaps away a takedown attempt from Taylor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mondragon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dylan Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mondragon looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Taylor pushes Mondragon off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Taylor dives in for a single leg takedown but Mondragon sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Taylor takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mondragon as he jumps to the side.
Mondragon lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Good shot there by Mondragon.
Taylor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mondragon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Mondragon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Mondragon scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Taylor sneaks out the side door and pushes Mondragon away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor slips a jab from Mondragon.
Mondragon fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Taylor looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Mondragon closes the distance and clinches.

Mondragon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mondragon throws the left hand but Taylor avoids the punch easily.
Mondragon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mondragon cracks a nice hook into Taylor's ribs.
Taylor takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mondragon thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mondragon throws a poor cross that misses
and Taylor counters with a three punch combo that has Mondragon backing up. Mondragon nods at Taylor to acknowledge the strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taylor.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mondragon swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Mondragon lands an overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

XY Mondragon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mondragon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mondragon defends it nicely.

Mondragon clinches.

Mondragon gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Taylor regains guard.
XY Mondragon has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mondragon gets to his feet - Taylor follows without any prompting.

Mondragon rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mondragon works on Taylor's body with a couple of short punches.
Taylor is trying to force a seperation but Mondragon has the dominant position.

Mondragon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mondragon. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mondragon looking to score a takedown here. Taylor is defending well but Mondragon drives through and ends up in Taylor's guard.

Taylor is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Mondragon presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Mondragon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mondragon catches Taylor with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Taylor takes a shot to the body in his stride.
XY Mondragon seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Mondragon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mondragon breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Mondragon. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mondragon swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.

Mondragon pushes Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taylor wants to get back to striking at distance but Mondragon won't allow it.
Taylor misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mondragon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Taylor gets tackled into the cage by Mondragon. Mondragon maintains the clinch.
Mondragon lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Taylor or not.
Mondragon gets through Taylor's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Taylor tries to circle away but Mondragon has him pinned against the cage.

Mondragon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor closes the distance and clinches up with Mondragon, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes Mondragon against the cage but Mondragon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mondragon stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Taylor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dylan Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mondragon fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to bum rush Mondragon with a series of wild strikes but Mondragon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mondragon sprawls well. Mondragon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
Mondragon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mondragon lands with a nice body punch.
Nice uppercut there from Mondragon.
Taylor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taylor has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mondragon finds it's way round the side to connect with Taylor's head.

Mondragon fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Taylor to the ground. Mondragon is now in Taylor's guard.
Mondragon throws a strike but Taylor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but Mondragon has wrist control.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor throws a big elbow that misses.
Mondragon managing to control the position.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor advances position into side control!
Taylor working the ground and pound but Mondragon is defending the strikes.
Dylan Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
XY Mondragon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mondragon wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
XY Mondragon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mondragon 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... XY Mondragon!