LUC:02 The Uprising PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thor Hushovd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thor Hushovd has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hushovd
vs
Taylor

190 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Thor Hushovd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hushovd keeps the fight on the outside.
Hushovd changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to avoid it but Hushovd manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taylor to the ground. Taylor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taylor blocks a leg kick.

Taylor has Hushovd up against the cage in a clinch.
Hushovd is pressed up against the cage. Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hushovd down to the mat. Hushovd avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taylor misses with a takedown

and Hushovd counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Taylor's guard now.
Hushovd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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.
Hushovd stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hushovd drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hushovd jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to keep Hushovd in close.
Hushovd is pushing down on Taylor's leg trying to pass to half guard. Taylor is fighting to maintain full guard but Hushovd has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hushovd is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Taylor!
Taylor wants to control but Hushovd is having none of it.
Taylor bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Hushovd is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Hushovd is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hushovd is breathing heavily.
Hushovd has a closed guard, preventing Taylor from standing up.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hushovd is looking for a triangle but Taylor pushes his legs off easily.

Hushovd is looking for a triangle but Taylor pushes his legs off easily.
Taylor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Taylor stands and throws Hushovd's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Taylor stands up and beckons Hushovd to his feet.
Taylor darts in trying to clinch

and Hushovd counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Taylor!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hushovd looking to secure an arm triangle but Taylor defends it well.

Hushovd goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Taylor turns into him and now he's in Hushovd's guard.
Hushovd 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.
Hushovd is working hard here to advance position.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Hushovd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Hushovd is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hushovd 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Hushovd is retaining full guard.

Hushovd looking for a guillotine here but Taylor defends easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hushovd keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taylor stuns Hushovd with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hushovd misses with a takedown attempt - Taylor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Hushovd 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.

Taylor throws a head kick that misses

and Hushovd counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.
Hushovd passes into half guard.
Taylor trying to control but Hushovd postures up.
Taylor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hushovd will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hushovd seems to be working for a kimura but Taylor defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hushovd trying to mount his opponent but Taylor defends it.
Hushovd has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Taylor gets back to half guard.
Hushovd moves nicely into side control.

Hushovd 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 Hushovd but great work by Taylor.
Hushovd is looking for a sweep.
Hushovd is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Taylor's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hushovd tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hushovd looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor controlling the action here.
Hushovd gets back to full guard.
Hushovd is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hushovd is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Taylor still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Taylor has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hushovd gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Taylor prevents Hushovd from improving his position.

Taylor looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hushovd is staying active underneath Taylor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hushovd slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Hushovd looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Taylor is defending well. Hushovd quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Taylor has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Hushovd celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thor Hushovd!