PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and fighting ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ninja has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Taylor
vs
ninja

191 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

225 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, fighting ninja!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
ninja looks gassed!
Taylor controlling his opponent.

Taylor looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Taylor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Taylor looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Taylor controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor moves to the back position.
Taylor slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Taylor lands a shot to the body.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Taylor'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 two minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Mike Taylor just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Taylor pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Taylor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
ninja is trying to escape the position but Taylor is controlling the position.
Taylor lands a nice forearm strike.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
ninja is trying to improve his position.
Taylor controlling the position from side mount.
Taylor cracks ninja with a big elbow.

Taylor stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Taylor dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taylor fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. ninja sprawls well initially but Taylor persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Taylor winds up and cracks ninja with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Taylor in particular looking to stall.
ninja on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Taylor trying to control the action but ninja is working from the bottom.
Taylor controlling the pace.

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

Taylor moves into range and clinches up with ninja.
ninja is breathing heavily.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ninja avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by ninja.
Taylor throws a nice inside leg kick.

Taylor drives through with a takedown into guard.

ninja working for a triangle but Taylor defends it easily.

Taylor gets to his feet. ninja looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Taylor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Taylor scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ninja is trying to maintain the position but Taylor is very close to passing his half guard.
Taylor content to control rather than advance.
ninja is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks ninja with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor works his way into full mount!
ninja is trying desperately to improve position.
Taylor tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Taylor landing strikes from the mount.
Taylor looking to control but ninja is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
ninja is looking to improve his position but Taylor isn't that keen on the idea.
Taylor in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
ninja is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Taylor trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Taylor controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taylor get's back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Taylor dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taylor closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Taylor keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Taylor has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
ninja is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Taylor wants to control the pace but ninja is squirming around nicely.
ninja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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

Taylor bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ninja tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taylor is staying tight to ninja's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that ninja can do to turn this around?
ninja struggling a bit here.
ninja seems a little lost for a moment, as Taylor dominates the positioning.

Taylor thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
ninja is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor trying to control the action but ninja is working from the bottom.
Taylor looks up at the clock and then as ninja takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Taylor smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Taylor tries for a kimura but ninja is defending well.
ninja is looking to regain half guard here but Taylor keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
ninja is looking to reverse the position.
Taylor is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt ninja will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

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.
ninja tries to improve position but can't.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Taylor working away.
ninja is looking for a sweep.
ninja is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taylor controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taylor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:26
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:26

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