PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mad Max (ranked 5340 p4p, 24607 weight class) and Steve Taylor (ranked 623 p4p, 799 weight class). Max comes into the arena with Fury Road blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Max
vs
Taylor

182 cm
18
183
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
186
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mad Max!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Taylor!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taylor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Max is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Taylor's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor wants to free his trapped foot but Max is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Max trying to hold on to Taylor's head to control him but Taylor postures up.
Max preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Taylor postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Max to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taylor has Max up against the cage in a clinch.
Max letting Taylor take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Max drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Taylor gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Max manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Taylor gets the takedown into side control.
Max is trying to control Taylor's posture but Taylor avoids it.
Max is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Max is working hard here to advance position.
Max struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has control of an arm but Max manages to advance to Taylor's back!
Taylor just trying to survive but Max is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Taylor is keeping busy.
Max biding his time, controlling Taylor.
I really don't envy Taylor right now.
Taylor looking very determined here, making life difficult for Max.
Taylor tries to roll but Max sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor prevents Max from getting a body triangle.
Taylor tries to break free.
Taylor looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Max tries to keep control of the position but Taylor is staying busy.

Max is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Taylor defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Max is not going to allow Taylor to sit and survive in this position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mad Max will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Max wants to clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Taylor enables Max to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Taylor manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Taylor has his feet on Max's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Taylor fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Max had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Taylor defends it easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Max bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taylor's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Max throws a big right hand that misses.

Taylor is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Max advances position into side control!
Max tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Max working away.
Taylor is trying to get back to his feet.
Mad Max overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor is trying to improve his position.
Max taking a breather here.
Max wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Max avoids the strikes from the bottom by Taylor.
Max trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.
Max postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Taylor is looking to reverse the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Max throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Max throwing shots but missing, from side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Max closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Max pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Max has his takedown stuffed

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Max tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Taylor manages to move to mount!
Max tries to lock up and control but Taylor gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Max in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Max is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Max wants to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Max is squirming around, avoiding Taylor's attempts to control the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Taylor avoids the head kick by Max.
Max is looking to clinch.
Max sets himself, and Taylor steps forward looking for the clinch! Max avoids it this time.
Taylor scores with a jab.
Max shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Max with a lazy takedown attempt

and Taylor counters with a takedown into side control.
Max is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Taylor creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Max is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Max's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor landing a few strikes.
Max trying to remain calm as Taylor controls from the top position.
Max is looking for a sweep.
Max taking a bit of punishment here - Taylor scoring with strikes.
Taylor works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Max is trying to improve his position.
Max is working to avoid the ground and pound but Taylor connects with a decent elbow.
Max wants to control but Taylor postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Max is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Taylor landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Max is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Taylor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Max. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
You can see the frustration on Max's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Max throws a head kick that misses

and Taylor counters with a single leg into guard. Max didn't expect that.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Taylor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Max tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Max tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Max throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Max finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Max wants to stand and escape but instead Taylor has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Taylor trying to control but Max is working from the bottom.
Max is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Max is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Taylor!
The defeated Mad Max had this to say: 'My mother will knock me out'.