PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Habib Putins (ranked 6549 p4p, 6802 weight class) and Steve Taylor (ranked 705 p4p, 724 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Putins
vs
Taylor

220 cm
31
184
9 - 14 - 0

190 cm
25
186
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

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 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Habib Putins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Putins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taylor throws a big counter head kick but Putins avoids it with no problem.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Putins is defended easily by Taylor.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Putins pushes him off.

Taylor shoots in and gets a takedown into Putins's guard.
Taylor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Putins working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Putins throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Putins looking for a sweep. Not yet Putins, not yet.
Putins is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putins keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor scoring with some ground and pound.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Putins trying to keep a closed guard but Taylor is proving a slippery customer.
Taylor looking to pass the guard.
Putins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taylor is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
We've been told by Putins's head coaches at Beasties that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Putins throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Putins is in Taylor's guard.

Taylor has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Putins has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Putins drags the fight down to the ground.
Putins working a defensive guard here.
Taylor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Putins's guard.
Putins wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taylor is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Putins gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Putins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Putins keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor tries to stand but Putins is controlling from the bottom.
Putins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Putins managing to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.

Taylor gets a double leg takedown into Putins's guard.

Taylor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Putins throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Putins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Putins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Taylor dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Putins has a takedown stuffed.
Taylor wants to counter with a clinch but Putins pushes him away.
Putins shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Putins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Putins swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Putins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Habib Putins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Taylor closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Putins's guard.
Steve Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Putins not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Putins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taylor manages to get himself to full guard.

Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taylor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Putins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taylor looking to control but Putins passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is refusing to be controlled, as Putins sits in half guard.
Putins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Taylor is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Putins has latched onto it... Big trouble! Putins pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Taylor is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Putins!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Habib Putins!