PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charles Taylor (ranked 5798 p4p, 4542 weight class) and Buck Riddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Riddell

188 cm
18
210
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
205
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Charles Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Buck Riddell!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riddell moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
Taylor tries to break free but Riddell pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor is working for takedown but Riddell is calmly controlling the position for now.
Taylor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Riddell drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taylor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Riddell walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Taylor digs a good hook to Riddell's body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Taylor, as that shot connected.
Taylor lands with an uppercut that bounces Riddell off the cage and back into range.
Taylor lands a nice hook to Riddell's body. Riddell takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riddell lands a head shot.
Riddell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddell goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Charles Taylor has been cut.
Riddell scoring well with a low kick there.
Riddell tries for a takedown but Taylor circles away easily
and Taylor counters with a stiff right hand.
Charles Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buck Riddell.
Taylor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for Riddell with that takedown attempt.
Taylor lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Riddell gets caught flat footed, as Taylor shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Riddell keeps moving.
Riddell controls Taylor momentarily but Taylor frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands a couple of digs.
Taylor distracts Riddell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Riddell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taylor. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Riddell's head.
Taylor landing with the ground and pound.
Riddell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taylor.
Taylor scoring with punches to the head and body.
Taylor working some strikes from top position.
Taylor landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor scoring with some ground and pound.
Riddell has momentary wrist control but Taylor slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor distracts Riddell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Riddell looking to control.

Riddell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor scoring with punches to the head and body.
Taylor stands up over Riddell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Taylor working some strikes from top position.
Taylor lands a couple of elbows.

Riddell is rocked!
Taylor wants to control from the top but Riddell keeps moving.
Taylor works over Riddell with some ground and pound from guard.
Riddell is still in real trouble! Can Taylor finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor stands up over Riddell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Riddell trying to keep a closed guard but Taylor is proving a slippery customer.
Riddell seems to have recovered his senses.
Taylor is in close to Riddell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Taylor seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Riddell keeps moving.
Taylor postures up and lands a big shot to Riddell's brow.
Taylor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Riddell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Riddell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Charles Taylor's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Riddell lands a head kick. Taylor smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Riddell goes for a double leg but Taylor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Taylor continues to drive forward.
Riddell walks into a stiff left hand from Taylor.
Riddell fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
It looks like Taylor has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Taylor throws a body punch but Riddell moves out of range.
Riddell shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taylor throwing a counter right hand but Riddell manages to avoid it.
Charles Taylor is winning the standup battle so far.
Taylor lands a jab.
Taylor connects with a single shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riddell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Taylor on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Charles Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buck Riddell.
Riddell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Riddell with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Riddell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Taylor scores with a couple of nice shots.
Taylor scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Taylor lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Taylor there.
Taylor seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Riddell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Taylor landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Taylor lands a big elbow - Riddell is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Taylor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Charles Taylor!
A victorious Charles Taylor thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.