PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Miyata San (ranked 1239 p4p, 2532 weight class) and Damian Taylor (ranked 116 p4p, 237 weight class). Taylor has chosen Rock 'N' Roll Outlaw as his entrance music. Miyata San has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

San
vs
Taylor

178 cm
24
158
10 - 3 - 0

165 cm
23
147
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads

Gatoroids
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Miyata San!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damian Taylor !
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by San.
San gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

San shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Taylor 's guard.
Taylor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
San postures up in Taylor 's guard and throws a big left but Taylor blocks it.
San postures up.
San loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
San has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

San wants to improve his position but Taylor is controlling well.

San actively working from the bottom here.
San wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

San is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Taylor pulls his head out easily.
Taylor wants to stand but San has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Taylor trying to control the action but San is working from the bottom.
San is trying to get back to full guard.
Taylor tries to stand but can't do so whilst San controls his leg.
San is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taylor wants to stand up but San is controlling the position.
San is looking to improve his position.
San trying to control but Taylor postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Taylor misses with a left hand
and San counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taylor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from San.

San 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. San is in Taylor 's guard.
San with a flurry of punches that miss.
Taylor seems keen to control San's posture.
Taylor tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
San postures up in Taylor 's guard and throws a big left but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from San.
Taylor is trying to control the position but San postures up.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from San.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Taylor keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

San actively working from the bottom here.
Taylor is thwarting San's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but San keeps working.

San actively working from the bottom here.

Taylor decides to return to a standing position.
Damian Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taylor throws a lazy uppercut
and San counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
San shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taylor pinned against the cage. Taylor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taylor .
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Damian Taylor will probably get the nod.
That's time! San's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Taylor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Taylor misses with a hook
and San counters with a right hand to the body.
San connects with a right hand. Taylor shakes it off.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. San manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
San looks to throw the jab but Taylor is out of range.
Taylor scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
San scores with a jab to the body.
Miyata San is winning the standup battle so far.
Taylor throws a shot from downtown. San moves away and avoids it.
Taylor lands with a cross.
Taylor throws a good cross that connects.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor throws an uppercut from half a mile away. San sees it coming and avoids it easily.
San is looking to counter punch.
Taylor connects with a nice looking jab.
Taylor has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Taylor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
San moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

San shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. San showed some decent athleticism there.

Taylor makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
San takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Taylor connects with a jab.
Nice body punch from Taylor .
Damian Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
San on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
San avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taylor uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before San has time to react.
San shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. San gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor misses with a low kick.
San attempts a counter takedown but Taylor avoids it well and moves away.
Taylor walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor scores with a sloppy right hand. San should have avoided that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor connects with a good right hand that stumbles San. San circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Taylor throws the left hand but San avoids the punch easily.
Taylor digs a good body shot into San's ribs.
San lands a jab to the head.
San has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Taylor finds it's way round the side to connect with San's head.
Taylor thows a leg kick but San checks it

so San counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
San distracts Taylor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
San in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taylor wants to sweep but no luck.
San being controlled here momentarily.
San with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor working for a triangle but San defends it easily.
Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as San accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from San.
San missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
San prevents Taylor from getting back to his feet.
San throws a big elbow that misses.
San lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing San from controlling successfully.
San sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
San misses with a body shot.
A clash of legs there as San blocks the low kick.
Taylor misses with a hook. San ducked under it nicely.
Taylor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab lands there for Taylor .
Taylor tries to clinch
enabling San to counter with a crisp jab.
Taylor misses with a hook
and San counters with a nice uppercut.
San gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Taylor .
Taylor cracks San with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Taylor walks into a left hand.
Taylor lands a really nice looking cross but San seems unphased.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Damian 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!

San misses with a looping right.
It seemed like Taylor was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taylor lands with an uppercut that bounces San off the cage and back into range.
San looks for a takedown but Taylor sprawls well.
San missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
San attempts a counter takedown but Taylor avoids it well and moves away.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.
A head punch blocked on the inside by San.
San tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Taylor struggles to land a body shot inside as San controls his hands.
San can't find room to land a body shot as Taylor controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
San tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Taylor just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miyata San. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Taylor on the inside.
Taylor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taylor 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Taylor misses with some punches.

San manages to pull guard.
Taylor wants to stand but San has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

San working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taylor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Taylor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Taylor trying to control but San is working from the bottom.
San looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taylor trying to control but San is working from the bottom.

San looking for a guillotine here but Taylor defends easily.
Taylor looking to sit in guard and control but San gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Miyata San has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Damian Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taylor can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing San from controlling successfully.

Taylor wriggles free and stands up.
Taylor is looking to clinch.
San feinted with a counter takedown.
Taylor lands a nice looking body shot.

San shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
San throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
San landing some decent shots from guard.
San throws an elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in San's guard. Nice move by Taylor !

San is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taylor wants to control from the top but San keeps moving.

San isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Taylor stacks San on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Taylor !

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor stands up.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Taylor throws a hook but San avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from San on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Taylor slaps away a takedown attempt from San, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Taylor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taylor wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor lands a jab to the head.
A big left from Taylor misses.
San shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. San gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Taylor winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Taylor !
Damian Taylor seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.