PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Patrik Blix (ranked 3364 p4p, 3430 weight class) and Mick Taylor (ranked 194 p4p, 202 weight class). Taylor has chosen Better Get A Lawyer as his entrance music. Mick Taylor is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Blix
vs
Taylor

168 cm
18
135
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
135
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

The Pharmacy Phuket
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Patrik Blix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mick Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Franklyn Lucas and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blix throws an off balance right hand

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Taylor trying to control but Blix is working from the bottom.
Taylor is stalling in the full guard.
Taylor stands and throws Blix's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Taylor trying to control the position but Blix is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taylor tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Taylor has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Blix is looking to regain half guard here but Taylor keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Blix's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Blix is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Blix's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Blix tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Taylor wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Blix can't do much from the bottom here.
Blix manages to get back to half guard.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but Blix defending well.
Blix regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Blix is trying to keep Taylor in close.

Taylor got a little sloppy there for a moment and Blix has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Taylor has managed to get both his arms back between Blix's legs - danger averted.
Taylor content to stall in guard here.
It looks like Taylor might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Blix trying to keep a closed guard but Taylor is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taylor loads up on a big right hand but Blix slips the punch.
Blix looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blix pinned against the cage. Blix gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Blix defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.
A little feinted left hand from Blix on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Blix tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor throws a right hand that misses
and Blix counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Patrik Blix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Taylor.
Blix connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blix looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blix sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.

Taylor tries to keep at a distance but Blix has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor swings wildly with an uppercut but Blix uses good head movement to avoid it.

Taylor jumps into guard, dragging Blix to the mat.
Blix wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Blix controlling from the top position.

Taylor looking for a guillotine here but Blix defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blix stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mick Taylor will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Blix misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taylor.
And Taylor tries to counter it with a takedown but Blix pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Taylor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Blix swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Taylor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Blix sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Taylor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Blix.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blix sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.
Patrik Blix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Taylor.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor with a lazy takedown attempt
and Blix counters with a stiff right hand.
Blix defending well as Taylor loads up on a big left hand.
Blix tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Taylor manages to circle out of the way.
Nice sprawl there from Blix as Taylor shoots in.
Mick Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blix misses the shot to the body.
Blix is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blix throws a right and a left that both miss.
Blix loads up on a big right hand but Taylor slips the punch.
Taylor looks to land a right hand but Blix moved out of range.

Blix rushes Taylor and presses him up against the cage.
Taylor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taylor misses with the head strike.

Taylor has clasped his hands together around Blix's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Taylor is trying to get an arm triangle but Blix is defending well.
Blix manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Blix trying to hold on to Taylor's head to control him but Taylor postures up.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Blix is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Blix sees it coming and defends easily.

Blix looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Blix is defending against the submission attempts here by Taylor.
Taylor wants to free his trapped foot but Blix is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Blix is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Taylor pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blix is staying active underneath Taylor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Taylor is looking for a kimura but Blix is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Taylor to get the leverage.

Taylor seems to be working for a kimura but Blix defends the submission attempt.
Mick Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taylor is pressing down on Blix's thigh, looking to free his foot. Blix is holding on for now.

Blix looking for submissions off his back.

Taylor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blix is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Taylor is looking for a kimura but Blix is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Taylor to get the leverage.
Blix is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Taylor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Taylor's back!
Blix tries to get the hooks in deep but Taylor pushed the leg off.
Taylor felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Taylor tries to roll but Blix sticks to his back.

Blix looking for the choke from the back.
Blix tries to keep control of the position but Taylor is staying busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Blix trying to control the action but Taylor is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Patrik Blix will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Blix fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Blix shows good takedown defense.
Blix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blix lands a nice shot that snaps Taylor's head back.
A swing and a miss from Taylor.
Taylor throws a jab when Blix was well out of range.
Blix scores with a body shot.
Taylor rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Blix counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Taylor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Blix did well to prevent Taylor getting side control.
Blix is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Blix gets full guard.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blix is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blix is trying to keep Taylor in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Blix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Blix escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taylor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taylor trying to control but Blix is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Blix is trying to keep Taylor in close.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Blix keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Blix is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Blix gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Taylor to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Blix is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Blix controlling Taylor's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blix is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Blix is trying to keep Taylor in close.

Blix is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Taylor is aware though and is defending well.
Blix might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taylor engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Taylor thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain 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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Blix cracks Taylor with a right hand to the side of the head.

Taylor looking to score a takedown here. Blix is defending well but Taylor drives through and ends up in Blix's guard.
Taylor controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blix trying to control the position.
Blix working a defensive guard but Taylor passes into half guard.
Blix is trying to maintain the position but Taylor is very close to passing his half guard.

Taylor is looking for a kimura but Blix is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Taylor to get the leverage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mick Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taylor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mick Taylor!
A relieved looking Mick Taylor thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.