PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mo Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Daltrey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daltrey comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Won't Get Fooled Again/ The Who kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taylor
vs
Daltrey

193 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 Las Vegas, Mo Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robert Daltrey!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Taylor as Daltrey shoots in.
Both fighters circling a little - Taylor finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Daltrey fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Daltrey tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.

Taylor drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taylor working some strikes from top position.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Daltrey keeps moving.
Taylor wanted to stand there but Daltrey had control of the position.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Daltrey keeps moving.
Daltrey is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Taylor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Daltrey's head.
Daltrey keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but Daltrey has wrist control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Daltrey misses with a takedown attempt
and Taylor counters with a three punch combo that has Daltrey backing up. Daltrey nods at Taylor to acknowledge the strikes.
Mo Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Daltrey.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daltrey closes the distance and clinches.
Good body shot from Taylor.
Daltrey looks gassed!
Daltrey changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taylor fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Taylor closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Taylor lands in his opponent's guard.

Taylor drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Daltrey manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Taylor has Daltrey in his guard.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Daltrey won't allow Taylor to get back to his feet.
Taylor throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Daltrey postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daltrey won't allow Taylor to get back to his feet.
Daltrey working some strikes from top position.
Daltrey working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daltrey lands a couple of elbows.
Daltrey looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Daltrey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Daltrey throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Taylor working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taylor's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Daltrey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Daltrey is on top in guard.

Taylor wriggles free and stands up.
Taylor has a takedown stuffed.
Daltrey with a poor takedown

and Taylor counters with a shoot takedown. Daltrey fights it but they end up in guard.
Taylor lands a couple of elbows.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Daltrey.
Taylor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Daltrey is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Daltrey trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Daltrey keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daltrey trying to strike off his back.
Daltrey not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor won't allow Daltrey to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Daltrey misses with a takedown
and Taylor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Taylor feints and as Daltrey raises his hands in defense, Taylor changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taylor passes Daltrey's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Daltrey is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor trying to control the action but Daltrey is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Taylor dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Daltrey gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Taylor counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Daltrey!
Daltrey throwing hammer fists to the chest of Taylor. What's that going to do exactly?
Taylor breaks from Daltrey's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Daltrey wants to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.
Taylor is landing with some decent strikes but Daltrey is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Taylor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Daltrey's face.
Daltrey has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taylor lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Taylor looking to control but Daltrey is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Taylor in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Daltrey is in a horrible position here. Taylor smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Taylor lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Daltrey hang on?
Taylor prevents Daltrey from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor with the ground and pound from mount.
Taylor cracks Daltrey with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Daltrey is breathing heavily.

Taylor is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Daltrey can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Daltrey is in a horrible position here. Taylor smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Taylor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Daltrey's face.
Taylor blocks Daltrey's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Taylor lands with some strikes.
Taylor is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Daltrey can't escape the position.
Taylor connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Taylor looking to control but Daltrey is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor blocks Daltrey's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Taylor lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Daltrey hang on?
A nice elbow there by Taylor.
Taylor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Daltrey is looking to escape.
Daltrey throwing hammer fists to the chest of Taylor. What's that going to do exactly?
Taylor looking to control but Daltrey is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Daltrey is working to get back to half guard.
Taylor blocks Daltrey's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Daltrey is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor punishing his opponent with strikes.
Taylor wants to control the pace but Daltrey is squirming around nicely.
Taylor is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Daltrey throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Taylor is working for a guillotine from mount but Daltrey frees his head quite easily.
Daltrey takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Daltrey tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Daltrey defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Taylor.
Taylor blocks Daltrey's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daltrey in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Taylor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Daltrey is looking to escape.
Taylor pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Taylor working Daltrey over with strikes here.
Mo Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Daltrey swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Taylor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Daltrey is looking to escape.
Daltrey in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Daltrey flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Daltrey is desperately trying to improve his position but Taylor has a good base and remains in mount.
Taylor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Daltrey is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Taylor dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Good standup being displayed there by Taylor as he connects with a hook.
Taylor tries to clinch but Daltrey moves out of range.

Daltrey feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Daltrey is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.
Taylor controls Daltrey momentarily but Daltrey frees himself.
Daltrey is standing up over Taylor. Taylor looks to escape but Daltrey dives into side control.
Taylor manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Daltrey tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Taylor blocks the strikes from Daltrey.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Daltrey keeps working.
Daltrey misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Taylor throws a right and a left that Daltrey avoids nicely.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Daltrey swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Taylor counters with a left and a right that stings Daltrey.

Taylor gets the takedown into side control.
Daltrey wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Taylor avoids the strikes from the bottom by Daltrey.
Taylor controls the position.
Taylor trying to control the action but Daltrey is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daltrey tries to strike but it doesn't land.

Taylor has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Daltrey looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Daltrey lands strikes from half guard.
Taylor tries to kick Daltrey off but Daltrey keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Daltrey working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Daltrey is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Taylor trying to hold on to Daltrey's head to control him but Daltrey postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has hold of Daltrey's hands but Daltrey slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Daltrey is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Daltrey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Taylor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Well, if Taylor is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Daltrey manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Daltrey is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Daltrey is looking to advance position but Taylor won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daltrey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taylor defending well though.
Taylor blocking the ground and pound attempt from Daltrey.
Daltrey prevents Taylor from improving his position.
Daltrey tries to stand but can't do so whilst Taylor controls his leg.
Daltrey missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Taylor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Daltrey.
Taylor gets full guard.
Mo Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor controls Daltrey momentarily but Daltrey frees himself.
Robert Daltrey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Daltrey circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mo Taylor.
Well Taylor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mo Taylor!