PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mo Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randall Gay (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
Gay

193 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Rock Hard Nutrition
EFC 150Q recovery, 147Q stamina/strength CHEAP!!

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 1 - 2 - 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randall Gay!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taylor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gay did well to prevent Taylor getting side control.
Taylor perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gay wants to get back to his feet.
Taylor sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gay defending well though.
Taylor trying to mount his opponent but Gay defends it.
Taylor tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Gay tries to kick Taylor off but Taylor keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ground and pound from Taylor.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Taylor trying to control from half guard but Gay is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gay shoots in for a double leg but Taylor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Taylor moves into range and clinches up with Gay.
Taylor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gay has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but Gay blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a knee strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Gay tries to land a knee to the head but Taylor blocks with his arms.
Gay with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gay is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Taylor pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gay is trying to break free.
Taylor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gay blocks it with crossed arms.
Gay drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Taylor gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mo Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randall Gay.
Gay tries to stall but Taylor uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gay with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Taylor avoiding damage as Gay throws knees to the body.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gay avoids it.
Taylor letting Gay take a breather here.
Taylor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gay blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gay creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gay fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gay scores with a knee to the head.
Gay wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taylor takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gay looks gassed!
Gay scores with a knee to the head.
Gay drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Taylor jumps guard and drags Gay to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gay won't allow Taylor to get back to his feet.
Gay would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Taylor wants to sweep but no luck.
Taylor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Taylor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gay's guard.
Taylor thows a big elbow that misses.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gay utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taylor stays in close to Gay's body and controls the position.

Taylor stands and steps away. Gay gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gay instigates a clinch.
Gay wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gay is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taylor is defending well for now.
Taylor stalling in the clinch but Gay improves position.
Taylor landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Taylor tries to circle away but Gay has him pinned against the cage.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Gay holds him up against the cage and eventually Taylor drops back down to his feet.
Gay trying to stall but Taylor improves his position.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Taylor pulls guard.

Taylor scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Gay rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taylor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt

and Taylor counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor pushing down on Gay's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gay tries to kick Taylor off but Taylor keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Taylor decides to return to a standing position.
Gay slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Taylor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gay has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gay keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Taylor's efforts to push away.
Gay prevents the takedown attempt.
Taylor pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gay lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gay breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor shoots in and drives through. Gay sprawls well.

Gay moves into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Taylor dominated that 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.

Taylor shoots in but no luck this time.
Taylor scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Taylor is looking to clinch.

Gay has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gay landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but Gay blocks it.
Gay with a knee to the head.
Taylor tries to score a body lock takedown but Gay shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Gay breaks the clinch.
Gay throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gay moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Taylor tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gay counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Gay drags the fight down to the ground.
Taylor trying to control but Gay is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gay wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor lands a couple of elbows.
Gay looking to control.

Taylor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Taylor tries to clinch up

and Gay counters by moving into the clinch.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gay keeps the fight on the outside.
Gay shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Gay's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice sprawl there from Gay as Taylor shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mo Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gay throws a left and a right that both miss

and Taylor counters with a takedown into side control.
Taylor throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gay keeps working.
Taylor prevents Gay from escaping the position.
Taylor lands a nice forearm strike.
Gay throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Gay manages to work his way to half guard, despite Taylor's best efforts.
Taylor takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mo Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor throws a strike but Gay avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Gay thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Gay kicks Taylor off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor shoots and misses

and Gay moves into the clinch.
Gay misses with a knee to the head.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but Gay blocks it.
Taylor controlling the action here for a moment.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Gay is controlling him.
Gay tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gay drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taylor holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Gay tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gay gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taylor.

Gay jumps into guard, dragging Taylor to the mat.
Taylor trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gay manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gay preventing the sweep.
Gay won't allow Taylor to get back to his feet.
Gay is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.

Gay stands up and waves to Taylor to follow him.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Gay darts in trying to clinch

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mo Taylor will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gay clinches but Taylor breaks the clinch

and Taylor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Taylor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gay drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taylor pulls his leg out and moves away.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gay is looking to escape.
Taylor looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gay pushes Taylor off looking to stand but Taylor dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gay tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.
Taylor passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gay is trying to buck Taylor off.
Taylor lands a few punches from side control.
Taylor advances nicely into full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor is landing with some decent strikes but Gay is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Taylor looking to control but Gay is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Taylor jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gay manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Taylor wants to control but Gay is keeping him busy.

That's two 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 is chipping away with strikes.
Taylor working the head with strikes.
Gay regains half guard, as Taylor was trying to land strikes.
Taylor prevents Gay from standing back up.

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 hand that Gay ducks under and follows up with a left that Gay also avoids with ease.

Gay drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
Gay is looking to control Taylor's arms but Taylor gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gay has his back to the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gay goes for a takedown attempt but Taylor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mo Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor scores with a one two! Gay had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Taylor rushes Gay and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor tries to clinch

and Gay counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Taylor gets through Gay's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gay is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gay tries to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling the position.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
Gay wants to clinch but Taylor slips to the side

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gay won't be happy with that.

Taylor decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gay to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gay as he avoids it easily.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Gay sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mo Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gay clinches but Taylor breaks the clinch

and Taylor counters by moving into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gay landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Gay's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mo Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor tries to bum rush Gay with a series of wild strikes but Gay uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gay wants to clinch but Taylor slips to the side

and Taylor counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gay striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Randall Gay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gay wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mo Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taylor, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

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