PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between AJ Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Coleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taylor
vs
Coleman

193 cm
22
218 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

174 cm
22
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, AJ Taylor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Coleman!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coleman slips a straight right by Taylor.

Coleman shoots in and bounces Taylor off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Coleman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Coleman wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Taylor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Coleman looking to pass the guard.
Coleman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Coleman cracks Taylor with a solid left hand.

Coleman drops back, looking for a kneebar! Taylor looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Taylor looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Taylor!
Coleman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Taylor's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor is looking for a kimura here.
Taylor tries to pass the half guard into mount. Coleman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Coleman wants to get back to full guard.
Coleman wants to get back to full guard but Taylor has passed into side control.
Coleman tries to hold on but Taylor postures up.
Taylor lands a big shot there that rocks Coleman but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Coleman can do anything to dispel that myth.
Coleman wants to control but Taylor is having none of it.

Taylor is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Coleman can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor working the ground and pound effectively.

Coleman is rocked!
Coleman is wriggling around trying to escape.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Coleman has eaten all the pies!
Coleman slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Coleman actively working from the bottom here.
Coleman looks gassed!
Taylor prevents Coleman from improving his position.
Taylor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Coleman is defending against the submission attempts here by Taylor.
Coleman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Coleman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taylor manages to get himself to full guard.
Coleman 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.
Coleman throws and elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Coleman's guard. Nice move by Taylor!
Coleman trying to strike off his back.

Taylor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nice takedown defense from Taylor. No joy for Coleman on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands a slapping body shot.

Taylor scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Coleman regains full guard. Nicely done.
Coleman punching to the body, from the bottom.

Taylor is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Coleman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Coleman moves into full mount! Taylor won't be happy about that!
Coleman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Coleman lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Taylor regains half guard.
Coleman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that AJ Taylor will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Coleman tries for a takedown but Taylor circles away easily

and Taylor counters by clinching up.

Taylor pulls Coleman into guard.

Taylor looking for a guillotine here but Coleman defends easily.
Coleman cracks Taylor with a solid left hand.
Coleman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Coleman looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Coleman looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Taylor has picked Coleman up and slammed him! Coleman can't keep hold of the triangle and Taylor manages to pass to side control!
Coleman is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Coleman down.
Coleman is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Taylor off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor covering up well under a series of strikes from Coleman.
Taylor is covering up but some of the strikes from Coleman are getting through and doing damage.
Coleman throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Coleman has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Taylor.
Coleman is striking well from the back but Taylor escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
Coleman scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Taylor is rocked!
Coleman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Coleman working over Taylor with some ground and pound. Taylor looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Oh Taylor is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Coleman lands a nice short elbow.
Coleman lands strikes from half guard.
Taylor is refusing to be controlled, as Coleman sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coleman lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Coleman works his way into full mount!
Taylor seems to have got his legs back now.

Coleman looking to secure an arm triangle but Taylor defends it well.
Coleman lands a big elbow.
Coleman landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Coleman trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Coleman moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Taylor has worked his arm free - good work by Taylor!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman working the ground and pound from side control.
Taylor manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Coleman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Coleman is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Taylor pulls his head out easily.
Coleman tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Taylor has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Coleman is wriggling around trying to escape.
Coleman manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Coleman is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Taylor jumps into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coleman is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Taylor off and has taken his back!
Taylor rolls, trying to escape but Coleman keeps control of the position.
Coleman struggling to keep hold of the position.
Coleman scores with strikes from the back.

Coleman working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Can Taylor hold on?! Coleman is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Taylor manages to reverse the position and now he's in Coleman's guard. Nice work there by Taylor.

Coleman 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Coleman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Coleman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Taylor counters with a stiff right hand.
Taylor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Coleman pinned against the cage. Coleman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Coleman doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Coleman thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Taylor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Coleman is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.

Coleman looking for a guillotine here but Taylor defends easily.
Coleman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Coleman working a defensive guard but Taylor manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Coleman is still in real trouble! Can Taylor finish him?
Taylor gets to mount! Coleman was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Coleman seems to have recovered his senses.
Coleman is desperately trying to improve his position but Taylor has a good base and remains in mount.
Taylor looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Mark Coleman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Coleman is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor avoids the attempt from Coleman to control.
Coleman is looking to improve his position but Taylor isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coleman throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Taylor raining down shots from the mount!
Coleman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Coleman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Taylor has hold of Coleman's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Coleman manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Coleman regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taylor working over Coleman with some ground and pound. Coleman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Taylor seems to be working for a kimura but Coleman defends the submission attempt.
Coleman is trying to get back to full guard.
Coleman is pressing down on Taylor's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Taylor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Coleman wants to control the position but Taylor says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Taylor working over Coleman with some ground and pound. Coleman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Coleman is pressing down on Taylor's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Coleman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taylor manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coleman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Coleman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Coleman works over Taylor with some ground and pound from guard.
Coleman works over Taylor with some ground and pound from guard.
Coleman throwing strikes from guard but Taylor blocks nicely.
Coleman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taylor manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Taylor is working for a guillotine from mount but Coleman frees his head quite easily.
Coleman wants to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Taylor clearly takes 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.

Coleman with a poor takedown
and Taylor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taylor looks to throw the jab but Coleman is out of range.

Taylor has managed to clinch.
Taylor pushes off an throws an elbow but Coleman leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Taylor stalling the fight.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. Coleman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taylor down to the mat. Taylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taylor connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Coleman shoots and misses
and Taylor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
AJ Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Coleman.

Taylor moves into the clinch.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor misses with a body shot.

Taylor has managed to clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Taylor.
Taylor is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Taylor prevents a takedown attempt there.
Coleman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taylor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Coleman doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Taylor counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taylor.

Taylor has Coleman pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Taylor pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Coleman tumbling to the mat - Taylor dives into Coleman's guard.
Coleman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taylor is one step ahead there.
Coleman is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman striking from the bottom here.

Coleman has an active guard here but Taylor has managed to pass into half guard.
Taylor working Coleman over with strikes.
Coleman trying to get back to full guard but Taylor takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Taylor lands with some strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taylor cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Coleman is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coleman swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Taylor avoids the attempt from Coleman to control.
Coleman is bucking up trying to escape but Taylor cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Coleman is wriggling around trying to escape.
Coleman is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Coleman tries to control Taylor's body but Taylor pushes him off. Coleman squirms to his side and now Taylor has his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman manages to reverse the position and now he's in Taylor's guard. Nice work there by Coleman.
Coleman throwing strikes from guard but Taylor blocks nicely.
Coleman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Taylor scores with a nice body kick.
Taylor throws a shot from downtown. Coleman moves away and avoids it.
Taylor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Coleman scores a takedown into full mount!
Coleman throws a strike there. Taylor manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Taylor is refusing to be controlled, as Coleman sits in half guard.
Coleman is nestled in close to Taylor, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coleman winds up and cracks Taylor with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Coleman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Taylor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Coleman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Coleman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Coleman is nestled in close to Taylor, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.

Coleman is working for a submission of some sort.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Coleman lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Taylor had his way with Mark Coleman in 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. This is the final round!

Taylor misses with a looping right.
Taylor scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Taylor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Coleman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Coleman fails with the takedown

so Taylor counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Taylor stands up from Coleman's guard - Taylor perhaps looking for a knockout.
Taylor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taylor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Coleman's waist but Coleman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taylor off to one side.
Coleman misses with a takedown attempt
and Taylor counters with a straight right hand.
Taylor looks to land a right hand but Coleman moved out of range.
A big right from Taylor misses.
Taylor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mark Coleman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Coleman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taylor.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Taylor tries to clinch but Coleman moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Taylor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Taylor gets caught flat footed, as Coleman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Coleman landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Coleman scores with a couple of short elbows.
Coleman working the head with strikes.
Coleman connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Taylor some visible discomfort.
Taylor regains half guard.
Coleman looks to land a strike but Taylor avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Coleman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Coleman trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Coleman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Coleman passes into half guard.
Coleman is pressing down on Taylor's thigh, looking to free his foot. Taylor is holding on for now.
Mark Coleman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Coleman.
Coleman lands a couple of elbows.
Coleman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Coleman from controlling successfully.
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.
Coleman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Coleman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor wants to sweep here but Coleman controlling him for the moment.
Taylor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Coleman!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman can't escape the position.
Taylor unloading with bombs!
Coleman is desperately trying to improve his position but Taylor has a good base and remains in mount.
Coleman manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Taylor prevents Coleman from improving his position.

Coleman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Coleman regains full guard. Nicely done.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Coleman is retaining full guard.

Taylor is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Coleman has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Taylor has passed into side control.
Coleman tries to buck Taylor off but Taylor is having none of it.

Taylor thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Coleman is trying to improve his position.

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 AJ 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 49:46
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 49:46
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Taylor!
AJ Taylor is the new light heavyweight champion!