PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gus Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Waters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Waters has chosen Skillet Monster as his entrance music. Joe Waters will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Taylor
vs
Waters

177 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gus Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Waters!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waters throws a looping overhand right but Taylor ducks down to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Waters.

Waters drops Taylor with a beautiful combination! Taylor stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Waters is looking for the KO!

Taylor is rocked!

It looks like Gus Taylor has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Taylor moves into the clinch.
Oh Taylor is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Waters looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Waters has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Waters tries to break free but Taylor pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor seems to have got his legs back now.

Taylor has picked Waters up - he's going for a ride! Taylor dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Waters is not content to let Taylor control the position.

Taylor is working for a kimura but Waters is defending it quite comfortably.
Waters tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is pressing down on Waters's thigh, looking to free his foot. Waters is holding on for now.
Taylor working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Waters's thigh. Waters counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Taylor slips nicely into half guard.
Waters trying to control here.
Taylor throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two 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.
Waters is refusing to be controlled, as Taylor sits in half guard.
Waters trying to control from the bottom.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Waters is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taylor frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Taylor trying to control but Waters is having none of it.
Waters tries to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fails to advance to Waters's back.
Taylor throws some wild stikes that Waters manages to avoid easily.

Taylor wants to finish this one by submission but Waters is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Taylor.
Waters is trying desperately to improve position.
Waters tries to lock up and control but Taylor gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Poor strikes thrown by Taylor there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Taylor thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Waters struggling a bit here.
Waters tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Waters dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gus Taylor's cut.
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 closes the distance and clinches.

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

Waters feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Taylor sprawling to the canvas! Taylor rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Waters finish him?!
Joe Waters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Waters fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt

and Taylor counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taylor.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Waters holds him up against the cage and eventually Taylor drops back down to his feet.
Taylor wants to break free but Waters has control.
Waters wants to break free but Taylor has control.
Waters is trying to break free.
Taylor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Waters walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Waters clinches but Taylor breaks the clinch

and Taylor decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Waters's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor postures up.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Waters is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Waters is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Waters keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Waters looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor stops Waters from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Waters swinging wildly here.
Waters throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taylor avoids a punch combination nicely.

Waters gets caught flat footed, as Taylor shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Taylor throwing strikes from guard but Waters blocks nicely.
Waters looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Waters keeps moving.
Taylor is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Waters keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor won't allow Waters to sweep him here.
Taylor tries to stand but Waters is controlling from the bottom.
Taylor prevents Waters from getting back to his feet.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Taylor has closed the distance and engaged Waters in a clinch.

Waters breaks from the clinch.
Waters throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Taylor counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taylor.
Tayloris looking to pass into half guard but Waters pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Waters is in guard.
Taylor pulls Waters in close to prevent any damage.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Waters throws and elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Waters's guard. Nice move by Taylor!

Waters pushes Taylor off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Waters throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gus Taylor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gus Taylor's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Waters scores with a jab to the jaw.
Taylor moves out of range of the strikes.
Waters is looking to slow Taylor down with leg kicks.
Waters throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Taylor counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Waters is trying to keep Taylor in close.
Waters keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Taylor drops back looking for a leg! Waters is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Waters manages to kick Taylor off! Taylor jumps back into Waters's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Waters is keeping the position.
Waters is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Waters might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Taylor kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Waters bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taylor's guard.

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.
Waters is looking to stand up but Taylor won't let him.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Waters throwing strikes but missing.

Waters drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Taylor dives on top into guard.
Waters wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor trying to control but Waters is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taylor cracks Waters with a solid left hand.
Waters trying to control the position.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Waters swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor postures up in Waters's guard and throws a big left but Waters blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Waters swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Taylor closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Waters to the mat! Waters manages to get full guard.
Waters working a defensive guard here.
Taylor won't allow Waters to sweep him here.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Waters is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gus Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taylor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

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