PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Guida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor has chosen ROCKY TRIBUTE -- EYE OF THE TIGER as his entrance music. Frank Guida looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Guida
vs
Taylor

197 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Guida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Guida swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Guida shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Taylor's guard.
Taylor trying to keep a closed guard but Guida is proving a slippery customer.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Guida.
Taylor is trying to keep Guida in close.
Taylor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Guida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taylor wants to sweep here but Guida controlling him for the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taylor can do anything to dispel that myth.

Taylor is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.

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

Guida shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Guida showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Guida connects with a nice short shot to Taylor's temple.
Taylor is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Guida's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Guida's back!
Taylor biding his time, controlling Guida.
Guida breaks Taylor's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guida is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.
Taylor trying to keep a closed guard but Guida is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Guida throwing strikes but missing.
Guida throwing strikes from guard but Taylor blocks nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Guida keeps it at a distance.

Taylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taylor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Guida is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Guida throws a punch but it's blocked by Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor looking to slow down the pace here.
Guida lands a left hand.
Guida's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A nice left hand lands by Guida.
Taylor works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Taylor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Guida looking for a takedown.
Guida is breathing heavily.
Taylor fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Guida lands a body punch in the clinch.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. Guida 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 with a poor takedown

and Guida counters with a single leg into guard. Taylor didn't expect that.
Guida trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Guida is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.
Guida in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taylor is looking to stand up but Guida isn't so interested in that idea.
Guida is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Guida throws and elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Guida's guard. Nice move by Taylor!
Taylor wanted to stand there but Guida had control of the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Taylor darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Guida dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taylor gets caught flat footed, as Guida shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Taylor trying to control the position.

Taylor working for a triangle but Guida defends it easily.
Taylor will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Guida working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor striking off his back but it's not causing Guida any problems.
Guida stands up over Taylor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Guida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Guida postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Guida has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Guida throws and elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Guida's guard. Nice move by Taylor!
Guida keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.

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.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Guida keeps moving.
Guida looking for a sweep. Not yet Guida, not yet.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.
Taylor wants to get up but he can't break Guida's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Guida is looking to stand up but Taylor isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Taylor gets a takedown into half guard.

Taylor decides to return to a standing position.
Frank Guida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Guida swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Taylor with a lazy takedown attempt

and Guida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Taylor's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Guida's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taylor looking to control but Guida passes into half guard.
Taylor tries to roll over but Guida keeps him under control.
Taylor is trying to stand.
Ground and pound from Guida.
Taylor trying to control but Guida postures up.
Guida looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Guida dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Guida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taylor pinned against the cage. Taylor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Taylor wants to clinch

and Guida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taylor won't be happy with that.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.
Taylor wants to control but Guida postures up.
An elbow from Guida crashes against the mat.
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Guida works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Taylor sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Guida throwing shots but Taylor is blocking nicely.

Taylor has one foot on Guida's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taylor is defended easily by Guida.
Guida takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Guida drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Guida.

Taylor jumps guard and drags Guida to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor wants to stand and escape but Guida is having none of it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Guida's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to stand up but Guida isn't so interested in that idea.
Guida is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Guida's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Guida lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Taylor working for a triangle but Guida defends it easily.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guida lands a couple of digs.
Guida throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Guida trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Guida misses with a takedown

and Taylor counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Taylor looking to sit in guard and control but Guida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Guida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Guida lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guida is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Guida defends well.
Guida is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor is pulling down on Guida's head. It's preventing any offense from Guida, at least for the moment.
Guida postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Frank Guida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Guida loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
John Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Taylor has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Guida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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 Frank Guida.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Guida, 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Guida!