PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tim Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Nemecek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Taylor
vs
Nemecek

175 cm
19
147 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

169 cm
19
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim Taylor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Nemecek!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taylor changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nemecek looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Taylor wants to control but Nemecek is keeping him busy.
Nemecek gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nemecek is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nemecek is staying active underneath Taylor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nemecek trying to control from the bottom.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Nemecek is defending well.
Taylor seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nemecek does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Nemecek lands a jab to Taylor's midsection.
Taylor slips a jab and a cross from Nemecek.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nemecek pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas Nemecek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nemecek throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taylor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nemecek.
Nemecek feints and then cracks Taylor's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taylor down.
Nemecek swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Nemecek as Taylor shoots in.
Nemecek shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Taylor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nemecek tries a head kick but it misses.
Nemecek doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Nice defenses there by Taylor.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nemecek swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nemecek fails to land with a series of punches.
Nemecek looks gassed!

Taylor drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nemecek looking for a sweep. Not yet Nemecek, not yet.

Taylor drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taylor jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nemecek wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Taylor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nemecek's guard.
Taylor trying to control the action but Nemecek is working from the bottom.
Taylor throwing shots but Nemecek is blocking nicely.
Taylor stalling.

Taylor is trying to work for a kimura but Nemecek is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nemecek keeping control of the position.
Taylor works his foot free and advances to mount.
Nemecek tries to hold on but Taylor postures up.
Taylor looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nemecek wants to get back to his feet.
Nemecek wants to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.

Taylor goes for an armbar but Nemecek turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nemecek.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nemecek sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Taylor trying to control the position.
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 Tim Taylor will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taylor takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nemecek fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taylor manages to avoid it.
Taylor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Taylor looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nemecek!
Taylor punching from mount but Nemecek doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Taylor trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nemecek keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nemecek tries to hold on but Taylor postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor wants to control the pace but Nemecek is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nemecek is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Taylor throws some wild stikes that Nemecek manages to avoid easily.
Taylor landing shots from mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Taylor there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Taylor controlling from the full mount.

Taylor looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nemecek holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Taylor tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nemecek is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nemecek tries to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.

Taylor wants to finish this one by submission but Nemecek is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Taylor.
Nemecek is working to get back to half guard.
Taylor avoids the attempt from Nemecek to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nemecek is surviving well by controlling Taylor's body position as best he can.
Nemecek is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Taylor trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Taylor wants to finish this one by submission but Nemecek is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Taylor.
Taylor wants to control the pace but Nemecek is squirming around nicely.

Taylor wants to finish this one by submission but Nemecek is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Taylor.

That's four 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.
Taylor tries to control but Nemecek wriggling away.

Taylor jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nemecek is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nemecek and Taylor has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Taylor is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nemecek has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nemecek tries to bench press Taylor off him but Taylor keeps the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nemecek's legs.

Taylor thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Taylor dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nemecek tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Nemecek throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taylor.
Taylor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nemecek is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Taylor rather than just go for the knockout.
Nemecek moves into range and connects with a jab.

Nemecek clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nemecek taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Nemecek manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor has Nemecek pushed against the cage.
Taylor fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Nemecek won't allow it.

Nemecek breaks from the clinch.
Nemecek throws a chopping leg kick but Taylor manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nemecek throws a left and a right that both miss
and Taylor counters with a nice uppercut.
Nemecek scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A head kick misses from Nemecek.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Nemecek sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nemecek lands a right hook to the body.
Nemecek tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nemecek throws a body kick that misses.
Taylor takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Taylor looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Taylor thows a huge punch but Nemecek dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nemecek controlling the position for now.

Taylor is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nemecek doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Taylor.
Taylor trying to control from Nemecek's half guard. Nemecek has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor won't allow Nemecek to sweep him here.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Nemecek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nemecek misses the jab.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Nemecek sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jab from Nemecek.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nemecek tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nemecek to the ground. Nemecek escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nemecek swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taylor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nemecek.
Nemecek changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nemecek throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
Nice takedown defense from Nemecek. No joy for Taylor on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nemecek tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nemecek to the ground. Nemecek escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nemecek tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nemecek throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nemecek is looking to score with low kicks.
Good shot there by Nemecek.
Donk. Nemecek catches Taylor right on the button with a cross.
Thomas Nemecek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nemecek lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nemecek works the jab nicely.
Nemecek missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nemecek uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
Nemecek swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Taylor fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nemecek sprawls well initially but Taylor persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but Nemecek defending well.
Tim Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nemecek is not content to let Taylor control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Nemecek really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Nemecek which made him look bad.
Tim Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nemecek feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Taylor's calf.
Nemecek throws out a loose jab but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor throws a wild body kick that Nemecek sees coming a mile off.
Taylor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nemecek.
Taylor slips a jab and a cross from Nemecek.

Taylor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taylor showed some decent athleticism there.
Nemecek won't allow Taylor to pass to mount.
Nemecek gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nemecek controlling Taylor's posture.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Nemecek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nemecek controlling Taylor's posture.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Nemecek keeps moving.

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.
Nemecek is controlling Taylor's posture.

Taylor postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nemecek is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Taylor, into his guard.
Nemecek slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Taylor tries to buck Nemecek off but Nemecek is having none of it.
Taylor sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Taylor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control here.
Taylor gets full guard.

Nemecek wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Taylor's closed guard. He's half up but Taylor has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Taylor pivots and extends the arm, Nemecek falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Taylor! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tim Taylor!
Tim Taylor retains his featherweight title!