PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jayceon Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Taylor might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to ghost. This should be fireworks!

Taylor
vs
Evans

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Tab Out Clothes

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jayceon Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thomas Evans!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor shoots in and drives through. Evans sprawls well.
Evans doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.

Taylor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Evans leaning his opponent against the cage.
Evans drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taylor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Evans sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jayceon Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans tries for a takedown but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Taylor fails to land the takedown.

Evans drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Evans.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Evans stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Evans gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Jayceon Taylor has been cut.
Evans tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Evans throws a head punch that misses.
Evans tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Evans is pushing Taylor up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Evans lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taylor.
Taylor is trying to stall.
Evans misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Evans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Taylor slowing the pace effectively.

Evans breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Evans swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Taylor lands a nice hook to Evans's body. Evans takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Evans sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Taylor closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Evans is being controlled here.
Taylor working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Taylor has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Evans slaps away a takedown attempt from Taylor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Taylor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taylor wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans fails with an attempt to clinch.

Taylor gets tackled into the cage by Evans. Evans maintains the clinch.
Taylor fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Evans escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl out of it but Evans keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taylor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Evans tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Evans feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Taylor pulls Evans in close to his closed guard and prevents Evans from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to stand up but Evans is controlling him.
Evans in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Evans stops Taylor from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taylor is on top in guard.
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!
Evans being controlled here, momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Evans can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taylor controls the pace.
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 Jayceon Taylor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jayceon Taylor's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Evans gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Evans pulls Taylor into guard.
Taylor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Evans has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taylor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Taylor pushing down on Evans's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Evans trying to control but Taylor postures up.
Taylor prevents Evans from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor wants to stand up but Evans is controlling the position.

Taylor decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Evans is defended easily by Taylor.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt.

Taylor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Jayceon Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Evans's guard.
Taylor sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Evans pushes Taylor off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Evans throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Evans finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Evans throws a strike but Taylor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Evans not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Evans has a closed guard, preventing Taylor from standing up.
Taylor sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans 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.
Taylor's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Taylor tries to stand but Evans is controlling from the bottom.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.
Evans looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taylor is one step ahead there.
Taylor distracts Evans with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Taylor has a takedown stuffed.
Evans shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jayceon Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Evans.

Evans tries to sprawl but Taylor drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Evans keeps working.
Evans wants to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor tries to stand but can't do so whilst Evans controls his leg.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Evans is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans regains full guard. Nicely done.

Taylor stands up and waves to Evans to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayceon Taylor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jayceon Taylor's cut.
That's time! Taylor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Taylor stuffs the takedown.
Evans throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.

Evans closes the distance and pushes Taylor back into the cage.
Evans is trying to drag Taylor to the mat but Taylor just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Evans stops a takedown attempt from Taylor.
Evans looking for a takedown.
Jayceon Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Evans.
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 Evans walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Evans pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taylor.

Evans forces Taylor back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taylor avoids it.
Taylor is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Evans is defending well.

Evans breaks from the clinch.

Taylor feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Evans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Evans is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Evans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Evans throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Taylor scores with a takedown into Evans's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Taylor stands and steps away. Evans gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Evans feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Taylor's calf.
Evans tries to clinch up.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Taylor looking to pass the guard.
Evans wants to hit a switch here but Taylor passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Evans there!
Taylor wants to control the pace but Evans is squirming around nicely.
Evans tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor controlling the pace for now.
Taylor trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Evans in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Taylor takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Evans is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Taylor controlling the pace for now.
Evans is squirming around, avoiding Taylor's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Jayceon Taylor wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Taylor shoots in looking for a takedown but Evans manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taylor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Taylor scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Thomas Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Evans takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor looking to slow down the pace here.
Thomas Evans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jayceon Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Evans doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jayceon 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jayceon Taylor!
After the fight, Jayceon Taylor was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.