PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Senecal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nathan Taylor has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Taylor
vs
Senecal

183 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Senecal!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Senecal stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Taylor.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.
Senecal tries for a takedown but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Taylor connects with a body shot.
Senecal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice combo by Taylor! Oh, that's hurt him - Senecal falls to the canvas and Taylor follows him into side control.

Senecal is rocked!

It looks like Alex Senecal has been cut.
Taylor taking a breather here.
Senecal is still in real trouble! Can Taylor finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Senecal is trying to improve his position.
Taylor taking a breather here.
Senecal is trying to work for a sweep but Taylor has mounted him!
Taylor controlling from mount.
Senecal seems to have recovered his senses.
Senecal tries to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Senecal wants to try and get back to his feet.
Taylor controlling from the full mount.
Senecal is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Nathan Taylor just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Senecal changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Taylor looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Taylor keeps Senecal under control for a moment.
Taylor takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Senecal trying to control the action but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor is trying to control Senecal's posture but Senecal avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Senecal throws an elbow but Taylor slips to the side and avoids it well.
Senecal lands a decent elbow from side control.
Senecal trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.
Senecal looks gassed!
Senecal working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Senecal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Senecal persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Nathan Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Senecal.
Senecal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to avoid it but Senecal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taylor to the ground. Taylor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taylor lands a lovely overhand right.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taylor scores with a kick to the body.
Taylor throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Nathan Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Senecal has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Senecal shoots in looking for a takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl out of it but Senecal 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.
Taylor throws a good cross that connects.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Senecal moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Senecal.
Taylor moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Senecal closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Senecal lands in his opponent's guard.
Taylor pulls Senecal in close to prevent any damage.
Senecal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Senecal tries to stand but Taylor is controlling from the bottom.

Senecal is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Taylor is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Taylor has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice sprawl there from Taylor as Senecal shoots in.
Senecal takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taylor misses with a body shot.
Taylor changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Taylor.
Senecal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor fakes the leg kick and cracks Senecal in the body.
Senecal fails with the takedown.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.
Nice body kick from Taylor.
Taylor swinging wilding here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Senecal shoots in looking for a takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl out of it but Senecal 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.
Nathan Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Senecal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a combination. Senecal tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Senecal closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taylor circles away.
Senecal fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor with a jab.
Senecal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor misses with a leg kick.
Senecal misses with a takedown attempt - Taylor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A good leg kick by Taylor.
Senecal shoots in looking for a takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl out of it but Senecal 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taylor scoring well with a low kick there.
Senecal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taylor thows a body shot but no joy.
Senecal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taylor pinned against the cage. Taylor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Senecal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Senecal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Senecal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Senecal looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Senecal prevents Taylor from getting back to his feet.

Senecal stands and steps away. Taylor gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Senecal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Senecal avoids them all with ease.
Taylor darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Senecal dodges the punch combination from Taylor.

Senecal shoots in and bounces Taylor off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Senecal wants to get up but he can't break Taylor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Senecal trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor wants to stand but Senecal is controlling the position.
Taylor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Senecal throwing strikes from guard but Taylor blocks nicely.
Senecal stands and throws Taylor's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Taylor regains half guard there - taking advantage of Senecal's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Senecal wants to stand but Taylor has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nathan Taylor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alex Senecal's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Taylor throws the kick towards the body but Senecal avoids it.
Taylor misses with a two punch combination.

Senecal drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Senecal.
Senecal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Taylor wants to stand up but Senecal is controlling him.
Senecal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Senecal is in close to Taylor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Taylor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Senecal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Senecal cracks Taylor with a solid left hand.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

Senecal looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Taylor!
Senecal with a couple of short strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor really wants to buck Senecal off and get back to his feet.
Alex Senecal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Senecal looking to control but Taylor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Taylor is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Senecal putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Senecal landing strikes from the mount.
Senecal is landing with some decent strikes but Taylor is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Taylor takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Senecal throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Senecal there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Taylor is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Senecal lands a heavy elbow.
Senecal misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Senecal wants to control the pace but Taylor is squirming around nicely.
Senecal working the ground and pound effectively.
Senecal lands with some strikes.
Senecal punishing his opponent with strikes.
Senecal throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Senecal looking to control but Taylor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Senecal fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Taylor that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Taylor avoids a series of strikes thrown by Senecal.
Senecal throws some wild stikes that Taylor manages to avoid easily.

Senecal with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Taylor wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Senecal cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Senecal tries to control but Taylor wriggling away.

Senecal looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Senecal fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taylor controls the position.
Senecal working the ground and pound effectively.
Taylor really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Taylor taking shots to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Senecal landing strikes from the mount and Taylor is in trouble!
A nice elbow there by Senecal.
Senecal landing strikes from the mount and Taylor is in trouble!
Alex Senecal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice elbow there by Senecal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Senecal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nathan Taylor!