PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tim Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Skarn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taylor
vs
Skarn

175 cm
19
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Skarn!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Skarn bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Skarn taking a breather here.
Taylor can't do much from the bottom here.
Taylor tries to improve position but can't.
Taylor gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Taylor is pressing down on Skarn's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor wants to sweep here but Skarn controlling him for the moment.
Skarn is stalling in the full guard.
Skarn wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Skarn really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taylor. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Taylor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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.
Taylor throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Taylor can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Skarn controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Skarn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Skarn slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Skarn wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Skarn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Taylor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Skarn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Skarn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Skarn slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skarn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
Taylor holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Taylor wants to get back to full guard but Skarn has mounted him!
Skarn looking to control and managing it successfully.
Taylor keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
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.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Skarn forces Taylor back against the cage and clinches.
Taylor wants a takedown.

Skarn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Skarn scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Taylor gets back to half guard.
Taylor is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Skarn is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skarn is keen to just control but Taylor is a slippery customer.
Taylor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Skarn is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Skarn lands a nice leg kick that just misses Taylor's sensitive parts.

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.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Skarn can do anything to dispel that myth.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Skarn keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Skarn is trying to keep Taylor in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skarn keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Skarn manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Skarn sitting in guard here, content to control.

Taylor is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Skarn controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Skarn is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Taylor Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Skarn's back instead.
You can see the frustration on Skarn's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Taylor is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Skarn is defending well though. Taylor let's go of the attempt for now.
Taylor gets his hands free as Skarn looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taylor keeps control of the position as Skarn tries to break free.
Skarn looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Skarn defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Taylor misses with a punch to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor tries to get the hooks in deep but Skarn pushed the leg off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Skarn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Jab from Skarn.
Skarn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taylor's waist but Taylor gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Skarn off to one side.
Skarn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taylor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Skarn connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Skarn with a poor takedown

and Taylor counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taylor.

Skarn is trying to push Taylor off with his feet but Taylor grabs hold of one of the legs and drops back looking for a submission! He's cranking on one of Skarn's ankles and Skarn is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Ankle Lock). Tim Taylor!