PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Taylor Dam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Taylor will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Dam
vs
Taylor

180 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taylor Dam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phil Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Franklyn Lucas and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dam shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Taylor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Taylor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dam is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor moves into full guard.
Taylor wants to sweep here but Dam controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dam trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet but Dam is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taylor throws a body kick that misses.

Taylor gets a clinch.

Taylor pulls guard effortlessly.

Dam got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taylor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dam has managed to get both his arms back between Taylor's legs - danger averted.
Dam trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dam landing some decent shots from guard.

Taylor is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dam throws a big elbow that misses.
Dam working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Dam stacks Taylor on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Dam!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dam wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
Dam tries to stand but Taylor is controlling his head.
Taylor tries to bench press Dam off him but Dam keeps the position.

Dam is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taylor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

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 is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Dam wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.
A control attempt from Taylor but he's now mounted!
Dam landing strikes from the mount and Taylor is in trouble!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor is working to get back to half guard.

Taylor defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Dam.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Dam dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dam closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Taylor did well to prevent Dam getting side control.
Dam works his foot free and advances to mount.

Dam goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Taylor is on top in guard.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor trying to control but Dam is working from the bottom.
Dam might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taylor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dam is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dam has Taylor pulled in close to control his posture.
Dam is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Dam is retaining full guard.
Taylor Dam overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dam can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taylor controls the pace.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taylor advances position into side control!
Taylor working away.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Dam really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Taylor throwing strikes but Dam manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Taylor tries to improve position but can't.
Taylor manages to work his way to half guard, despite Dam's best efforts.
Taylor trying to control but Dam postures up.
Taylor throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to stand up here but Dam is controlling him well.
Taylor trying to control here.
Dam wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.
Taylor is trying to stand back up but Dam is controlling him
Taylor is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Dam jumps into side control!
Dam gets to mount! Taylor was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Taylor sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Dam missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control but Dam postures up.
Taylor is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Dam is staying active.
Taylor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Taylor darts in trying to clinch

and Dam decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Taylor's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dam trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

Taylor isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Dam stacks Taylor on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Dam!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Dam dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Taylor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dam tries to clinch up.

Dam scores with a takedown into Taylor's guard.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Dam from controlling successfully.
Taylor wants to sweep here but Dam controlling him for the moment.
Taylor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dam wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Taylor shoots in but Dam avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taylor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dam's waist but Dam gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taylor off to one side.
Taylor Dam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Taylor.

Dam drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Dam is trying to get an arm triangle but Taylor is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dam tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Taylor is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Dam is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Dam with good strikes from the mount here!
Dam landing shots from mount.
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dam unloading with bombs!

Dam working for a submission but Taylor is keeping him at bay.
Taylor is trying desperately to improve position.
Dam is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Dam fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dam avoids the attempt from Taylor to control.
Dam looking to control but Taylor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dam landing strikes, looking to finish!
Dam working the ground and pound effectively.
Dam tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Taylor wants to try and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Taylor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taylor Dam showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dam, 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taylor Dam!