PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksim Petrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Campbell Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maksim Petrov had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Petrov
vs
Taylor

202 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

210 cm
22
264 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maksim Petrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Campbell Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor tries to bum rush Petrov with a series of wild strikes but Petrov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Petrov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Taylor on the side of the head.

It looks like Campbell Taylor has been cut.
Petrov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Petrov moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
Petrov prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.
Petrov controlling the action here for a moment.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Petrov wants a takedown.
Taylor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taylor is trying to break free.
Petrov keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Petrov keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Taylor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Petrov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Taylor can't fight it off and eventually Petrov manages to take the fight to the floor. Taylor looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Taylor looking for a guillotine here but Petrov defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Petrov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Petrov trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Petrov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Petrov stops Taylor from standing up.
Petrov trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Petrov with a nice head shot there.
Petrov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Taylor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Petrov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Petrov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taylor looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Petrov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Petrov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
Petrov postures up and lands a big shot to Taylor's brow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Taylor has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Petrov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Petrov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Petrov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Petrov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov landing with the ground and pound.

Petrov stands up from Taylor's guard - Petrov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Petrov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
Campbell Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petrov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Petrov shoots in for a double leg but Taylor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Petrov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Taylor throws a big shot that misses.
Petrov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maksim Petrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petrov throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.

Petrov gets a clinch.
Petrov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Petrov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Petrov tries to land knees in the clinch but Taylor avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Petrov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Taylors head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Petrov pushes Taylor back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Petrov prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.
Petrov scores with a nice hook to the head.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
Taylor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Taylor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Petrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Petrov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taylor.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Petrov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to avoid it but Petrov 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 swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taylor lands with a hook. Petrov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A lazy left from Taylor finds it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Petrov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Campbell Taylor's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Petrov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Petrov misses with a two punch combination.
Taylor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Petrov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Taylor swinging wilding here.
Nice defenses there by Petrov.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Petrov lands a left hand.
Petrov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Petrov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Petrov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Petrov breaks from the clinch.
Petrov blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taylor misses the jab.
No joy there for Petrov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maksim Petrov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Petrov shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taylor throws a combination that misses

and Petrov counters by moving into the clinch.
Petrov throws an elbow but it misses.
Taylor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Petrov has him pressed against the cage.
Petrov misses with an elbow over the top.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Petrov has him pressed against the cage.

Petrov breaks the clinch.
Petrov moves away from the strike by Taylor.
Petrov looks to land a combination but Taylor avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor misses with a hook. Petrov ducked under it nicely.
Taylor misses with an uppercut. Petrov saw that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Petrov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Some wild striking there from Petrov.
Petrov swinging wilding here.
Taylor throws a jab when Petrov was well out of range.
Petrov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Petrov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Petrov throws a big right hand that misses.

Taylor has his foot on Petrov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Petrov works his way back into a safe position though.

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Petrov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Petrov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

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

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

Taylor throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Petrov escapes and throws Taylor's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Petrov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Taylor, who protects the arm well.
Petrov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Taylor is avoiding damage well.
Taylor is pushing Petrov's head away, looking to escape. Petrov manages to hold on to the position though.
Petrov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Taylor's legs.
Taylor manages to work his way to half guard, despite Petrov's best efforts.

Taylor actively working from the bottom here.

Petrov seems to be working for a kimura but Taylor defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor tries to roll over but Petrov keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Petrov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Campbell Taylor's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Petrov 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 Petrov off to one side.
Petrov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taylor.
Taylor throws out a loose jab but Petrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
A slow jab from Taylor misses its intended target.
Petrov slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
Petrov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taylor.

Petrov darts in and clinches Taylor up against the cage.
Petrov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Petrov leaning against his opponent.
Petrov misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor takes an elbow to the temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Petrov misses with an elbow over the top.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Petrov.
Petrov throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov lands a shot to the body.
Taylor is looking to break free of the clinch but Petrov has double underhooks.
Petrov goes for a takedown attempt but Taylor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Petrov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Taylor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Petrov counters with a nice kick to the body.
A jab from Taylor does it's job there.
Taylor lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Petrov connects with a solid leg kick.
Taylor misses with a hook. Petrov ducked under it nicely.
Taylor takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Petrov dodges the punch combination from Taylor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Petrov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Taylor manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Petrov works his way into side control.

Petrov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Petrov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Taylor some visible discomfort.
Taylor sneaks back into half guard.
Petrov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Petrov is trying to control the action in half guard but Taylor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back.

Petrov is looking for a kimura but Taylor is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Petrov to get the leverage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Petrov dodges the punch combination from Taylor.
Petrov slips under a jab.
Petrov shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Petrov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maksim Petrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petrov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Petrov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taylor falls off balance throwing a combination

and Petrov counters with a single leg into guard. Taylor didn't expect that.

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Taylor looking for subs off his back but Petrov has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov working over Taylor with some ground and pound. Taylor looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Maksim Petrov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Petrov trying to control from half guard but Taylor is working away.
Petrov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Taylor has one foot on Petrov's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Taylor throws a right and a left that Petrov avoids nicely.

Petrov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Petrov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Campbell Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Petrov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maksim Petrov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Petrov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maksim Petrov!