PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Taylor (ranked 4898 p4p, 4731 weight class) and Leonard Billard (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
Billard

200 cm
21
205
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Brandon Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Leonard Billard!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Billard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Billard as he avoids it easily.
Billard lands a slapping body shot.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor scores with a shot to the body.
Taylor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Billard clinches up with Taylor and pushes him back against the cage.
Billard is looking to take this one to the mat.
Taylor looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Billard breaks from the clinch.
Billard connects with a right hand. Taylor shakes it off.
Taylor shoots and misses
and Billard counters with a right hand to the body.
Taylor with a poor takedown
enabling Billard to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor takes a jab right on the kisser.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taylor.

Billard rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor wants a takedown.
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 Billard walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Taylor walks into a left hand.
Taylor is breathing heavily.

Billard has closed the distance and engaged Taylor in a clinch.
Billard misses with a body punch.
Billard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taylor fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Billard should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor with a poor takedown
and Billard counters with a nice uppercut.
Taylor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Billard counters with a stiff right hand.
Billard scores with a crisp jab that stopped Taylor in his tracks.
Billard scores with a one two! Taylor had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
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!
A jab from Billard finds it's way through Taylor's defenses.

Billard lands a big head kick that sends Taylor tumbling to the mat! Billard takes a step backwards and waves Taylor back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Taylor shoots for a takedown but Billard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Billard misses with a head kick.
Taylor changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Billard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Taylor stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Taylor takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor moves out of range as Billard throws a body kick.

Taylor gets tackled into the cage by Billard. Billard maintains the clinch.
Taylor fails to pull guard.

Billard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Billard digs a good body shot into Taylor's ribs.
Nice takedown defense from Billard. No joy for Taylor on that attempt.
Billard scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Billard moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Billard.

Billard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Billard clinches up against the cage.

Billard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor with a poor takedown
and Billard counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Taylor is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Taylor tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Billard counters with a thumping low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Billard moves into range and connects with a jab.
Taylor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Billard counters with a one-two to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Billard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Billard dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Billard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Taylor is trying to drag Billard to the mat but Billard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Billard breaks from the clinch.
Taylor shoots and misses
and Billard counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Taylor wants to clinch but Billard slips to the side
and Billard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Taylor is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Billard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Billard lands a jab to the nose.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billard lands a right hand.
Taylor is trying to pull guard but Billard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor fails to pull guard.

Billard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Billard closes the distance and pushes Taylor back into the cage.

Billard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Billard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taylor.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Billard circles away easily

and Billard counters by moving into the clinch.

Billard breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billard lands a jab.
Billard misses with a double jab.
Billard scores with a nice right hand.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Billard tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Billard to the ground. Billard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taylor throws a head kick but Billard moves out of range.
Billard lands with a slapping head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Billard as he avoids it easily.
Taylor wants to clinch
and Billard counters with a one-two to the body.

Billard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Billard looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Billard just stands there and leans against the cage.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Billard lands a slapping body shot.

Billard closes the distance and pushes Taylor back into the cage.

Billard breaks from the clinch.
Billard fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Billard darts in and clinches Taylor up against the cage.
Billard lands a left hand.
Billard lands with a short shot to the head.
Billard looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.

Taylor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Billard uses from the top position.
Taylor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Billard stands up from Taylor's guard - Billard perhaps looking for a knockout.
Billard lunges at Taylor with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Taylor's hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping leg kick lands for Billard.
Taylor takes one to the chin there.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Billard circles away easily
and Billard counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Billard as he connects with a hook.
Billard throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Taylor on the side of the head.
Taylor looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Taylor goes for a double leg but Billard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Billard continues to drive forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Billard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Billard lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Taylor misses with the combination.

Billard moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
Billard leaning against his opponent.
Taylor avoids a wild elbow strike from Billard.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Billard gets through Taylor's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Billard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billard lands a shoulder strike.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Taylor is trying to drag Billard to the mat but Billard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Billard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Billard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Billard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Taylor just stands there and leans against the cage.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Billard lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Billard keeps it at a distance.
Billard replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Taylor blocks it well.
Billard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Taylor misses with a wild body shot.
Billard throws out a counter right but Taylor avoids it with no problem.
Taylor tries to clinch but Billard moves out of range.
Billard lands a head shot.
Sloppy strikes from Billard. Those never looked like landing.
Billard looks to land a left hand but Taylor moved out of range nicely.
Billard avoids the head kick by Taylor.

Billard pushes Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Leonard Billard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Billard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taylor is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Billard to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a punch on the inside.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Brandon Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Billard stuffs the takedown attempt from Taylor. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
Billard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Billard throws out a powerful jab.
Billard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Billard sprawls well. Billard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
Billard is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Leonard Billard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Billard takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billard managing to block the knees to the body from Taylor.
Billard gets through Taylor's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Billard lands a body shot.
Billard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Billard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Billard stalls.
Brandon Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor jumps guard but Billard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonard Billard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Billard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 25:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonard Billard!