PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Andreas Klemens (ranked 6535 p4p, 4401 weight class) and Mark Taylor (ranked 468 p4p, 385 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Klemens
vs
Taylor

170 cm
19
148
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
145
1 - 2 - 0

Excellent MT
Big right hand

Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andreas Klemens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor swings away with a body shot that misses
and Klemens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Klemens checks the leg kick nicely there.
Klemens wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Taylor falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Klemens to counter with a crisp jab.
Klemens connects with the punch.
Klemens avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Taylor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Taylor throws a right hand that Klemens ducks under and follows up with a left that Klemens also avoids with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Klemens lands a nice shot that snaps Taylor's head back.
A slow jab from Klemens misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses
and Klemens counters with a straight right hand.
Klemens with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Taylor has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Klemens finds it's way round the side to connect with Taylor's head.
Klemens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Taylor.
Klemens misses with a looping right.
Taylor wants to counter with a clinch but Klemens pushes him away.
It looks like Klemens has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

Taylor instigates a clinch.
Klemens working hard to break the clinch.
Klemens swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Klemens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses
letting Klemens counter with a right hand.
Klemens throws the left hand but Taylor avoids the punch easily.
A head kick misses from Taylor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klemens circles away from the clinch attempt.
Klemens throwing a counter right hand but Taylor manages to avoid it.
Andreas Klemens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Klemens waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taylor.
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 lazy body kick from Taylor
and Klemens counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Klemens is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Taylor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Klemens can't break the clinch.
Klemens misses with the head strike.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Taylor throws a right hand that Klemens ducks under and follows up with a left that Klemens also avoids with ease.

Klemens gets tackled into the cage by Taylor. Taylor maintains the clinch.
Klemens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taylor blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor prevents a body shot from Klemens.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Klemens is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Taylor swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Klemens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Taylor has taken the fight to the clinch.
Klemens misses with a punch on the inside.
Klemens prevents a body shot from Taylor.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Klemens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
Taylor misses with a hook to the body
and Taylor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taylor takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Klemens thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taylor needs to keep his hands up - Klemens had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor swings widly with a right hand
and Klemens counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Taylor thinking.
Klemens misses with a right hand
and Taylor counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Klemens lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Taylor looks to clinch
enabling Klemens to counter with a crisp jab.

Taylor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Klemens, pushing him back against the cage.
Klemens wants to get back to striking at distance but Taylor won't allow it.
Klemens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Klemens misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andreas Klemens 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.

Klemens misses with a looping right.
Taylor wants to counter with a clinch but Klemens pushes him away.
Taylor tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Klemens to counter with a crisp jab.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but Klemens avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the cage.
Taylor misses with some punches.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick
and Klemens counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Klemens.
Klemens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taylor is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Klemens with a body shot.
Klemens uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Taylor has time to react.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taylor lands a body shot.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Taylor blocking some punches.
Klemens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
Klemens avoids the body shot from Taylor.
A jab from Klemens misses.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.
Klemens throws an overhand right that lands on Taylor's shoulder, as Taylor tries to avoid the shot.
Klemens throws a jab when Taylor was well out of range.
Taylor tries to counter by closing the distance.
Taylor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Klemens counters with a stiff right hand.

Taylor clinches up with Klemens and pushes him back against the cage.
Klemens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor slowing the pace effectively.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Klemens circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Klemens throwing a counter right hand but Taylor manages to avoid it.
Klemens lands with a shot to the body.
Andreas Klemens is winning the standup battle so far.
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!

Taylor pushes Klemens up against the cage in a clinch.
Klemens fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right from Klemens.
Klemens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taylor can do to turn this around?
Klemens avoids the elbow strike from Taylor, against the cage.
Taylor leaning his opponent against the cage.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Klemens checks the leg kick nicely there.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Klemens circles away and keeps his distance.
Klemens missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Klemens avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Taylor closes the distance but Klemens moves to the side
enabling Klemens to counter with a crisp jab.
Mark Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klemens comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Taylor has closed the distance and engaged Klemens in a clinch.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Klemens misses with an uppercut. Taylor saw that one coming.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Klemens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Andreas Klemens will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Klemens pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taylor is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Klemens rather than just go for the knockout.
Taylor slips under a jab from Klemens.
Klemens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taylor is looking to land body kicks.
Klemens thuds his right hand into Taylor's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Klemens throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Taylor counters with a two punch combo.
Taylor connects with a body shot that sends Klemens's belly button to the back.
Taylor misses with a left hand
enabling Klemens to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Klemens. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Taylor takes one to the chin there.

Taylor pushes Klemens up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Klemens softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Taylor's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Klemens swings wildly with an uppercut but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Klemens has a couple of punches blocked by Taylor.
A body shot lands from Taylor.

Taylor breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klemens checks a leg kick.
Klemens is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Taylor clinches with his opponent.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Klemens fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Klemens loads up on a big right hand but Taylor slips the punch.
Taylor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Taylor.
Klemens swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Taylor misses with a leg kick
and Klemens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Klemens uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Taylor has time to react.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Klemens avoids the body shot from Taylor.
Taylor is looking to clinch.
Klemens seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Taylor blocking some punches.
Klemens scores with a nice hook to the head.
Klemens being controlled against the cage.
Andreas Klemens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor defending well as Klemens loads up on a big left hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Klemens darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Taylor has managed to clinch.
Klemens lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Taylor stalling the fight.
Klemens letting Taylor take a breather here.
Mark Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Klemens lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andreas Klemens.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Klemens, 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andreas Klemens!