PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Trae Taylor (ranked 4110 p4p, 4190 weight class) and Shako Shalva (ranked 272 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
Shalva

165 cm
18
133
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
140
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Trae Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shako Shalva!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shalva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shalva.
Shalva looking for a takedown.

Taylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Taylor throws the left hand but Shalva avoids the punch easily.
Shalva is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shalva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Taylor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shalva, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shalva lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Shalva content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Taylor is trying to break free.
Shalva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shalva wants to take the fight to the mat but Taylor manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Trae Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shako Shalva.
Taylor letting Shalva take a breather here.
Shalva is trying to pull guard but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Shalva tries to circle away but Taylor has him pinned against the cage.

Shalva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taylor moves to clinch but Shalva breaks away
and Shalva counters with a two punch combo.
Shalva shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Shalva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Taylor rushes Shalva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Trae Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shalva shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Trae Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.

Taylor gets tackled into the cage by Shalva. Shalva maintains the clinch.

Shalva manages to pull guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Shalva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shalva looking for a sweep. Not yet Shalva, not yet.
Taylor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shalva's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shalva is trying to keep Taylor in close.
Shalva pulls Taylor in close to his closed guard and prevents Taylor from doing any damage or advancing position.
Taylor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Shalva is proving hard to escape from.

Shalva working for a triangle but Taylor defends it easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shalva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taylor pinned against the cage. Taylor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Taylor was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

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.
Shalva is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Shalva tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor throws a right hand that Shalva ducks under and follows up with a left that Shalva also avoids with ease.
Shalva dives in for a single leg takedown but Taylor sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It looked like Taylor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nice takedown defense from Taylor. No joy for Shalva on that attempt.
Shalva looks winded!

Taylor clinches up with Shalva and pushes him back against the cage.
Shalva is trying to pull guard but Taylor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taylor missing with a left hand there. Shalva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Trae Taylor dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shalva shoots in looking for a takedown but Taylor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shalva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shalva swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but Shalva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shalva darts in looking for a takedown but Taylor gets double underhooks and turns Shalva into the cage.
Shalva circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shalva walks into a jab.
Taylor lands a jab-cross combination.
Shalva shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
As Shalva looks to move away, Taylor throws a big counter combo but Shalva just gets out of the way.
Trae Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shako Shalva.
Shalva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shalva moves away from the strike by Taylor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Taylor, as that shot connected.
Shalva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shalva gets slowly back to his feet.
Shalva is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Taylor scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shalva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Taylor defends well and Shalva ends up having to push Taylor into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shalva is looking to clinch.
Shalva throws a leg kick but Taylor checks it.
Taylor avoids the head kick by Shalva.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shalva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shalva feints the counter takedown.
Shalva shoots in and drives through. Taylor sprawls well.
Taylor connects with a single shot there.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shalva can do to turn this around?

Taylor pushes Shalva up against the cage in a clinch.
Shalva is trying to drag Taylor to the mat but Taylor just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shalva has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Taylor loads up on a big right hand but Shalva slips the punch.
Shalva throws a head kick that misses.
Shalva bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shalva circles away from the clinch attempt
and Shalva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shalva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shalva gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor clinches.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor darts in trying to clinch
and Shalva counters with a three punch combo that has Taylor backing up. Taylor nods at Shalva to acknowledge the strikes.
Shalva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Trae Taylor is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shalva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
Taylor throws a right hand that Shalva ducks under and follows up with a left that Shalva also avoids with ease.

Taylor moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Shalva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shalva gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Shalva. Shalva circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Shalva tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor stalks Shalva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Shalva's face. Shalva staggers backwards, shaken.
Taylor is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Shalva pushes Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.

Shalva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor scores with a nice right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Trae Taylor dominated that second round.
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!

Shalva swings away with a leg kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Taylor rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shalva counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Decent striking displayed by Taylor there.
Taylor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taylor wants it to stay on the feet.
Jab from Taylor.
Taylor dips to his left and cracks Shalva with an uppercut!
Taylor misses with a hook.
Shalva closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Shalva pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shalva ducks under a wild hook from Taylor.
Shalva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taylor loads up on a big right hand but Shalva slips the punch.
Shalva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Taylor was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Shalva uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taylor.
Shalva changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Shalva has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor is looking to break free of the clinch but Shalva has double underhooks.
Taylor leaning his opponent against the cage.
Trae Taylor has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shalva jumps guard but Taylor stands there with Shalva around his waist. Shalva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Trae Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shako Shalva.
Shalva is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two 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.
Shalva blocks an elbow strike from Taylor.
Taylor stops a takedown attempt from Shalva.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shalva avoids it.
Taylor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shalva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. Shalva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taylor down to the mat. Taylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Shalva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taylor avoids it really well and circles away.
Taylor swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shalva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taylor avoids it really well and circles away.
Trae Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shalva gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Shalva moves out of range.
Good shot there by Taylor.
Shalva tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Shalva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taylor as he avoids it easily.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Shalva circles away.
Shalva doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Shalva tries to move into range but Taylor moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taylor.
Taylor jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Taylor lands with a hook. Shalva tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Shalva is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Shalva is still on wobbly legs! Can Taylor finish him?
Taylor misses with the combination.
Shalva is looking for the big counter here.
Jab by Taylor.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shalva walks into a straight right hand from Taylor.

Taylor rushes Shalva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Shalva has him pressed against the cage.
Shalva tries to pull guard but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shalva.
Shalva seems to have recovered his senses.
Shalva is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Taylor is keeping busy.

Taylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trae Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taylor, 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26

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