PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Varner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor comes to the cage accompanied by Use My Third Arm. Jason Varner will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Taylor
vs
Varner

175 cm
19
133 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

166 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Varner!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Varner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Varner shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.
Varner shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
John Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Varner.

Taylor has taken the fight to the clinch.

Taylor has clasped his hands together around Varner's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Taylor tries for a kimura but Varner is defending well.
Varner is looking to regain half guard here but Taylor keeps moving and retains side control.
Varner gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Taylor working for a submission but Varner is keeping him at bay.

Taylor looking to secure an arm triangle but Varner defends it well.
Varner can't escape the position.
Varner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Varner has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Taylor is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Varner can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Taylor with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Varner can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taylor has hold of Varner's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Varner manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Varner regains half guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Varner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Varner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is looking for a kimura here.

Varner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Taylor seems to be looking for submissions.

Varner is defending against the submission attempts here by Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is working for a submission of some sort.
Varner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Taylor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Taylor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Varner sees it coming and defends easily.

Taylor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Varner sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Varner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Taylor is trying to work for a kimura but Varner is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Varner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Taylor but Taylor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Varner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taylor as he jumps to the side.
Varner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Varner persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.

Taylor shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Taylor seems to be looking for submissions.

Varner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Varner looking for submissions off his back.

Taylor is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Taylor dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taylor gets caught flat footed, as Varner shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Varner defends well.

Taylor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Varner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taylor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Varner thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Taylor has his foot on Varner's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Varner works his way back into a safe position though.
Taylor keeping full guard, as Varner tries to pass.

Varner is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Taylor working for a triangle but Varner defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Varner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Varner pushing down on Taylor's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Taylor looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Taylor tries to get to full guard but Varner has control of the leg.

Varner is looking for a kimura here.

Taylor is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Varner pulls his head out easily.
Taylor wants to improve his position but Varner is controlling well.

Varner is trying to work for a kimura but Taylor is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Varner is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Taylor doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Varner.

Taylor is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Varner is tapping! Great win for Taylor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). John Taylor!