PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sid Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Cervoni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor comes to the cage accompanied by Bodies-Drowning Pool. This should be a great matchup!

Taylor
vs
Cervoni

181 cm
19
188 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

225 cm
23
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sid Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Cervoni!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cervoni tries to keep at a distance but Taylor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cervoni drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taylor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cervoni is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Cervoni pushes him off.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cervoni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cervoni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Cervoni circles away and keeps his distance.
Cervoni fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cervoni lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cervoni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cervoni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor tries to clinch but Cervoni moves out of range.
Taylor shoots in but no luck this time.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Cervoni circles away.
Cervoni throws a series of strikes that have Taylor backpedaling.
Cervoni keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Cervoni circles away.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Cervoni circles away.
A nice combination there by Cervoni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cervoni stuffs the takedown attempt from Taylor. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Cervoni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor shoots for a takedown but Cervoni saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sid Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cervoni with a lazy takedown attempt

so Taylor counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Cervoni wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling him.

Taylor stands up from Cervoni's guard - Taylor perhaps looking for a knockout.

Taylor gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cervoni to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Taylor has a closed guard, preventing Cervoni from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taylor is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Cervoni stands and steps away. Taylor gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to clinch.

Cervoni feints and as Taylor raises his hands in defense, Cervoni changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Cervoni decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Taylor, up you get!
No luck for Cervoni with that takedown attempt.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Taylor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cervoni avoids it really well and circles away.
Taylor tries to clinch but Cervoni moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor blocks a head kick by Cervoni.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Cervoni circles away and keeps his distance.
Sid Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cervoni shoots in and bounces Taylor off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Cervoni stands up from guard. Let's bang!
No luck for Cervoni with that takedown attempt.
Taylor is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cervoni.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cervoni swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.

Taylor pushes Cervoni up against the cage in a clinch.

Taylor manages to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cervoni dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cervoni lands a nice hook to Taylor's body. Taylor takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cervoni lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cervoni scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Cervoni pushes him off.
Taylor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sid Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cervoni scores with a one two! Taylor had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Taylor fails to land the takedown.
Cervoni scores with a one two! Taylor had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Cervoni fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Taylor sprawls well initially but Cervoni persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Cervoni escapes and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cervoni.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cervoni swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cervoni shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Cervoni stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cervoni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Cervoni.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.

Cervoni scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Taylor is trying to get back to half guard.
Taylor is trying to control Cervoni's posture but Cervoni avoids it.
Taylor is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cervoni off and has taken his back!
Taylor missing with punches from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cervoni is keeping busy.
Cervoni trying to get back to his feet but Taylor is in full control for now.
Taylor throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Johnny Cervoni has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taylor throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Cervoni holding both Taylor 's hands and preventing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor struggling to land strikes to the head as Cervoni covers up.

Taylor has his opponent's back but Cervoni is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Taylor.
Cervoni scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Cervoni is working the combinations to good effect here.
Taylor tries to clinch but Cervoni moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cervoni lands a jab-cross combination.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.

Taylor rushes Cervoni and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cervoni wants a takedown but no success here.
Taylor working Cervoni over with knees to the body.
Taylor prevents the takedown attempt.
Sid Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Cervoni.
Cervoni is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cervoni is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Taylor gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Taylor stops a takedown attempt from Cervoni.
Cervoni has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Taylor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Taylor stalling in the clinch.
Cervoni can't get the takedown.
Taylor landing knees to the head.
Cervoni drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taylor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cervoni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Taylor scores with a takedown into Cervoni's guard.

Taylor is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cervoni is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cervoni has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to keep Cervoni in close.
Cervoni preventing the sweep.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Taylor looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cervoni passes into side control.

Cervoni decides to stand back up. Cervoni steps back and let's Taylor get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cervoni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cervoni lands a lovely overhand right.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cervoni lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Cervoni looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Taylor!
Taylor working to try and regain half guard.
Taylor swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Taylor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cervoni looking to control but Taylor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Taylor is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is squirming around, avoiding Cervoni's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cervoni is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Cervoni bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Cervoni has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Cervoni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cervoni swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Cervoni pushes him off.
Cervoni ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Cervoni darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control from the bottom.
Taylor tries to roll over but Cervoni keeps him under control.

Cervoni escapes and gets back to his feet.
Cervoni connects with a jab.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Cervoni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cervoni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cervoni lands a high kick!
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cervoni swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cervoni throws a series of strikes that have Taylor backpedaling.
Taylor tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor gets caught flat footed, as Cervoni shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cervoni trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taylor's guard.

Cervoni stands up from Taylor's guard - Cervoni perhaps looking for a knockout.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Cervoni circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cervoni!
Cervoni tries for a takedown but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor has closed the distance and engaged Cervoni in a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Taylor.
Sid Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor is trying to stall.

Cervoni has Taylor pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cervoni pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Taylor tumbling to the mat - Cervoni dives into Taylor's guard.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cervoni gets to his feet - Taylor follows without any prompting.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cervoni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnny Cervoni is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cervoni counters with a series of strikes. Taylor will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Cervoni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cervoni winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Cervoni!