PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between abbas ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georges St Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ali's entrance music is fff. A fine choice. St Taylor has chosen Juicy as his entrance music. 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.

ali
vs
St Taylor

186 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, abbas ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Georges St Taylor!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ali tries to clinch up but St Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
ali stuffs the takedown attempt from St Taylor. St Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
ali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
St Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

ali pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

ali is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
St Taylor thows a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St Taylor wants to control from the top but ali keeps moving.
St Taylor works a leg free and moves into half guard.

St Taylor is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Taylor trying to control from half guard but ali is working away.
ali flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
St Taylor throws a strike but ali avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
St Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

ali is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
St Taylor trying to control but ali is working from the bottom.
ali keeping full guard, as St Taylor tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
St Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.
St Taylor looks gassed!
ali keeping full guard, as St Taylor tries to pass.
St Taylor wants to control from the top but ali keeps moving.
ali is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
St Taylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
St Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says ali as he avoids it easily.
abbas ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Georges St Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

ali darts in and clinches St Taylor up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from ali.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
ali breaks from the clinch.
ali slaps away a takedown attempt from St Taylor, before circling back to the center of the mat.

ali feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
St Taylor keeping moving, preventing ali from controlling successfully.

ali gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
ali wants to clinch up but St Taylor keeps it at a distance.
ali wants to clinch up but St Taylor keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from ali.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Taylor with a poor takedown

and ali counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
ali working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of St Taylor's head.
ali working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of St Taylor's head.
St Taylor trying to control the position.
St Taylor has a closed guard, preventing ali from standing up.
St Taylor has momentary wrist control but ali slips an elbow through the middle.
ali wants to control from the top but St Taylor keeps moving.
ali stopping the sweep attempt from St Taylor.
ali wants to control from the top but St Taylor keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

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

ali looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
St Taylor advances position into side control!

St Taylor wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by ali, who protects the arm well.
St Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but ali keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

St Taylor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Taylor wants to take a breather but ali manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for St Taylor.
ali wants to stand and escape but St Taylor is having none of it.

St Taylor has gone for a leg lock! ali slips out almost immediately though and dives into St Taylor's guard.

St Taylor working for submissions but it's allowed ali to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
St Taylor is trying to get back to full guard.
ali is trying to control the action in half guard but St Taylor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

St Taylor looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
ali is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
St Taylor wants to improve his position but ali is controlling well.
St Taylor is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
ali missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
St Taylor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and ali counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

ali breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St Taylor has his takedown stuffed
and ali counters with a two punch combo.
St Taylor tries to clinch up but ali circles away and keeps his distance.
ali wants to clinch

and St Taylor counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
St Taylor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of ali's head.
St Taylor trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but ali manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
St Taylor has a closed guard, preventing ali from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

St Taylor is working an open guard so ali takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
St Taylor plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
St Taylor doesn't succeed with the takedown

and ali counters with a takedown into side control.
abbas ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Georges St Taylor.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
St Taylor manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

ali is looking for a kimura but St Taylor is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for ali to get the leverage.
ali thows a huge punch but St Taylor dodges it nicely.
ali lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
ali wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that abbas ali will probably get the nod.
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!

ali fails with an attempt to clinch.
A lazy body kick from St Taylor

and ali counters by clinching up.

ali breaks from the clinch.
St Taylor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and ali counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
St Taylor is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
ali tries to stand but his hand is stuck under St Taylor.
ali not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Taylor trying to control here.

ali decides to stand up.

St Taylor closes the distance and clinches.

ali manages to break the clinch.
St Taylor darts in trying to clinch

and ali counters with a nice double leg into side control. St Taylor won't be happy with that.
St Taylor sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ali landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
St Taylor tries to get to full guard but ali has control of the leg.

St Taylor has one foot on ali's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
ali closes this distance looking for a takedown but St Taylor circles away.
abbas ali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
St Taylor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and ali counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
ali wants to get back to his feet.
St Taylor gets back to full guard.

ali got a little sloppy there for a moment and St Taylor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, ali has managed to get both his arms back between St Taylor's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

St Taylor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. St Taylor showed some decent athleticism there.

St Taylor is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. ali doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time St Taylor.
St Taylor tries to pass the half guard into mount. ali knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ali is not content to let St Taylor control the position.
St Taylor is stalling here. ali is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! St Taylor seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and ali has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
St Taylor takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
ali trying to control the position but St Taylor is working away.
Georges St Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
abbas ali is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
St Taylor sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
abbas ali showed his dominance in that final round.
Well ali has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... abbas ali!