PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josh Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mehmet Kaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaya is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Riverside. This should be fireworks!

Taylor
vs
Kaya

175 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
19
161 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Josh Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mehmet Kaya!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kaya as he avoids it easily.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Kaya shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaya defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.

Kaya gets a clinch.
Taylor is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kaya pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Taylor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taylor has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kaya is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Kaya wants the takedown. Taylor is fighting it off but Kaya persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Taylor's guard against the cage.
Kaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaya throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kaya looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaya trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Kaya wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Kaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaya stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaya throwing strikes but missing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kaya closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Taylor did well to prevent Kaya getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kaya missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kaya thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor is not content to let Kaya control the position.
Kaya trying to control from Taylor's half guard. Taylor has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaya is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.
Kaya is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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.

Kaya has managed to clinch.
Kaya gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taylor.
Kaya gets underhooks to prevent Taylor's takedown attempt.
Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kaya avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Kaya has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Taylor regains guard immediately.
Kaya scoring with some ground and pound.
Kaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaya loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kaya won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaya advances position into side control!
Kaya throws an elbow but Taylor slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kaya throws a strike aimed at the side of Taylor's head but Taylor avoids it well.
Kaya landing strikes.

Kaya tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kaya has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
An elbow from Kaya crashes against the mat.
Kaya wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mehmet Kaya dominated that round.
That's time! Taylor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Taylor misses with a takedown

and Kaya counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kaya.
Taylor is working for takedown but Kaya is calmly controlling the position for now.
Taylor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor has Kaya pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kaya manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kaya pressing his opponent against the cage.
Taylor goes for a takedown attempt but Kaya pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Kaya circles away easily

and Kaya decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Taylor's guard.
Kaya with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kaya seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaya wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaya postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kaya's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taylor keeping full guard, as Kaya 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.
Taylor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kaya is controlling him.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Kaya from controlling successfully.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Kaya postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Taylor is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kaya, into his guard.

Taylor 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor postures up in Kaya's guard and throws a big left but Kaya blocks it.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Kaya.
Kaya seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four 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.
Taylor throws and elbow that misses. Kaya uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taylor's guard. Nice move by Kaya!

Kaya is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Taylor is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Taylor has escaped and now he's on top!
Taylor passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Taylor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kaya is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mehmet Kaya showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Taylor tries for a takedown but Kaya circles away easily

and Kaya moves into the clinch.
Taylor has Kaya pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kaya manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Taylor is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kaya pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaya stops a takedown attempt from Taylor.
Taylor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taylor has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kaya is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Kaya has clasped his hands together around Taylor's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Taylor wants to control but Kaya postures up.
Kaya in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kaya wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Taylor, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to get back to half guard.
Taylor regains half guard there - taking advantage of Kaya's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Kaya working the head and body with strikes.
Kaya passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kaya landing shots from mount.
Taylor is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kaya working the ground and pound effectively.

It looks like Josh Taylor has been cut.
Kaya dominating with strikes here.
Kaya can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taylor is looking to escape.
Kaya breaks from Taylor's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mehmet Kaya is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaya controlling from the full mount.
Josh Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor tries to hold on but Kaya pushes him away.

That's four 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.
Kaya postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Taylor looks a forlorn figure.
Taylor wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kaya.
Kaya content just to control the position here.
Kaya really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taylor. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taylor is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kaya controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mehmet Kaya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kaya has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mehmet Kaya!