PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stevie Diamond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jorge Taylor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Diamond
vs
Taylor

180 cm
23
153 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

172 cm
24
154 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stevie Diamond!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorge Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Reed Andrews and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diamond throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Taylor lands a head shot.
Taylor bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Diamond's head.
Jorge Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Diamond sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Diamond scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Taylor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taylor throws a body punch but Diamond moves out of range.
Taylor misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Diamond defending well as Taylor loads up on a big left hand.
Diamond throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the body.
Diamond takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Taylor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Taylor drops his hands momentarily and Diamond takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Diamond lands a jab-cross combination.
A slow jab from Taylor misses its intended target.
Diamond fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Taylor.
Taylor looks for a takedown but Diamond sprawls well.
Taylor thows a body shot but no joy.
Diamond cracks a nice hook into Taylor's ribs.
Taylor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Diamond. Diamond circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Diamond throws a hook but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Taylor, as that shot connected.
Diamond throws an overhand right that lands on Taylor's shoulder, as Taylor tries to avoid the shot.
Diamond looks to land a right hand but Taylor moved out of range.
A jab from Taylor misses.
Taylor misses with an uppercut. Diamond saw that one coming.
Diamond looks to land a combination but Taylor avoids it well.
Diamond misses with a wild body shot.
Taylor connects with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but Diamond sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stevie Diamond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Taylor.
Taylor cracks Diamond with a good jab.
Taylor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diamond keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Diamond swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diamond slips a jab from Taylor.
Diamond is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice body punch from Taylor.
Diamond throws a right and a left that both miss.
A swing and a miss from Taylor.
Taylor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diamond throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Diamond fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Taylor is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diamond throws a hook to the side of Taylor's head but Taylor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Taylor bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Diamond is pushing Taylor's head away, looking to escape. Taylor manages to hold on to the position though.
Diamond stops Taylor from passing to mount.
Taylor misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Taylor wants to control but Diamond is keeping him busy.
Taylor works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Taylor trying to control the action but Diamond is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diamond is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Taylor is chipping away with strikes.
Diamond on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Diamond tries to get out of the position.
An elbow from Taylor crashes against the mat.
Taylor working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Taylor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diamond avoids it really well and circles away.
Taylor throws the left hand but Diamond avoids the punch easily.
Diamond throws a jab when Taylor was well out of range.
A head kick misses from Diamond.
Taylor takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Diamond fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Taylor on the side of the head.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Diamond keeps it at a distance.
Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Diamond which made him look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Taylor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diamond throws a nice looking combination but Taylor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Diamond which made him look bad.
Stevie Diamond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Taylor.
Diamond showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diamond sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taylor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Taylor slips a jab from Diamond.
Diamond misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diamond misses with a few strikes there.
Taylor tries to bum rush Diamond with a series of wild strikes but Diamond uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diamond tests Taylor's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taylor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taylor slips a straight right by Diamond.
Diamond punishes Taylor's body with a nice straight punch.
Taylor misses with a looping right.
Stevie Diamond is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taylor walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Taylor misses with the ground and pound.
Diamond is not content to let Taylor control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Diamond is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diamond wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Diamond parries the strikes from Taylor easily there. Taylor is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Diamond to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Diamond is trying to get back to his feet.
The ground and pound from Taylor seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The strikes coming from Taylor are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Diamond tries to escape but Taylor is in control.
Taylor misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The strikes coming from Taylor are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four 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.
Taylor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diamond.
Taylor misses with a hook.
Taylor misses with a combination
enabling Diamond to counter with a crisp jab.
Diamond swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Diamond is trying to stand.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Diamond looks like he's trying to stand up.
Taylor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nice strikes from Taylor there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Taylor throws a hook but Diamond avoids it easily.
Taylor scores with a jab.
A jab from Taylor finds it's way through Diamond's defenses.
Taylor moves away from the strike by Diamond.
Taylor has a takedown stuffed.
Diamond throws a big shot that misses.
Taylor cracks Diamond with a right hand to the side of the head.
Diamond ducks under a wild hook from Taylor.
Diamond throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor scores with a crisp jab that stopped Diamond in his tracks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diamond. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Taylor throws a shot from downtown. Diamond moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diamond throws a right hand that Taylor ducks under and follows up with a left that Taylor also avoids with ease.
Taylor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Diamond throws out a loose jab but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diamond missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taylor swings away with a body shot that misses
and Diamond counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taylor connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Diamond's hands.
Diamond dodges the punch combination from Taylor.
Taylor misses with a looping left.
Taylor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Diamond sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor lands with an overhand left.
Taylor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diamond.
Diamond throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Taylor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Taylor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diamond avoids it really well and circles away.
Stevie Diamond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Taylor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taylor. Diamond does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor takes a swing at Diamond's ribcage but misses.
Diamond lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taylor throws a jab when Diamond was well out of range.
Taylor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diamond.
Taylor throws an overhand right that lands on Diamond's shoulder, as Diamond tries to avoid the shot.
Diamond throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Diamond.
Diamond swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diamond avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.
Taylor trying to control but Diamond is working from the bottom.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diamond knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taylor on the ground.
Taylor trying to control but Diamond is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taylor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Diamond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Diamond misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taylor.
Taylor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diamond.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Diamond napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diamond keeps working.
Taylor working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Taylor really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Diamond throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Diamond throws a right and a left that Taylor avoids nicely.
Diamond connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Diamond uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taylor.
Taylor takes a swing at Diamond's ribcage but misses.
Diamond scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Diamond throws a quick inside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diamond lands a nice looking body kick.
Diamond lands a front kick.
Taylor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diamond misses the shot to the body.
Diamond keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taylor.
Stevie Diamond is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diamond's waist but Diamond gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taylor off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taylor. Diamond does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor misses with an uppercut. Diamond saw that one coming.
Diamond moves away from the strike by Taylor.
Diamond throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor slips a jab and a cross from Diamond.
Taylor throws a big shot that misses.
Diamond takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Taylor lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Taylor misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Diamond counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taylor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Diamond throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.

Taylor has taken the fight to the clinch.
Taylor working hard to break the clinch.
Taylor has a couple of punches blocked by Diamond.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamond wants to get back to striking at distance but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor can't find room to land a body shot as Diamond controls the action.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor loads up on a big right hand but Diamond slips the punch.
Diamond takes a jab right on the kisser.
Diamond connects with a looping right hand.
Taylor misses the shot to the body.
Diamond throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Taylor counters with a straight right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Diamond fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taylor manages to avoid it.
Diamond tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Diamond shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stevie Diamond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Taylor.
Taylor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Diamond does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diamond looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Diamond looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Taylor looks to land a left hand but Diamond moved out of range nicely.
Diamond throws a combination. Taylor tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Taylor drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Diamond as he jumps to the side.
Diamond uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taylor.
Diamond keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Diamond sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stevie Diamond is winning the standup battle so far.
Taylor misses with a jab to the body
letting Diamond counter with a right hand.
Diamond uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
A punch lands to the side of Taylor 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice uppercut there from Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diamond ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Taylor takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Diamond circles away.
Taylor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Diamond is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Diamond slips under a jab from Taylor.
Taylor throws a hook to the side of Diamond's head but Diamond sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diamond looks to land a combination but Taylor avoids it well.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Diamond drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A combination from Diamond does no damage.
Diamond misses with a few strikes there.
Taylor throws the left hand but Diamond avoids the punch easily.
Diamond misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Diamond had his way with Jorge Taylor in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Diamond stuns Taylor with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Taylor scores with a hook to the body. Diamond takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Diamond throws a right and a left that Taylor avoids nicely.
Nice jab there from Taylor.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but Diamond sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Taylor scores with the left hand. Diamond knows he should have avoided that one.
Taylor takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Taylor misses with a body punch
and Diamond counters with a one-two to the body.
Taylor lands with a right hand.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Taylor cracks Diamond with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Diamond feints and then cracks Taylor's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taylor down.
The fighters circling - Taylor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a body shot.
Diamond doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Diamond is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taylor.
A jab lands there for Taylor.
Diamond throws a good cross that connects.
Taylor uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Diamond throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taylor stalks Diamond and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Diamond's face. Diamond staggers backwards, shaken.
Diamond swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Taylor misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Diamond counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Taylor bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Diamond avoids a punch combination nicely.
Diamond bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Taylor's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor takes a swing at Diamond's ribcage but misses.
Diamond cracks Taylor with a right hand to the side of the head.
Taylor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Diamond's head backwards.
Diamond takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Taylor has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Diamond which made him look bad.
Taylor shoots for a takedown but Diamond saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stevie Diamond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Taylor.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Taylor drops his hands momentarily and Diamond takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Diamond tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Diamond to the ground. Diamond escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taylor is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Taylor throws a shot from downtown. Diamond moves away and avoids it.
Jorge Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diamond delivers a nice body kick.
Diamond just misses with a punch to the body.
Diamond throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diamond slips a straight right by Taylor.
Taylor misses with a wild body shot.
Diamond gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Taylor unloads with some shots from mount but Diamond bucks and avoids them well.
You get the feeling that Diamond really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Taylor tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Diamond is looking to escape.
You get the feeling that Diamond really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Taylor controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stevie Diamond.
I think Taylor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 47:48
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 47:48
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jorge Taylor! Jorge Taylor retains his featherweight title!