PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johan den Hollander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Travis Taylor was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

den Hollander
vs
Taylor

179 cm
22
168 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

170 cm
26
162 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™
Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

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 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johan den Hollander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Travis Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
den Hollander swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.
den Hollander misses with a jab, cross combination.
den Hollander scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Taylor doesn't seem bothered though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from den Hollander is defended easily by Taylor.
No joy there for den Hollander, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
den Hollander throws a jab but it's blocked by Taylor.
den Hollander throws a big shot that misses.
den Hollander scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Taylor doesn't seem bothered though.
Taylor slips under a jab from den Hollander.
Johan den Hollander seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
den Hollander throws a combination. Taylor tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Taylor takes a jab right on the kisser.
den Hollander takes a swing at Taylor's ribcage but misses.
Taylor tries for a takedown but den Hollander circles away easily
and den Hollander counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around den Hollander's waist but den Hollander gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taylor off to one side.
den Hollander's corner calls for a 1-2. den Hollander obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
den Hollander throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Taylor closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Taylor gets a takedown into half guard.
den Hollander trying to control here.
den Hollander avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.
Nice strikes from Taylor there.
Taylor throwing shots but den Hollander is blocking nicely.
den Hollander is looking to improve his position.
Taylor prevents den Hollander from standing back up.
Taylor lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
den Hollander is looking to control Taylor's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can den Hollander avoid being mounted?
Taylor not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taylor is trying to work for a kimura but den Hollander is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
den Hollander is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taylor looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Taylor not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
den Hollander makes his way to full guard. A much better position for den Hollander.
Taylor with a nice head shot there.
den Hollander keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
den Hollander is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
den Hollander wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taylor's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but den Hollander has wrist control.

Taylor drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but den Hollander manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Taylor has den Hollander in his guard.
den Hollander controlling from the top position.
Taylor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
den Hollander would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A punch combination from den Hollander misses.
den Hollander lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taylor circles away quickly and effectively.
den Hollander lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
den Hollander keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johan den Hollander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis Taylor.
den Hollander slips a jab from Taylor.
den Hollander swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor throws a shot from downtown. den Hollander moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. den Hollander is trying to defend but Taylor finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Taylor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor working over den Hollander with some ground and pound. den Hollander looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
den Hollander is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
den Hollander taking some punishment here, with Taylor in his half guard.
Taylor trying to control the action but den Hollander is working from the bottom.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
den Hollander is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Taylor scores with a couple of nice shots.
den Hollander moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Taylor with a flurry of punches that miss.
den Hollander looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor postures up in den Hollander's guard and throws a big left but den Hollander blocks it.
Taylor preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
den Hollander pulls Taylor in close to prevent any damage.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taylor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
den Hollander has momentary wrist control but Taylor slips an elbow through the middle.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. den Hollander swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor preventing the sweep.
den Hollander utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
den Hollander is looking to stand up but Taylor isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from den Hollander.

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 two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor advances to half guard.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Taylor is nestled in close to den Hollander, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Taylor landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Taylor wants to take a breather but den Hollander is having none of it.
den Hollander slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Taylor postures up.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
den Hollander looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
den Hollander looking for a sweep. Not yet den Hollander, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throwing strikes from guard but den Hollander blocks nicely.
den Hollander utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but den Hollander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
den Hollander has his hands on Taylor's head, controlling the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
den Hollander utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taylor works over den Hollander with some ground and pound from guard.
Taylor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Travis Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
den Hollander looking to control.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Taylor cracks den Hollander with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor is in close to den Hollander's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Taylor working some strikes from top position.
Taylor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of den Hollander's head.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
den Hollander is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
den Hollander wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.
Taylor postures up.
Taylor is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
den Hollander working a defensive guard here.
Taylor is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Taylor wants to control from the top but den Hollander keeps moving.
den Hollander utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! den Hollander's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

den Hollander throws a low kick but Taylor moves out of range easily.
den Hollander swinging wildly here.
Taylor with a lazy takedown attempt
and den Hollander counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
den Hollander takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
den Hollander throws a push kick but Taylor slaps the foot to one side.
den Hollander swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from den Hollander enables Taylor to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. den Hollander manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
den Hollander tries to land a sweep but no joy.
den Hollander avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taylor working some strikes from top position.
Taylor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of den Hollander's head.
den Hollander wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Taylor drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taylor jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Taylor postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but den Hollander has wrist control.
Taylor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but den Hollander has wrist control.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
den Hollander has momentary wrist control but Taylor slips an elbow through the middle.
Taylor landing some decent shots from guard.
den Hollander is trying to keep Taylor in close.
Taylor works over den Hollander with some ground and pound from guard.
den Hollander 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 looking to work some ground and pound but den Hollander has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
den Hollander 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 trying to control but den Hollander is working from the bottom.
den Hollander trying to control the position.
Taylor chips away with some ground and pound.
Taylor with a nice head shot there.
den Hollander keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
den Hollander not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor scoring with punches to the head and body.
Taylor cracks den Hollander with a solid left hand.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from den Hollander.
Taylor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
den Hollander trying to control the position.
den Hollander can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taylor controls the pace.
Taylor throws a big right hand that misses.
Taylor thows a big elbow that misses.
Taylor scoring with some ground and pound.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but den Hollander has wrist control.
Taylor cracks den Hollander with a solid left hand.
Taylor scoring with some ground and pound.
den Hollander pulls Taylor in to control the position.
den Hollander not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Taylor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to control from the top but den Hollander keeps moving.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Taylor throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as den Hollander works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Taylor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taylor with a nice head shot there.
den Hollander working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taylor.
Taylor lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.
Taylor postures up.
Taylor cracks den Hollander with a solid left hand.
den Hollander wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor wants to control from the top but den Hollander keeps moving.
Taylor throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Taylor!