PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sean Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent Smyth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor comes to the cage accompanied by Ambitionz Az A Ridah by Tupac. Smyth is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by RZA - Fatal. The key to victory for Sean Taylor has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Taylor
vs
Smyth

175 cm
24
155 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

170 cm
24
156 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sean Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vincent Smyth!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor misses with a combination

and Smyth counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Taylor's guard now.

Taylor has his foot on Smyth's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smyth works his way back into a safe position though.
Taylor wants to stand up but Smyth is controlling him.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smyth throws a big right hand that misses.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smyth trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sean Taylor wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Smyth misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smyth lands with a hook. Taylor tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smyth digs a good body shot into Taylor's ribs.
Smyth swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Taylor counters with a straight right hand.
Taylor misses with an uppercut
and Smyth counters with a one-two to the body.
Smyth defending well as Taylor loads up on a big left hand.
Smyth tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
That kick from Taylor tenderised Smyth's leg. Smyth is trying to keep his angry face on.
Taylor checks a low kick from Smyth.

Smyth scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Taylor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smyth sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taylor defending well though.

Taylor is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smyth pulls his head out easily.

Taylor is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smyth pulls his head out easily.
Smyth working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Taylor is staying active underneath Smyth, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smyth thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smyth throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smyth thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Taylor.
Smyth must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smyth working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Taylor's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smyth looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smyth is on top in guard.

Smyth drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Taylor dives on top into guard.
Taylor forces his way into half guard.
Taylor tries to stand and escape but Smyth is controlling the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smyth manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smyth wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.

Taylor gets to his feet - Smyth follows without any prompting.
Smyth tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Smyth tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
Taylor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smyth uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
Taylor thows a body shot but no joy.
Taylor misses with a body kick.
Taylor misses with a left hand
and Smyth counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Smyth dominated 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.

Smyth uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
Smyth pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smyth avoids the body shot from Taylor.
A shot to the body from Taylor misses
and Smyth counters with a straight right hand.
Smyth defending well as Taylor loads up on a big left hand.
Smyth avoids the body shot from Taylor.
Smyth is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smyth moves out of range of the body kick.

Smyth shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smyth showed some decent athleticism there.
Smyth is just content to waste time from the top position. Taylor takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smyth is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Taylor looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smyth's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smyth throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smyth missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smyth accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smyth engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Smyth pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smyth is one step ahead there.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sean Taylor wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Smyth takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sean Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smyth connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Taylor misses with a jab to the body

and Smyth counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taylor won't be happy with that.
Smyth tries to advance to mount but can't.
Vincent Smyth has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smyth working the ground and pound but Taylor is defending the strikes.
Taylor regains half guard, as Smyth was trying to land strikes.
Smyth missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smyth looks to land a strike but Taylor avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Smyth with a nice head shot there.
Taylor controls Smyth momentarily but Smyth frees himself.
Smyth content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smyth wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Smyth trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smyth is in close to Taylor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smyth is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.
Smyth trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smyth is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Smyth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Taylor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smyth tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor throws a big shot that misses.
Taylor misses with a body punch

and Smyth counters with a takedown into side control.
Smyth wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.
Taylor is looking to reverse the position.
Taylor manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smyth's best efforts.

Smyth is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smyth wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smyth.
Smyth tries to pass the half guard into mount. Taylor knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Taylor is pressing down on Smyth's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Smyth avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Smyth 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 Smyth, 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 two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Smyth has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Taylor off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Smyth misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taylor.
Smyth tries for a takedown but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Taylor connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sean Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a combination
and Smyth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smyth has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Taylor finds it's way round the side to connect with Smyth's head.
Taylor throws a jab when Smyth was well out of range.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smyth moves away.
Smyth misses with a jab to the body
and Taylor counters with a nice body shot.
Smyth fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smyth slips a jab from Taylor.
Smyth scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vincent Smyth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Smyth. That snapped Taylor's head back.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Smyth swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Smyth takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Smyth shoots in looking for a takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl out of it but Smyth keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taylor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smyth slips a straight right by Taylor.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vincent Smyth.
I've got Smyth 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vincent Smyth!