PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sid Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor has chosen Bodies as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rua
vs
Taylor

180 cm
27
199 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

181 cm
26
201 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sid Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taylor as he jumps to the side.
Taylor checks the leg kick.

Taylor takes the fight into the clinch.
Rua wants a takedown but no success here.
Rua 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 Alex Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rua wants a takedown.
Taylor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rua tries to score a body lock takedown but Taylor shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A left hand lands to the body for Taylor.

Rua manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.

Rua throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua working for submissions but it's allowed Taylor to get to half guard.
Taylor content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.

Taylor stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rua to get to his feet.

Taylor moves into the clinch.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. Rua has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taylor down to the mat. Taylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taylor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws out a powerful jab.
Rua checks a low kick from Taylor.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.
Rua closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rua misses with a two punch combination.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Rua swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Taylor counters with a stiff right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor tries to land a front kick but Rua steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Taylor takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Rua. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rua.
Taylor moves away from the strike by Rua.
Taylor fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rua is out of range.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Taylor.
Rua is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Taylor is defending well.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rua's elbow.
Rua is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Taylor prevents the takedown attempt.
Rua jumps guard but Taylor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands an uppercut.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Taylor shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rua's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Taylor trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sid Taylor was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rua throws a predictable looking body shot
and Taylor counters with a three punch combo that has Rua backing up. Rua nods at Taylor to acknowledge the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua looks to land a right hand but Taylor moved out of range.
Taylor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rua has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Taylor.
Taylor feints and then cracks Rua's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rua down.
Rua lands the left hand.
Rua attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Rua closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Taylor's guard.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rua defends well.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
Rua is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Taylor manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Taylor trying to control but Rua is having none of it.
Rua is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is squirming around, avoiding Taylor's attempts to control the action.
Rua is working to get back to half guard.
Taylor controlling from mount.
Rua is desperately trying to improve his position but Taylor has a good base and remains in mount.
Taylor controlling from mount.
Taylor looking to land elbow strikes but Rua uses the position to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is not content to let Taylor control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sid Taylor was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Taylor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rua.
Rua throws a shot to the body.
Taylor wants to slow Rua down by chopping away at his legs.
Taylor tries to clinch but Rua moves away
and Rua cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taylor misses with a low kick.

Rua scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Rua is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rua not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rua trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Rua throws a strike but Taylor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
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 Alex Rua will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taylor's waist but Taylor gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rua off to one side.
Rua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rua lands with a shot to the body.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua throws a jab but it's blocked by Taylor.
Taylor connects with a nice looking jab.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Taylor takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Taylor throws the kick towards the body but Rua avoids it.
Taylor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taylor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown but Taylor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rua's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taylor misses with a double jab
letting Rua counter with a right hand.
Rua throws an overhand right that lands on Taylor's shoulder, as Taylor tries to avoid the shot.
Taylor throws a nice outside leg kick.
Taylor cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Taylor lands a leg kick that knocks Rua off balance momentarily.
Rua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rua at a distance.
Rua on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor with a hook.
Rua throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taylor sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rua misses with a low kick.
Rua is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Taylor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Taylor connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Taylor throws a nice outside leg kick.
Taylor throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Taylor tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rua is able to avoid easily.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Taylor.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Taylor lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rua has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rua and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Taylor takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Taylor fakes the leg kick and cracks Rua in the body.
Taylor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Taylor rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Rua to counter with a crisp jab.
Rua on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Taylor throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rua moves out of range of the leg kick from Taylor.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rua shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rua sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Taylor finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rua throws a leg kick but Taylor sees it coming and moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor throws a nice outside leg kick.
Taylor connects with a leg kick. Rua looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rua misses with an uppercut. Taylor saw that one coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Taylor.
Taylor throws out a powerful jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sid Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taylor 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sid Taylor!
Sid Taylor was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.