PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Ulyanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Taylor
vs
Ulyanov

170 cm
24
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

162 cm
29
154 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Ulyanov!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Bruno Lombardi and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ulyanov is fending him off so far but Taylor persists. Nope, Ulyanov circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Ulyanov which made him look bad.

Ulyanov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Taylor's guard.
Ulyanov wants to stand but Taylor is controlling his posture from full guard.

Taylor has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ulyanov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ulyanov throws a big right hand that misses.
Ulyanov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Taylor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ulyanov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taylor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ulyanov defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ulyanov postures up in Taylor's guard and throws a big left but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ulyanov!

Taylor working for a submission but Ulyanov is keeping him at bay.
Taylor punishing his opponent with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor thowing shots but they're missing.
Taylor has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Taylor sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ulyanov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Taylor pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ulyanov is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor with the ground and pound from mount.

Taylor is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ulyanov is surviving well by controlling Taylor's body position as best he can.

Taylor is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ulyanov is surviving well by controlling Taylor's body position as best he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ulyanov can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Taylor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ulyanov is looking to escape.
Ulyanov is looking to get to half guard.
Ulyanov tries to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor looking to secure an arm triangle but Ulyanov defends it well.
Taylor breaks from Ulyanov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taylor cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ulyanov is looking to get to half guard.
Taylor lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Taylor is working for a guillotine from mount but Ulyanov frees his head quite easily.

Taylor is working for a guillotine from mount but Ulyanov frees his head quite easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Taylor has hold of Ulyanov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ulyanov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to control but Ulyanov wriggling away.
Ulyanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taylor with the ground and pound from mount.

Taylor is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Ulyanov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Taylor prevents Ulyanov from getting the reversal.
Taylor lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor working Ulyanov over with strikes here.
Ulyanov is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taylor cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Taylor dominated that round.
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.

Ulyanov pushes Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.

Ulyanov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Taylor uses from the top position.
Ulyanov wants to sweep but no luck.

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 lands a couple of elbows.
Taylor trying to control but Ulyanov is working from the bottom.
Taylor won't allow Ulyanov to get back to his feet.
Taylor throws a big right hand that misses.
Ulyanov 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 wants to control from the top but Ulyanov keeps moving.
Taylor advances to half guard.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ulyanov keeps working.
Ground and pound from Taylor.
Joe Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ulyanov!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taylor has control of Ulyanov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ulyanov regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ulyanov is bucking up trying to escape but Taylor cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Taylor working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Ulyanov looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Taylor! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Joe Taylor!
An out of breath Joe Taylor thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.