PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kennedy Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michaels comes to the cage accompanied by Fix Up, Look Sharp by Dizzee Rascal. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Michaels
vs
Taylor

188 cm
22
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

White Gorilla Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kennedy Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels misses with a two punch combination.
Taylor lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Michaels moves out of range of the body kick.

Michaels gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Michaels.
Taylor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Michaels.
Michaels 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 hook but Michaels blocks it.
Michaels scores with a three punch combo!
Michaels is looking to clinch.
Taylor throws the kick towards the body but Michaels avoids it.
Michaels throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Michaels fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taylor misses with a leg kick.
Michaels tries a head kick but it misses.
Taylor fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Michaels fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Michaels moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Taylor's head.
Michaels misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Michaels misses with a wild combination.
Michaels avoids a kick to the body.
Michaels tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor throws a left that rocks Michaels and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Taylor dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Michaels regain composure!

Michaels is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor controls the position from side control.
Oh Michaels is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Taylor decides to stand up, so the ref orders Michaels to his feet.
Taylor avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Michaels seems to have got his legs back now.
Michaels feints and then cracks Taylor's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taylor down.

Michaels gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels lands an elbow just above Taylor 's eye.
Michaels has Taylor pressed against the cage.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michaels tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor misses with a combination

and Michaels counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Michaels.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michaels keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Michaels is controlling the position.
Taylor wants to break free but Michaels has control.
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Michaels is controlling the position.
Michaels tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Michaels manages to break the clinch.
Michaels tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.

Michaels forces Taylor back against the cage and clinches.
Taylor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Michaels lands an elbow just above Taylor 's eye.
Michaels keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The referee calls for Michaels to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to break free of the clinch but Michaels has double underhooks.
Taylor looks gassed!

Michaels breaks the clinch.
Michaels wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Michaels rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taylor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor throws a right and a left that Michaels avoids nicely.
Taylor looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Michaels avoids them all with ease.
Danga de danga de dang - Michaels scores with a four punch combination!
Kennedy Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michaels wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Michaels scores with a head kick.

Michaels clinches.
Michaels lands a knee to the body.
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Michaels has Taylor pressed against the cage.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Michaels has managed to clinch.
Michaels lands a nice uppercut.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels scores with a nice body kick.

Michaels clinches.

Michaels breaks from the clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Michaels, right into the meat.

Michaels moves into the clinch.
Taylor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Michaels has him pressed against the cage.
Michaels prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taylor throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Michaels counters by clinching up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Michaels has him pressed against the cage.
Michaels landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Michaels manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Michaels seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Michaels with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Michaels is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Michaels manages to break the clinch.
Taylor lands with a straight right. Michaels didn't see that one coming.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Michaels fails to land with a series of punches.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Michaels moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kennedy Michaels will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Michaels wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Taylor throws a jab when Michaels was well out of range.
A lazy body kick from Michaels
and Taylor counters with a leg kick.
Kennedy Michaels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Michaels scores with a body shot.
Michaels is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Michaels tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Michaels blocks a head kick by Taylor.
Michaels dodges the punch combination from Taylor.
Taylor misses with a body kick.
Michaels doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Taylor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Michaels cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taylor takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nathan Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Michaels slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Michaels steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Taylor. That one must have hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor throws a nice outside leg kick.
Taylor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Michaels counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Michaels clinches up with Taylor and pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Michaels has him pressed against the cage.
Michaels is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor throws a right hand that Michaels ducks under and follows up with a left that Michaels also avoids with ease.

Michaels closes the distance and clinches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Michaels.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Michaels closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Michaels breaks the clinch.
Michaels throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
Michaels works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Taylor tries to keep at a distance but Michaels has taken the fight into the clinch.

Michaels breaks the clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Michaels, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michaels clinches.
Michaels connects with a knee to the head.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Michaels keeps him there for the moment.
Taylor takes an elbow to the forehead.
Michaels landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michaels lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Michaels.

Michaels has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Michaels crunches a lovely knee into Taylor's ribcage.

Michaels breaks the clinch.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Michaels.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses

and Michaels counters by clinching up.
Michaels misses with a knee to the head.
Taylor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Michaels with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Taylor takes a knee right on the jaw!

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michaels avoids a punch combination nicely.
Michaels throws a leg kick which misses Taylor's front leg but catches the back leg as Taylor tries to avoid it.
Taylor misses with a wild combination.
Taylor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Michaels counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Michaels avoids them all with ease.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taylor throws a body kick the misses

and Michaels counters by clinching up.
Michaels is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Michaels keeps him there for the moment.

Michaels breaks the clinch.
Michaels moves away from the strike by Taylor.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Michaels showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
Michaels throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Michaels dips to his left and cracks Taylor with an uppercut!
Taylor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Michaels counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Michaels.
Taylor misses with a two punch combination.

Michaels has Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Michaels scores a nice knee to the body.

Michaels manages to break the clinch.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor cracks the inside of Michaels's front leg.
Michaels blocks a head kick by Taylor.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Michaels tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
Michaels has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
The fight stays on the outside here - Michaels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Michaels takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Taylor looks to land a combination. Michaels sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Michaels. That did some damage!
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 Kennedy Michaels will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Michaels clinches.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michaels slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.

Michaels fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taylor, pushing him back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Michaels.
Michaels pushes off an throws an elbow but Taylor leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michaels tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.

Michaels rushes Taylor and presses him up against the cage.
Taylor takes an elbow to the temple.

Michaels breaks the clinch.

Michaels has managed to clinch.
Michaels has Taylor pushed against the cage.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Taylor waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Michaels.
Michaels tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.

Michaels closes the distance and clinches.

Michaels breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor works over Michaels's head and body with a nice combination.
Taylor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Michaels tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.

Michaels moves into the clinch successfully.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Michaels.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Michaels just misses with a elbow thrown towards Taylor's brow.
Michaels keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The referee calls for Michaels to work.
Michaels lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Michaels stalling the fight.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michaels looks to clinch
and Taylor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Michaels rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor wants to break free but Michaels has control.
Michaels lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Michaels misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Michaels tries to land knees in the clinch but Taylor avoids the damage to the body.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Michaels is controlling the position.
Taylor wants to break free but Michaels has control.
Michaels will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Taylor up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Michaels has him pressed against the cage.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Michaels 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 sloppy head kick

and Michaels counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Michaels manages to break the clinch.
Michaels is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
Taylor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Michaels gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Michaels scores a nice knee to the body.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Michaels tries to clinch up.
Michaels tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.

Michaels gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Michaels lands an elbow inside that Taylor shrugs off.
Kennedy Michaels has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Michaels manages to break the clinch.
Michaels tries to clinch up.

Michaels has Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Michaels lands a nice elbow.

Michaels manages to break the clinch.

Michaels gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees to the body from Michaels.
Michaels lands an elbow inside.
Michaels lands a nice elbow.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Michaels is controlling the position.
Michaels landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Taylor takes a knee right on the jaw!
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Michaels breaks from the clinch.

Michaels drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to break the clinch but can't.

Michaels manages to break the clinch.
Taylor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Taylor missing with a left hand there. Michaels was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taylor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Michaels instigates a clinch.
Taylor is trying to break free.

Michaels breaks the clinch.

Michaels pushes Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor can't break the clinch.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Michaels is controlling the position.

Michaels breaks the clinch.
Nathan Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Michaels clinches.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice combination there by Taylor.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Michaels scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor looks to land a combination but Michaels avoids it well.

Michaels gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Michaels gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kennedy Michaels showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Michaels, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kennedy Michaels!