PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Franklin Diggins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernhard Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diggins comes to the cage accompanied by Bonfire. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Diggins
vs
Taylor

198 cm
21
193 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
190 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

Brute

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franklin Diggins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bernhard Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Eddie Farnsworth and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor connects with a crisp jab.
A left and a right from Taylor both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Franklin Diggins has been cut.
Taylor scores with the left hand. Diggins knows he should have avoided that one.
Diggins moves out of range of the body kick.
Taylor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Diggins throws a low kick but it's checked well by Taylor.
Diggins swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.
Diggins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Diggins misses with a head kick.
Diggins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Taylor throws a looping overhand right but Diggins ducks down to avoid it.
Bernhard Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor misses with a straight right.
Diggins lands a leg kick that knocks Taylor off balance momentarily.
Taylor cracks a nice hook into Diggins's ribs.
Taylor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diggins wants to clinch.
Taylor swings for the body but Diggins moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor checks a low kick from Diggins.
Taylor closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diggins circles away quickly and effectively.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Diggins, right into the meat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Diggins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Diggins scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diggins.
Taylor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diggins.
Taylor on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Diggins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Diggins moves out of range of the leg kick from Taylor.
Diggins moves out of range as Taylor strikes.
Diggins checks a leg kick nicely.
Taylor misses with an uppercut. Diggins saw that one coming.
Taylor throws a front kick aimed at Diggins's knee but Diggins avoids it well.
Diggins has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Taylor finds it's way round the side to connect with Diggins's head.
A shot to the liver by Taylor. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diggins.
Taylor uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A big left from Taylor misses.
Diggins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Diggins moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Diggins doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor lands with a good body shot.
Taylor lands a really nice looking cross but Diggins seems unphased.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Diggins is just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Franklin Diggins's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taylor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Diggins. Diggins circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Taylor paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Diggins misses with a low kick.
Diggins takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Taylor swings for the body but Diggins moves out of range.
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diggins throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Taylor misses with a hook
and Diggins makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Taylor bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Diggins waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taylor.
Taylor scores with a one two! Diggins had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Taylor throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Diggins counters with a low kick, right behind Taylor 's knee.
Diggins needs to keep his hands up - Taylor had a free shot at his head there.
Taylor throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Diggins keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Taylor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diggins.
Taylor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Diggins is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diggins moves into the clinch.
Oh Diggins is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Diggins is controlling him.
Diggins seems to have got his legs back now.
Diggins holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A knee to the head by Diggins.

Taylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A lazy left from Taylor finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands a jab to the head.
Diggins throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Taylor throws out a loose jab but Diggins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor misses with an uppercut.
Bernhard Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diggins scoring well with a low kick there.
Taylor fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Diggins is out of range.
Diggins tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Diggins defending well as Taylor loads up on a big left hand.
Taylor connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diggins moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diggins is looking to clinch.
Taylor throws a lazy uppercut
and Diggins counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Diggins closes the distance and pushes Taylor back into the cage.
Taylor wants to break free but Diggins has control.
Diggins scores a nice knee to the body.
Diggins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taylor is defending well for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diggins is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Taylor misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Franklin Diggins's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Diggins uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taylor.
Taylor tries to bum rush Diggins with a series of wild strikes but Diggins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taylor throws a leg kick that is checked
and Diggins counters with a good low kick that Taylor was not able to check.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diggins moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Diggins checks it well.
Diggins moves out of range of the leg kick from Taylor.
Jab from Taylor.
Diggins throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Taylor to counter with a crisp jab.
Diggins shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Diggins looks to score with a jab to the body but Taylor is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a one two combo.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Taylor throws a jab when Diggins was well out of range.
Diggins tries to clinch up.
Taylor chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Diggins can pounce on him.
No joy there for Taylor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Taylor lands with a straight right. Diggins didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diggins ducks under a wild hook from Taylor.
Diggins looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but Diggins bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Diggins darts in and clinches Taylor up against the cage.
Diggins lands a knee to the head.
Diggins manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Diggins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Taylor's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diggins has Taylor pushed against the cage.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Franklin Diggins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bernhard Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diggins stalling against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Franklin Diggins.
Taylor scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor scores with a nice strike.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Taylor checks the leg kick nicely there.
Taylor throws a lazy head kick
and Diggins counters with a good low kick that Taylor was not able to check.
Taylor throws a lazy right hand but Diggins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor lands a head shot.
Taylor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Diggins walks into a straight right hand from Taylor.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernhard Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Taylor 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernhard Taylor!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Bernhard Taylor waved his t-shirt featuring Brute's logo in front of the cameras.