PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Magatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connor Taylor looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Taylor
vs
Magatti

170 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Connor Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rick Magatti!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magatti looks to land a combination but Taylor avoids it well.
Taylor looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Magatti shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Magatti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Magatti has a takedown stuffed.
Taylor has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Connor Taylor has been cut.

Magatti has taken the fight to the clinch.

Magatti jumps guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Magatti tries to strike from the bottom.
Magatti wants to sweep but no luck.
Magatti is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.
Magatti not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Magatti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Magatti.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taylor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Magatti feints a jab promting Taylor to slip. Magatti then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Taylor slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Magatti walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Taylor shoots for a takedown but Magatti saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Magatti sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magatti shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magatti shoots in looking for a takedown but Taylor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Magatti's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Magatti gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taylor working hard to break the clinch.

Magatti pulls guard successfully.
Magatti is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rick Magatti.
Magatti wants to clinch.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.

Magatti drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
Magatti slows down the pace here.

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

Magatti drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor being controlled here, momentarily.
Magatti would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Magatti must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Magatti landing with the ground and pound.
Magatti stays in close to Taylor's body and controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Magatti trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Magatti misses with a head kick.
Magatti shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taylor as he jumps to the side.
Magatti slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Magatti is defended easily by Taylor.
Magatti looks to land a combination but Taylor avoids it well.
Magatti throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
Magatti fails with a takedown attempt.
Connor Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Magatti.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Magatti.
Magatti blocks a head kick by Taylor.
Magatti shoots in looking for a takedown but Taylor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Magatti's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Magatti as he jumps to the side.
Magatti shoots in and drives through. Taylor sprawls well.

Taylor gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Magatti to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Magatti passes Taylor's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Magatti lands a nice short elbow.
Taylor tries to get to full guard but Magatti has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to escape.
Magatti throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Magatti stalling.
Taylor tries to roll over but Magatti keeps him under control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Magatti is trying to control. Taylor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Taylor controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rick Magatti.
Magatti throws a series of strikes that have Taylor backpedaling.
Magatti digs a good body shot into Taylor's ribs.
Magatti looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taylor stuffs the takedown.
Magatti changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to avoid it but Magatti manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taylor to the ground. Taylor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Magatti tries to clinch up.
Magatti circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor slaps away a takedown attempt from Magatti, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Taylor takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Taylor gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Magatti to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to stand up but Magatti isn't so interested in that idea.
Magatti looking to pass the guard.
Magatti chips away with some ground and pound.
Magatti sitting in guard here, content to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor wants to sweep here but Magatti controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magatti controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Magatti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Connor Taylor's cut.
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!

Magatti connects with a solid leg kick.
Connor Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Magatti shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Magatti closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Taylor to the mat! Taylor manages to get full guard.
Magatti postures up and lands a big shot to Taylor's brow.
Rick Magatti has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taylor being controlled here, momentarily.
Taylor is trying to keep Magatti in close.
Magatti trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Magatti controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rick Magatti hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Magatti shoots in looking for a takedown but Taylor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Magatti's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Magatti shoots in looking for a takedown but Taylor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Magatti's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Connor Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Magatti.
Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Magatti does no damage.
Taylor lands a really nice looking cross but Magatti seems unphased.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Magatti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor swinging wildly here.
Magatti goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Magatti counters with a left to the body.
Magatti shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Magatti gets slowly back to his feet.
Magatti lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Taylor jabs at Magatti's body.
Magatti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Taylor is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Magatti's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Magatti wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Magatti is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Magatti is trying to maintain the position but Taylor is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Taylor decides to stand and escape the position.
Magatti moves out of range of the strikes.

Magatti looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Magatti wants to stand but Taylor has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Magatti pushes down on Taylor's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Magatti sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taylor defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magatti working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Taylor's thigh. Taylor counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Magatti throws a strike but Taylor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Taylor postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Taylor won't allow Magatti to sweep him here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Magatti is still trying to improve position.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Magatti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Magatti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Magatti 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Magatti!