PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Bernhard Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Junior Sanchez struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 172.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Taylor
vs
Sanchez

188 cm
26
187 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

190 cm
29
190 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Great elbows
Granite chin

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Junior Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sanchez on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Junior Sanchez has been cut.
Taylor misses with a looping right.
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 Sanchez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sanchez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Taylor scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sanchez in his tracks.

Taylor has Sanchez up against the ropes in a clinch.
Sanchez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but Taylor keeps him there for the moment.
Taylor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sanchez is defending well for now.
Taylor is struggling to control the position.
Taylor gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Sanchez tries to circle away but Taylor has him pinned against the ropes.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling him.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a sloppy head kick
and Taylor counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sanchez's knee momentarily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Taylor.

Taylor clinches up against the ropes.
Sanchez wants to get back to striking at distance but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Taylor scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Taylor stalling the fight.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Taylor lands with a left to the head.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sanchez tries to circle away but Taylor has him pinned against the ropes.
Taylor lands a shot to the body.
Taylor lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taylor holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Sanchez wants to break free but Taylor has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez working hard to break the clinch.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
Sanchez tries to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling the position.
Taylor lands a body punch.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Taylor forces Sanchez back against the ropes and clinches.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Taylor throws an elbow but misses.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor keeps control of Sanchez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short left from Taylor.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike.
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 Junior Sanchez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taylor throws a shot from downtown. Sanchez moves away and avoids it.

Taylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taylor tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Taylor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sanchez is trying to break free.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Taylor.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor lands a jab-cross combination.
Taylor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sanchez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taylor.
Taylor lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Taylor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor rushes Sanchez and presses him up against the ropes.
Sanchez tries to break free but Taylor pushes him back against the ropes.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taylor has him pressed against the ropes.
Taylor lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sanchez.
Taylor has Sanchez pressed against the ropes.
Taylor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sanchez is defending well for now.
Bernhard Taylor has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sanchez in his tracks.

That has opened up Junior Sanchez's cut even more.
Sanchez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sanchez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Taylor.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor scores with the left hand. Sanchez knows he should have avoided that one.
Bernhard Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Taylor has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor sizes up Sanchez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.
Taylor throws an overhand right that lands on Sanchez's shoulder, as Sanchez tries to avoid the shot.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.
Taylor pushes Sanchez back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taylor misses with some punches.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike.
Taylor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sanchez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling him.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard Taylor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Junior Sanchez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sanchez takes the fight into the clinch.
Taylor stalling in the clinch.
Taylor throws an elbow that misses.
Taylor working Sanchez over with knees to the body.
Sanchez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Taylor leaning against his opponent.
Sanchez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Taylor feints a jab promting Sanchez to slip. Taylor then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sanchez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor scores with a sloppy right hand. Sanchez should have avoided that one.

Sanchez is rocked!
Sanchez swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sanchez is out of range.
Sanchez misses with the combination.
Taylor lands a nice hook to Sanchez's body. Sanchez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Taylor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sanchez. That did some damage!
Taylor misses with a hook. Sanchez ducked under it nicely.
Sanchez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sanchez needs to keep his hands up - Taylor had a free shot at his head there.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanchez can do to turn this around?
Taylor is looking to slow Sanchez down with leg kicks.
We've been told by Taylor's head coaches at Thunder Dome that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sanchez drops his hands momentarily and Taylor takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sanchez.
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!
Taylor lands with a right hand.

The cut above Junior Sanchez's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Taylor throws a leg kick but Sanchez sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Taylor has managed to clinch.
Taylor lands with a short shot to the head.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sanchez is looking to break free of the clinch but Taylor has double underhooks.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sanchez is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard Taylor clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Junior Sanchez's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanchez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Sanchez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Taylor lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Taylor creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sanchez tries to break free but Taylor pushes him back against the ropes.
Sanchez tries to circle away but Taylor has him pinned against the ropes.
Sanchez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sanchez dodges an elbow strike from Taylor.
Taylor scores with a shoulder strike.
Taylor lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sanchez is still on wobbly legs! Can Taylor finish him?
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taylor lands a body punch.
Sanchez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sanchez seems to have recovered his senses.
Taylor lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor slows down the pace here.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taylor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Taylor has Sanchez pressed against the ropes, preventing Sanchez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Taylor misses with an elbow strike.
Taylor manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sanchez wants to break free but Taylor has control.
Taylor swings wildly with an uppercut but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands with a short shot to the head.
Taylor misses with a body punch.
Taylor pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Taylor stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Taylor has Sanchez pressed against the ropes, preventing Sanchez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sanchez's elbow.
Sanchez working hard to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taylor.
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor stalling the fight.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
Taylor lands a damaging elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard Taylor had his way with Junior Sanchez in that round.
The cut man is working on Junior Sanchez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Sanchez misses the target.

Sanchez pushes Taylor up against the ropes in a clinch.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Sanchez is looking to break free of the clinch but Taylor has double underhooks.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taylor avoids the head kick by Sanchez.
Taylor feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sanchez's calf.
Good shot there by Taylor.

Junior Sanchez's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Taylor scores with a jab.
A head kick misses from Taylor.
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Taylor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Taylor fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses

and Taylor counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taylor.
Sanchez tries to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling the position.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taylor is leaning against Sanchez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Taylor lands a nice uppercut.
Taylor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bernhard Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Taylor lands a hook to the side of the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Junior Sanchez's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Bernhard Taylor!
Bernhard Taylor managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Merciless Gladiators, into his post fight interview.