PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mufasa Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacques La Haine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). La Haine comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cut Killer - Nique La Police kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Taylor
vs
La Haine

190 cm
24
193 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

182 cm
21
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mufasa Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jacques La Haine!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
La Haine tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taylor defending well as La Haine loads up on a big left hand.
La Haine swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by La Haine.
Taylor wants to clinch up but La Haine keeps it at a distance.
Taylor wants to clinch up but La Haine keeps it at a distance.
Taylor takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
La Haine misses with a straight right.
La Haine is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
La Haine tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.

Taylor clinches with his opponent.
Taylor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but La Haine blocks it with crossed arms.
La Haine gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
La Haine can't find room to land a body shot as Taylor controls the action.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, La Haine just misses with a elbow thrown towards Taylor's brow.
La Haine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taylor blocks the elbow strike.
La Haine pushes off an throws an elbow but Taylor leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Haine trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but La Haine has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Taylor is trying to stall.

La Haine breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
La Haine wants to clinch
and Taylor counters with a leg kick.
La Haine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but La Haine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
La Haine tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.

Taylor has taken the fight to the clinch.
La Haine misses with an elbow over the top.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from La Haine.
La Haine lands a damaging elbow.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but La Haine blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor avoiding damage as La Haine throws knees to the body.
Taylor avoids a wild elbow strike from La Haine.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taylor.
Taylor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
La Haine on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
La Haine working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taylor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and La Haine avoids it.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
Taylor looking to throw knees to the head but La Haine is blocking nicely.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from La Haine.
A frustrated look appears on La Haine's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Taylor misses with a knee strike.
La Haine lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Taylor is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
La Haine creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
La Haine throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to land knees in the clinch but La Haine avoids the damage to the body.
La Haine lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Taylor or not.
Taylor blocking some punches.
La Haine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
La Haine goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taylor will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning La Haine up against the cage.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the head but La Haine blocks with his arms.
Taylor misses with a knee to the head.
Taylor avoids a wild elbow strike from La Haine.
La Haine landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
La Haine working aggressively here.
La Haine dodges an elbow strike from Taylor.
La Haine lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.

La Haine breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
La Haine is looking to clinch.
La Haine circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - La Haine looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La Haine 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.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
La Haine lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.
La Haine pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from La Haine.
Taylor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Taylor takes an elbow to the forehead.
La Haine doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice elbow from La Haine.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from La Haine.
Taylor with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for La Haine.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
La Haine managing to block the knees to the body from Taylor.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Taylor looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. La Haine is defending well for now.
La Haine is trying to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jacques La Haine will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but La Haine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
La Haine wants to clinch but Taylor slips to the side
and Taylor counters with a low kick, right behind La Haine 's knee.
La Haine throws a shot from downtown. Taylor moves away and avoids it.
La Haine is looking to clinch.
Jacques La Haine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
La Haine swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
La Haine wants to clinch

and Taylor counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taylor.
La Haine looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch on the inside from La Haine fails to land.
La Haine takes a knee to the side of the body.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by La Haine.
La Haine pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor connects with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by La Haine.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and La Haine avoids it.
La Haine tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taylor's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taylor.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for La Haine.
Knees in the clinch landing for La Haine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Haine throws an elbow that misses.
La Haine pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Taylor avoids the elbow strike from La Haine, against the cage.
Taylor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but La Haine blocks it with crossed arms.
Taylor blocks an uppercut.

La Haine breaks from the clinch.
La Haine wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
La Haine throws a looping overhand right but Taylor ducks down to avoid it.
La Haine keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor tries to clinch but La Haine moves out of range.
La Haine tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
La Haine moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Taylor's hands are dropping dangerously low here and La Haine connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Taylor scrambles back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
La Haine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
La Haine tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Haine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor 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.
Taylor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as La Haine throws out the jab.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
La Haine swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.

La Haine has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
La Haine can't break the clinch.
La Haine throws a punch but it's blocked by Taylor.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
Taylor stalls.
Taylor lands a good knee to the midsection. La Haine won't want to take too many of those.
Taylor avoids a wild elbow strike from La Haine.
La Haine throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Taylor misses with a knee strike.
La Haine managing to block the knees to the body from Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Haine blocks an elbow strike from Taylor.
Taylor misses with an elbow over the top.
La Haine tries to land knees in the clinch but Taylor avoids the damage to the body.
La Haine misses with some punches.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but La Haine blocks it.
Still in the clinch, La Haine scores with a nice short uppercut.
La Haine misses with an elbow over the top.
La Haine takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the head but La Haine blocks with his arms.
La Haine swings wildly with an uppercut but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.

La Haine breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
La Haine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
La Haine closes the distance looking to clinch

and Taylor moves into the clinch.
Taylor looking to throw knees to the head but La Haine is blocking nicely.
La Haine lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from La Haine.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. La Haine is defending well for now.
La Haine lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike from La Haine.
Jacques La Haine seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor blocks the elbow strike.
La Haine tries to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling the position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Taylor.
La Haine lands with a short head shot on the inside.
La Haine lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Taylor stalls.
Taylor unloads a knee to the mid-section.
La Haine is breathing heavily.
Taylor pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Taylor blocks the elbow strike.
La Haine throws an elbow that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
La Haine throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the head but La Haine blocks with his arms.
A short right hand to the side of the head by La Haine.
La Haine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jacques La Haine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A combination from La Haine does no damage.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. La Haine manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
La Haine tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.

Taylor gets a clinch.
La Haine misses with an elbow strike.
La Haine lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Taylor throws a knee to the head but misses.
Taylor landing knees to the head.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
Taylor using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Taylor leaning against his opponent.
Taylor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
La Haine takes a knee to the side of the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from La Haine.
La Haine throws a punch but it's blocked by Taylor.
La Haine wants to break the clinch but can't.
La Haine takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
La Haine wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from La Haine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from La Haine.
La Haine working aggressively here.
La Haine takes an elbow to the temple.
Taylor misses with a knee strike.
La Haine misses with an elbow strike.
La Haine misses with an elbow over the top.
La Haine avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
La Haine creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
La Haine avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
Taylor unloads a knee to the mid-section. La Haine lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Taylor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
La Haine lands an uppercut.
Taylor is looking to control La Haine's arms but La Haine gets an underhook and turns him. Now Taylor has his back to the cage.
La Haine creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
La Haine putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Taylor in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
La Haine comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Jacques La Haine is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from La Haine.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through La Haine's defenses.
Taylor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. La Haine is defending well for now.
La Haine avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but La Haine blocks it.
Taylor tries to land knees in the clinch but La Haine avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nice elbow from Taylor.
Taylor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Taylor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. La Haine is defending well for now.
Taylor is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
La Haine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from La Haine.
Taylor throws a knee to the head but misses.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor pushes off an throws an elbow but La Haine leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Taylor lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
La Haine lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
La Haine pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
La Haine lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Mufasa Taylor has been cut.
La Haine takes an elbow to the temple.
La Haine avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
Taylor misses with an elbow over the top.
Mufasa Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and La Haine avoids it.
Taylor misses with an elbow strike.
La Haine trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mufasa Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think La Haine has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jacques La Haine!