PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Meldrick Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva has chosen Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough as his entrance music. Anderson Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taylor
vs
Silva

178 cm
25
190 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

188 cm
36
198 lbs
20 - 14 - 2

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Savage

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Meldrick Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taylor off to one side.

Taylor darts in and clinches Silva up against the ropes.
Taylor is trying to break free.
Taylor wants to break free but Silva has control.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Taylor's efforts to push away.
Taylor wants to break the clinch but can't.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Silva napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Taylor has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Taylor tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Meldrick Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Silva uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taylor.
Taylor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Taylor.
Silva takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.
Silva tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.

Taylor darts in and clinches Silva up against the ropes.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the ropes.
Silva lands an elbow inside.
Silva taking a breather.
A frustrated look appears on Taylor's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Taylor shoots in.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Silva throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Silva.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Taylor shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Taylor trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Taylor throws a big elbow that misses.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.
Silva wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Meldrick Taylor has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Silva.

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Taylor is trying to stand back up but Silva is controlling him
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Meldrick Taylor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taylor is looking to clinch.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Taylor wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Taylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taylor closes the distance but Silva moves to the side
and Taylor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taylor tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva feints a jab promting Taylor to slip. Silva then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Taylor slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Taylor tries a head kick but it misses.
Taylor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Taylor.
Silva misses with the combination.
Taylor dives in for a single leg takedown but Silva sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Meldrick Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Silva scores with a head kick.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Taylor scores with a takedown into Silva's guard.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Taylor preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Meldrick Taylor just wasn't active enough.
Silva lands a leg kick that knocks Taylor off balance momentarily.
Taylor tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Silva is able to avoid easily.
Taylor scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Meldrick Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor is looking to wear down Silva with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
Silva tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva scores with a leg kick.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taylor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.

Taylor closes the distance and pushes Silva back into the ropes.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Silva takes a kick to the side of the head.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Taylor misses with a low kick.
Silva shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Taylor tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Silva throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
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 Meldrick Taylor will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor misses with an uppercut
and Silva counters with a big head kick but Taylor shrugs it off.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Silva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Silva closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Taylor!
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Taylor counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Taylor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silva, up you get!
Meldrick Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva blocks a head kick by Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick by Taylor misses
and Silva counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Taylor is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Taylor dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Taylor's head and hops out.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick by Silva misses

and Taylor counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Taylor wants to get up but he can't break Silva's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Taylor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Taylor pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Meldrick Taylor just wasn't active enough.
Taylor tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Taylor throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Taylor darts in looking for a takedown but Silva gets double underhooks and turns Taylor into the ropes.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Meldrick Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
Silva fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Taylor checks it well.
Taylor misses with a double jab.
Silva throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Taylor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taylor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor misses with a right hand
and Silva counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Meldrick Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Taylor connects with a body shot that sends Silva's belly button to the back.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.
Silva scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor takes a knee right on the jaw!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taylor sizes up Silva with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Meldrick Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taylor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Meldrick Taylor!