PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Gatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gatti 's entrance music is Change . A fine choice. Taylor has chosen This Fire Burns as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Shawn Taylor will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gatti
vs
Taylor

180 cm
27
244 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

190 cm
26
240 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arturo Gatti !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shawn Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatti slips under a jab from Taylor.
Taylor lands with a nice combination. Gatti backs away looking to recover.

Gatti looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Gatti is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taylor wants to control but Gatti is keeping busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gatti wants to pass to mount but Taylor is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gatti thows a huge punch but Taylor dodges it nicely.
Taylor is trying to stand up here but Gatti is controlling him well.
Taylor is pressing down on Gatti 's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gatti 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taylor is trying to control the position but Gatti postures up.
Gatti makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Taylor has momentary wrist control but Gatti slips an elbow through the middle.
Taylor seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Gatti scoring with punches to the head and body.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Gatti really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Taylor's head.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gatti stands up out of Taylor's guard for a moment - Taylor manages to land a nice upkick.
Gatti lands a couple of elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gatti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gatti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gatti missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gatti throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gatti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gatti landing with the ground and pound.
Gatti looking to pass the guard.
Taylor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gatti manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gatti avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gatti is controlling Taylor's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Arturo Gatti .

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taylor tries to stand and escape but Gatti is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti pushes Taylor off looking to stand but Taylor dives back in and keeps control.
Taylor is trying to control. Gatti wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gatti on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gatti tries to get out of the position.

Shawn Taylor has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Gatti closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Taylor did well to prevent Gatti getting side control.
Gatti is looking to pass Taylor's guard but actually Taylor recovers to full guard.
Taylor seems keen to control Gatti 's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gatti chips away with some ground and pound.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gatti is refusing to be controlled, as Taylor sits in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shawn Taylor.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gatti .
Taylor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Arturo Gatti will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gatti shoots and misses
and Taylor counters with a nice uppercut.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Gatti sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Arturo Gatti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gatti shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taylor as he avoids it easily.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Taylor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gatti was well out of range. Poor timing from Taylor.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the body.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Gatti can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arturo Gatti . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gatti wants a takedown but no success here.
Taylor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gatti blocks it with crossed arms.
Gatti tries for a takedown but Taylor manages to get underhooks.
Gatti is working for takedown but Taylor is calmly controlling the position for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor prevents the takedown attempt.
Gatti goes for a takedown in the clinch but Taylor prevents it.
Taylor prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gatti changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taylor fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gatti shoots in for a double leg but Taylor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Gatti which made him look bad.
Shawn Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taylor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gatti defends it nicely.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Gatti avoids them all with ease.
Gatti darts in looking for a takedown but Taylor gets double underhooks and turns Gatti into the cage.
Gatti is working for takedown but Taylor is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gatti drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Taylor gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Taylor is working for takedown but Gatti is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gatti keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor prevents the takedown attempt.

Taylor pulls guard effortlessly.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Taylor looking to ground and pound but Gatti is blocking nicely.
Gatti knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taylor on the ground.
Gatti is looking to improve his position but Taylor isn't that keen on the idea.
Taylor controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor with good strikes from the mount here!
Taylor tries to control but Gatti wriggling away.
Taylor is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor unloads with some shots from mount but Gatti bucks and avoids them well.
Taylor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gatti is looking to escape.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Taylor looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gatti shoots and misses
and Taylor counters with a three punch combo that has Gatti backing up. Gatti nods at Taylor to acknowledge the strikes.
Gatti shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gatti closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taylor circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arturo Gatti . That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gatti is defended easily by Taylor.
Gatti shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Taylor but Taylor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Gatti sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taylor scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gatti on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gatti darts in looking for a takedown but Taylor gets double underhooks and turns Gatti into the cage.
Taylor changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gatti fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Taylor throws a head kick but Gatti moves out of range.
Gatti takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gatti shoots in and drives through. Taylor sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor cracks Gatti with a good jab.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Taylor is looking for a takedown.
Gatti is trying to drag Taylor to the mat but Taylor just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gatti goes for a takedown in the clinch but Taylor prevents it.

Taylor pulls guard successfully.
Gatti preventing the sweep.
Gatti postures up.
Gatti passes Taylor's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Taylor manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gatti with a flurry of punches that miss.

Taylor kicks Gatti off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 close the distance and clinch up but Gatti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gatti .

Taylor gets caught flat footed, as Gatti shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gatti with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gatti 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taylor working a defensive guard here.
Gatti working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Taylor's head.
Taylor is trying to keep Gatti in close.
Gatti chips away with some ground and pound.
Gatti pushing down on Taylor's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Taylor looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti wants to advance to full mount but Taylor doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Gatti in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gatti postures up.
Gatti slips nicely into half guard.
Gatti working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Taylor won't allow Gatti to pass to mount.
Taylor wants to get back to full guard.
Gatti works his way into side control.
Gatti working the ground and pound from side control.
Taylor is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gatti tries to move into full mount but can't pass Taylor's legs.
Gatti landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Taylor taking a bit of punishment here - Gatti scoring with strikes.
Gatti tries to advance to mount but can't.
Arturo Gatti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gatti working the ground and pound.
Gatti scores with punches from side control.
Gatti is chipping away with strikes.
Gatti is working Taylor over with some ground and pound from side control.
Gatti advances nicely into full mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gatti is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Taylor can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

It looks like Shawn Taylor has been cut.
Gatti is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Taylor can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Taylor is in a horrible position here. Gatti smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Taylor tries to hold on but Gatti pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arturo Gatti showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gatti has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!