PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buford Fowler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Austin Taylor is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Fowler
vs
Taylor

219 cm
20
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buford Fowler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Austin Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fowler fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taylor avoids it really well and circles away.
Taylor looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Taylor tries to clinch but Fowler moves away
and Fowler counters with a nice uppercut.

Fowler tries to keep at a distance but Taylor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fowler tries for a takedown but Taylor manages to get underhooks.
Taylor can't break the clinch.
Taylor lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Fowler or not.
Fowler jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Taylor walks away with a smile on his face. Fowler gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buford Fowler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fowler circles away quickly and effectively.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick
and Fowler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Fowler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor fails with the takedown.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Fowler circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fowler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Taylor takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fowler shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Taylor's guard.
Taylor looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fowler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fowler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Taylor's head.
Taylor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fowler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fowler lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Fowler stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Fowler shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fowler showed some decent athleticism there.
Fowler is trying to control the action in half guard but Taylor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.

Fowler decides to return to a standing position.

Fowler closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Taylor to the mat! Taylor manages to get full guard.
Fowler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fowler distracts Taylor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fowler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
Taylor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fowler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Fowler gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fowler goes for a double leg but Taylor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Taylor continues to drive forward.
Fowler keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Fowler gets control of Taylor's arms and successfully pulls guard. Fowler will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Fowler seems keen to control Taylor's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fowler looking to control.
Fowler has control of Taylor's left arm, preventing Taylor from doing any damage.
Fowler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fowler wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buford Fowler dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taylor tries to clinch up.

Fowler rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fowler blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Fowler has him pressed against the cage.
Fowler can't break the clinch.
Fowler stops a takedown attempt from Taylor.
Fowler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Taylor to keep the fight standing.

Taylor is fighting off a takedown attempt but Fowler is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Taylor to the mat. Taylor regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fowler.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fowler scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fowler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taylor can do to turn this around?

Fowler decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Taylor, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fowler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.
Taylor tries to clinch but Fowler moves out of range.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Fowler keeps it at a distance.
Fowler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taylor swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buford Fowler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fowler.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fowler looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Taylor wants to clinch
and Fowler counters with a thumping low kick.
Fowler lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taylor is defended easily by Fowler.
Fowler throws a series of strikes that have Taylor backpedaling.
Fowler darts in looking for a takedown but Taylor gets double underhooks and turns Fowler into the cage.
Taylor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fowler avoids it.
Taylor is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Taylor gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Fowler.
Taylor pressing his opponent against the cage.
Fowler fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Fowler fails to pull guard.
Taylor has Fowler pressed against the cage.

Fowler jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor pushes down on Fowler's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Fowler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taylor is working away from the top position though.
Taylor is trying to control. Fowler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Taylor looks to land a strike but Fowler avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Fowler keeps moving.

Fowler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taylor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buford Fowler dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taylor is defended easily by Fowler.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.

Fowler gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on Fowler's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taylor is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Taylor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
Taylor has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fowler after a bit of a struggle.
Buford Fowler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Austin Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fowler pulls guard effortlessly.
Fowler looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Fowler keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Fowler manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taylor manages to get himself to full guard.

Fowler scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fowler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor wants to stand and escape but Fowler is having none of it.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fowler.
Fowler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fowler prevents Taylor from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fowler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Buford Fowler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor walks into a stiff left hand from Fowler.
Austin Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fowler throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Fowler is in Taylor's guard.
Fowler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fowler landing some decent shots from guard.
Fowler stops Taylor from standing up.
Taylor has momentary wrist control but Fowler slips an elbow through the middle.
Fowler stops Taylor from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fowler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taylor is looking to stand up but Fowler isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fowler goes for a double leg but Taylor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Taylor continues to drive forward.
Fowler is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fowler being controlled against the cage.
Taylor prevents a takedown attempt there.
Austin Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Buford Fowler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fowler takes a knee right on the jaw!

And that's the end of the fight!
Buford Fowler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fowler, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buford Fowler!