PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vaughan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Taylor

195 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vaughan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Columbo Gatti and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
James throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A head kick by Taylor misses
letting James counter with a right hand.

It looks like Vaughan Taylor has been cut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from James.
James shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taylor.
Taylor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick lands from James.
Taylor throws a chopping leg kick but James manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
James lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Taylor looks for the body kick but James saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James checks a leg kick.
Taylor throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Vaughan Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
James throws a head kick that half lands.
Taylor throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
James darts in looking for a takedown but Taylor gets double underhooks and turns James into the cage.
Taylor feints and then cracks James's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow James down.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to James's calf.
James has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Taylor.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
James defending well as Taylor loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands with a nice body kick.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vaughan Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

James drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
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 pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Taylor is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
James wants to take the fight to the mat but Taylor manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Taylor looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
James is trying to pull guard but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taylor is looking to break free of the clinch but James has double underhooks.

James pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taylor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Taylor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
Taylor wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Taylor got a little sloppy there for a moment and James has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Taylor has managed to get both his arms back between James's legs - danger averted.
Taylor wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taylor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

James has Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.

James breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vaughan Taylor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vaughan Taylor's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Taylor is looking to slow James down with leg kicks.
James has a takedown stuffed.
Taylor takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor throws a body shot but no joy.
An inside leg kick from Taylor misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Taylor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Taylor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
James is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
Taylor flicks out a counter leg kick but James steps away.
A clash of legs there as James blocks the low kick.
James shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor throws a push kick but James slaps the foot to one side.
Vaughan Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A leg kick checked by James.
James is looking to clinch.
Taylor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
James misses with a wild combination.
Despite the aggression on Taylor's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Taylor connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taylor circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from James.
Taylor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor tries a quick counter leg kick but James is wise to it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Taylor.
Taylor throws a leg kick but James checks it.
Taylor wants to slow James down by chopping away at his legs.
James drops down looking for a counter takedown but Taylor sprawls and moves away.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taylor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taylor.
James blocks a low kick nicely.
James blocks a leg kick.
James chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Taylor can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but James is out of range.
James fires out a quick counter leg kick but Taylor just manages to avoid it.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taylor.
Taylor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Taylor misses with a low kick as James jumps back.
James avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taylor sprawls well. Taylor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor throws a leg kick but James moved away.
Taylor throws a front kick aimed at James's knee but James avoids it well.

Taylor gets tackled into the cage by James. James maintains the clinch.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the cage.
James is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a knee strike.
James has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Taylor after a bit of a struggle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.
Taylor taking a breather.
Taylor misses with some punches.
James avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
James avoiding damage.
Taylor takes a knee to the side of the body.
Taylor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor tries to stall but James uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Taylor is trying to maintain a safe position but James gets an underhook and turns Taylor into the cage.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor throws out a leg kick but James moves out of range and Taylor only half commits.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vaughan Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vaughan Taylor's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Taylor connects with a solid leg kick.
Taylor finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

James clinches up with Taylor and pushes him back against the cage.
James prevents a body shot from Taylor.
Taylor with an attempt at a knee that misses.

James manages to break the clinch.
Taylor misses with a low kick as James jumps back.
James drops down looking for a counter takedown but Taylor sprawls and moves away.

James gets a clinch.
James is trying to pull guard but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James blocking some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Taylor is looking to break free of the clinch but James has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taylor misses with a knee strike.
Taylor tries to stall but James uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

James jumps into guard, dragging Taylor to the mat.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.

James looking for a guillotine here but Taylor defends easily.
James lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James passes Taylor's left leg - he's now in half guard.
James content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Some bone on bone action there as James checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Taylor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
Michael James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
An inside leg kick from Taylor misses.
Taylor throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
James has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Taylor throws a quick inside leg kick.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Taylor looks to throw the jab but James is out of range.
Taylor misses with a left hand
and James counters with a series of strikes. Taylor will be more careful next time no doubt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor fakes the leg kick and cracks James in the body.
James tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
Michael James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vaughan Taylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
James on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Taylor. Taylor obviously looking to wear him down.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael James.
I think Taylor 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

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