PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seymour Taps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Becker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luke Becker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taps
vs
Becker

185 cm
22
215 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
224 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Poweful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seymour Taps!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luke Becker!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taps shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Taps was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Taps trying to control but Becker is having none of it.
Taps throws some wild stikes that Becker manages to avoid easily.
Becker is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Taps breaks from Becker's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Becker tries to reverse the position but Taps maintains control.
Taps tries to control but Becker wriggling away.
Taps unloading with bombs!
Taps is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Becker can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Becker slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taps thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Becker is defending against the submission attempts here by Taps.
Becker is staying active underneath Taps, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Becker looking for submissions off his back.
Taps throws a strike but Becker avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Taps drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Becker dives on top into guard.
Taps lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Becker!
Taps lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Taps trying to control but Becker is having none of it.
Becker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Becker tries to hold on but Taps postures up.
Taps lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Taps goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Becker turns into him and now he's in Taps's guard.

Taps looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Taps throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taps looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Taps is looking for a triangle but Becker pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taps keeping moving, preventing Becker from controlling successfully.

Taps isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Becker stacks Taps on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Becker!
Taps is breathing heavily.
A control attempt from Taps but he's now mounted!
Becker sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Becker landing strikes from the mount and Taps is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Becker trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Taps is trying desperately to improve position.
Becker tries to control but Taps wriggling away.
Taps wants to control but Becker is having none of it.
Taps tries to improve his position but instead Becker has taken his back!
What can Taps do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Becker lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Taps.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taps rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Becker content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Becker shoots in and bounces Taps off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Becker won't allow Taps to sweep him here.
Becker forces his way into half guard.

Taps looking for submissions off his back.
Taps wants to control but Becker is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taps trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Becker pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Taps throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Becker scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Taps is looking to improve his position but Becker isn't that keen on the idea.
Taps is trying to reverse the position but instead Becker has taken his back - oops!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Becker's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Taps covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Becker is trying to stick to Taps's back but Taps is turning into Becker. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Becker's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Taps.

Taps has gone for a leg lock! Becker slips out almost immediately though and dives into Taps's guard.
Taps looking for a sweep. Not yet Taps, not yet.
Becker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taps swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Becker chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Becker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Taps is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Becker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Taps wants to sweep here but Becker controlling him for the moment.

Taps escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Becker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taps bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Becker's guard.
Luke Becker has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taps throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Becker wants to sweep but no luck.

Becker looking for a guillotine here but Taps defends easily.
Taps wants to control from the top but Becker keeps moving.
Taps wants to pass the guard but Becker is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taps trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taps tries to free his leg and advance position but Becker is retaining full guard.
Becker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taps.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Taps drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Becker keeping moving, preventing Taps from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Becker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taps can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Taps drops back, looking for a kneebar! Becker looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Becker looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Becker!
Becker grinds an elbow into Taps's temple.
Taps is trying to improve his position.
Taps manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Taps seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Becker won't allow Taps to pass to mount.
Becker keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taps stalling away here and it's allowed Becker to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Becker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Taps fails with the takedown
and Becker makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Taps checks a leg kick.
Nice body punch from Becker.
Taps misses with a takedown

and Becker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Becker trying to control the position from guard on top but Taps is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Taps looking for a guillotine here but Becker defends easily.
Becker passes into half guard.

Becker seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taps slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Becker slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Becker looking to pass the guard.

Taps throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Taps looking to hit a scissor sweep but Becker is one step ahead there.

That's two 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.

Taps has his foot on Becker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Becker works his way back into a safe position though.

Taps looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Becker postures up and lands a big shot to Taps's brow.
Becker distracts Taps with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Becker wants to control from the top but Taps keeps moving.
Taps wants to sweep but no luck.
Becker wants to control from the top but Taps keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Becker content to stall in guard here.
Becker trying to control the position from guard on top but Taps is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Becker looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Taps!
Taps gets back to half guard.
Becker is trying to control the action in half guard but Taps is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Taps is looking to improve his position.
Becker lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taps slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Taps has his foot on Becker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Becker works his way back into a safe position though.
Becker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taps is keeping the position for now.
Becker distracts Taps with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Taps is looking for a triangle but Becker pushes his legs off easily.
Taps has momentary wrist control but Becker slips an elbow through the middle.
Taps lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Becker!
Becker is trying desperately to improve position.
Taps lands with some strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Becker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Becker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Becker!