PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Taylor (ranked 21887 p4p, 759 weight class) and Sumo Jo (ranked 4780 p4p, 547 weight class). The key to victory for Jason Taylor has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Taylor
vs
Jo

180 cm
22
200 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

185 cm
27
218 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Pit Bull Development

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Jason Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sumo Jo!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor scores with a head kick.
Taylor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jo.
Taylor went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Taylor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taylor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Jo persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Jo fails to land the takedown.
Taylor looks to land a body kick but Jo moved away.
Jo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taylor avoids it really well and circles away.
Jason Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sumo Jo.

Jo tries to sprawl but Taylor drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Taylor is thwarting Jo's attempts to control the position.
Taylor is nestled in close to Jo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Jo keeping control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.
Taylor throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Jo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Taylor scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Jo is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jo is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jo defending well though.
Jo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Taylor is thwarting Jo's attempts to control the position.
Jo tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
Jo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Jo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jo tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Taylor wants to take a breather but Jo is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jo dives in and grabs Taylor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes down on Jo's head and hops out.

Taylor shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jo's guard.
Jo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Jo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Jo.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor throwing strikes from guard but Jo blocks nicely.
Jo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jo keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Taylor won't allow Jo to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor distracts Jo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taylor is one step ahead there.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Jo.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jo is on top in guard.

Jo trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Jo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jo won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Jo trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jo cracks Taylor with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Taylor dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jo misses with a takedown attempt - Taylor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Taylor leaves Jo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Taylor pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Taylor looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Jo controlling the position well.
Taylor working over Jo with some ground and pound. Jo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jo wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy.
Jo is holding on to half guard well.
Jo is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Taylor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Taylor's back!
Jo lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Jo.
Jo scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Jo cracks Taylor with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Taylor from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Jo gets his hands free as Taylor looks to control.
Jo cracks Taylor with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Taylor from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Jo trying to control.
Taylor is covering up but some of the strikes from Jo are getting through and doing damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jo is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Jo lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Jo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee is taking a good look at Taylor as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Jo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
I really don't envy Taylor right now.
Jo avoiding Taylor 's attempts to control his hands.
Sumo Jo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taylor prevents Jo from getting a body triangle.
Jo scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Taylor is looking for a way out.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Jo lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jo scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Taylor is looking for a way out.
Jo is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Jo gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Jo gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Jo apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Jo looks for a takedown but Taylor sprawls well.
Jason Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sumo Jo.
Jo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Taylor.
Taylor looks for a takedown but Jo sprawls well.
Taylor looks for the body kick but Jo saw that one coming.
Jo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taylor circles away.
Taylor goes for a double leg but Jo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jo continues to drive forward.
Taylor scores with a head kick. Jo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Jason Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jo fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jo closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Jo pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taylor throws a leg kick

and Jo counters with a shoot takedown. Taylor fights it but they end up in guard.
Taylor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Taylor tries to get out of the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Taylor throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Taylor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jo on the ground.
Jo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Taylor lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Jo pulls Taylor in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sumo Jo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Taylor throws a lazy body kick

so Jo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Jo tries to free his leg and advance position but Taylor is retaining full guard.
Jo distracts Taylor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jo connects with a couple of short punches.
Jo is working Taylor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taylor throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Jo lands a couple of elbows.
Jo won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Taylor looking to control.
Taylor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor controls Jo momentarily but Jo frees himself.
Jo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Taylor is striking but Jo is not phased and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor works his way to full guard. Good work.
Jo trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Jo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Jo wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Jo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Taylor trying to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Jo distracts Taylor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two 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 trying to strike off his back.
Jo wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Jo sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Taylor dives in for a single leg takedown but Jo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jo shoots in but Taylor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taylor appears to be looking for a big counter.
Jo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jo.
As Jo tries to get set, Taylor tries to push him back and clinch up but Jo manages to avoid the attempt.
Jason Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sumo Jo.
Jo 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.
Taylor went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Jo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor gets full guard.
Jo won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jo manages to get himself to full guard.

Jo throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Jo controlling the position.
Jo wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.

Jo 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.
Jo trying to keep a closed guard but Taylor is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throwing strikes from guard but Jo blocks nicely.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Jo.
Jo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Taylor is staying active underneath Jo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taylor tries to get to full guard but Jo has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jo lands strikes from half guard.
Jason Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor tries to roll over but Jo keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sumo Jo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jo 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Sumo Jo!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Sumo Jo!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Sumo Jo!

Sumo Jo wins by unanimous decision!