PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Teddy Taylor (ranked 5881 p4p, 532 weight class) and Saif Karama (ranked 6272 p4p, 546 weight class). Saif Karama is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Taylor
vs
Karama

180 cm
23
179 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
26
170 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Teddy Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Saif Karama!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taylor shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Karama napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Taylor is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Karama knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Karama regains half guard, as Taylor was trying to land strikes.

Taylor seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taylor is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Karama doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Taylor.

Taylor wants to work for an arm triangle but Karama is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to pass the half guard into mount. Karama knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Taylor misses with a head shot. Karama uses the momentum to regain guard.
Karama wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Taylor manages to pass to side control.
Taylor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.

Taylor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Karama sees it coming and defends easily.
Karama blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taylor.
Taylor seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Karama does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Taylor is pressing down on Karama's thigh, looking to free his foot. Karama is holding on for now.

Taylor seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Karama has recovered full guard.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but Karama has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor with a flurry of punches that miss.

Taylor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Karama, up you get!
Karama connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Karama throws a left and a right that both miss

and Taylor counters with a shoot takedown. Karama fights it but they end up in guard.

Taylor drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Karama dives on top into guard.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Taylor throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.

Taylor working for a triangle but Karama defends it easily.
Karama wants to get up but he can't break Taylor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Karama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taylor will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Karama postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karama is one step ahead there.
Taylor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Karama is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teddy Taylor dominated that 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.

Karama shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Taylor eats them both and turns towards Karama to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Taylor takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Karama misses with a hook

and Taylor moves into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taylor.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saif Karama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karama swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.
Karama throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Taylor counters by clinching up.
Taylor pushes Karama back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Taylor misses with a knee strike.
Taylor slows down the pace here.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor taking a breather.
Karama is trying to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling him.

Taylor gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor prevents Karama from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karama's head.
Taylor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Taylor is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Karama has managed to free his arm - good work.
Taylor stalling away here and it's allowed Karama to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor prevents Karama from getting back to his feet.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Karama is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Taylor advances position into side control!
Taylor wants to control but Karama is keeping him busy.

Taylor is trying to get an arm triangle but Karama is defending well.

Taylor goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Karama has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Taylor but great work by Karama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karama tries to stand but Taylor is controlling his head.
Taylor is trying to control Karama's posture but Karama avoids it.
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taylor wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Taylor is trying to control Karama's posture but Karama avoids it.
Taylor manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taylor trying to control but Karama postures up.
Taylor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Taylor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taylor is looking to get back to full guard here but Karama has managed to pass to side control instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Karama throws a shot to the body.
Taylor shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

It looks like Teddy Taylor has been cut.

Taylor looking to score a takedown here. Karama is defending well but Taylor drives through and ends up in Karama's guard.

Taylor postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Karama is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Taylor, into his guard.

Karama tries to stand but Taylor is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Karama postures up.
Taylor seems keen to control Karama's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor wants to sweep here but Karama controlling him for the moment.
Karama wants to stand and escape but instead Taylor has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Taylor wants to control from the top but Karama keeps moving.

Karama is working an open guard so Taylor takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Karama listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Taylor closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Karama quickly recovers to half guard.

Karama kicks off Taylor and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Taylor dives in and scores a takedown into Karama's guard.
Taylor postures up in Karama's guard and throws a big left but Karama blocks it.
Karama keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Taylor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Karama wants to stand but Taylor is controlling the position.

Taylor is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Karama is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Karama has escaped and now he's on top!

Taylor trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karama is one step ahead there.

Taylor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Karama defends it easily.

Taylor looking for a guillotine here but Karama defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Karama would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Saif Karama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Teddy Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saif Karama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taylor 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 Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teddy Taylor!
An out of breath and clearly excited Teddy Taylor thanked VanDam Clothing for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).