PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Taylor (ranked 3507 p4p, 4728 weight class) and Lorde Mannion (ranked 437 p4p, 530 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Lorde Mannion was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Taylor
vs
Mannion

200 cm
18
280
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
18
250
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Nutritional Shaved Ice

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kevin Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lorde Mannion!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taylor.
Mannion steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Taylor.
Mannion throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Taylor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Lorde Mannion has been cut.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but Mannion sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mannion misses with a body shot.
Taylor throws a quick counter head kick but Mannion was just out of range.
Taylor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mannion.

Taylor gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A body shot lands from Taylor.

Taylor decides to pull guard.
Mannion pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
Mannion makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mannion throws a big right hand that misses.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mannion.
Taylor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mannion is in close to Taylor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mannion trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor keeping full guard, as Mannion tries to pass.
Mannion preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor pulls Mannion in close to his closed guard and prevents Mannion from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Taylor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mannion on the ground.
Taylor wants to stand up but Mannion is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Taylor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mannion tries to clinch

and Taylor counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Taylor not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mannion has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taylor is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor thows a huge punch but Mannion dodges it nicely.
Taylor content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mannion trying to hold on to Taylor's head to control him but Taylor postures up.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mannion is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Taylor pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Taylor slows the pace down in half guard.

Mannion looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mannion is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mannion moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kevin Taylor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lorde Mannion's cut.
That's time! Taylor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Taylor fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mannion tries to pull guard but Taylor won't allow it.
Mannion is trying to force a seperation but Taylor has the dominant position.
Mannion wants to get back to striking at distance but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mannion pulls his leg out and moves away.

Taylor rushes Mannion and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor has Mannion pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mannion manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mannion gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Taylor trying to control but Mannion is working from the bottom.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mannion swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mannion manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Taylor lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mannion prevents the takedown attempt.
Mannion wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taylor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mannion is trying to break the clinch but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.

Mannion pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick by Mannion misses

and Taylor counters with a takedown into side control.
Taylor misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor decides to stand back up.

Taylor clinches up with Mannion and pushes him back against the cage.

Taylor tightens his grip and picks Mannion up, before dumping him to the ground. Mannion manages to land in guard.

Taylor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mannion sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.
Mannion lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lorde Mannion is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Taylor moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taylor has been working on his balance at 3Band MMA, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Mannion.
Taylor shoots for a takedown but Mannion saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And Mannion tries to counter it with a takedown but Taylor pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mannion looks to land a body kick but Taylor moved away.
Mannion misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taylor.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Mannion sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taylor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mannion defends it nicely.
As Taylor backs off Mannion throws a huge counter combo but Taylor manages to avoid it all.

Taylor moves into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Taylor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lorde Mannion's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Mannion.
Taylor is looking to counter punch.

Taylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Taylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mannion can do to turn this around?
Mannion has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taylor is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but Mannion defending well.
Taylor seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Mannion controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Mannion looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Taylor content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mannion manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mannion not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor shoots in and drives through. Mannion sprawls well.
Mannion is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mannion as he avoids it easily.
Mannion drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Taylor defends it well.
Nice sprawl there from Mannion as Taylor shoots in.
Mannion steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Taylor.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mannion tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mannion misses with a double jab
and Taylor counters with a solid body kick.
Kevin Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mannion stalks Taylor and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taylor's face. Taylor staggers backwards, shaken.
Mannion lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taylor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mannion connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mannion tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Taylor gets the takedown into side control.

Mannion explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor throws a one two combo.
Lorde Mannion seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Taylor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor taking a breather here.
Lorde Mannion has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kevin Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Taylor has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lorde Mannion.
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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

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