PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Colby Taylor (ranked 551 p4p, 1604 weight class) and Buzz Bullard (ranked 41 p4p, 102 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taylor
vs
Bullard

170 cm
26
145
8 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
143
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Primal
Phoenix Island

Phoenix Island
Primal

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Colby Taylor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Buzz Bullard!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor tries to clinch but Bullard moves out of range.
Taylor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bullard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bullard keeps the fight on the outside.
Bullard throws the left hand but Taylor avoids the punch easily.
Buzz Bullard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor staying out of range there.
Bullard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Bullard circles away.
A little jabbing left from Bullard on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bullard misses with a double jab.
Bullard with a hook.
Nice jab there from Bullard.
Bullard thuds a left hand into Taylor's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bullard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Bullard circles away and keeps his distance.
Bullard throws a big shot that misses.
Taylor moves out of range of the strikes.
Bullard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Bullard lands an impressive looking overhand right. Taylor doesn't seem phased though.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Taylor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bullard.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bullard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bullard misses with an uppercut. Taylor saw that one coming.
As Bullard tries to get set, Taylor tries to push him back and clinch up but Bullard manages to avoid the attempt.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bullard.
A telegraphed right hand from Bullard misses the target.
Bullard keeps the fight on the outside.
Bullard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taylor.
Taylor tries to clinch but Bullard moves out of range.
Bullard has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Bullard jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Bullard has a couple of punches blocked by Taylor.
Taylor blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bullard just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bullard scores with a shot to the side of Taylor's head.

Bullard breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Bullard.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bullard breaks the clinch.
Bullard misses with a two punch combination.
Taylor tries to clinch but Bullard moves out of range.
Bullard throws a good cross that connects.
Taylor avoids the body shot from Bullard.
Bullard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bullard throws out a loose jab but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bullard.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bullard swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Taylor darts in and clinches Bullard up against the cage.
Taylor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bullard walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bullard swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Taylor closes the distance and pushes Bullard back into the cage.
Taylor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Colby Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taylor ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Taylor no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Taylor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bullard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Taylor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bullard defends it easily.
Bullard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Taylor looking to control.
Bullard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bullard defends well.

Taylor has his foot on Bullard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bullard works his way back into a safe position though.
Bullard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bullard defends well.
Bullard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buzz Bullard dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bullard with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bullard misses with an uppercut.
Bullard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bullard throws an overhand right that lands on Taylor's shoulder, as Taylor tries to avoid the shot.
Taylor dodges the punch combination from Bullard.
Taylor tries to counter by clinching up but Bullard breaks away and moves out of range.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Bullard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A jab from Bullard finds it's way through Taylor's defenses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bullard misses with a looping left.
Taylor avoids the body shot from Bullard.
The fighters circling - Bullard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bullard might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Taylor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taylor has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Bullard scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bullard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Bullard missing with a left hand there. Taylor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bullard misses with a hook.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.
Bullard misses with a punch on the inside.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Bullard holds him up against the cage and eventually Taylor drops back down to his feet.
Bullard misses with some punches.

Taylor gets control of Bullard's arms and successfully pulls guard. Taylor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor keeping full guard, as Bullard tries to pass.

Taylor looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bullard passes into half guard.
Taylor trying to control but Bullard postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back.

Taylor looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Taylor actively working from the bottom here.
Bullard trying to pass the guard but Taylor defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bullard pulls his head out easily.
Taylor is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Bullard wants to take a breather but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor has his hands clasped together around Bullard's back. He's all about the action.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Bullard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Bullard.
Bullard throws out a loose jab but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bullard lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Taylor wants to clinch but Bullard slips to the side
and Bullard counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bullard with a hook.
Bullard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor slips under a jab.

Bullard gets tackled into the cage by Taylor. Taylor maintains the clinch.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Bullard holds him up against the cage and eventually Taylor drops back down to his feet.

Bullard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor moves out of range of the strikes.
Bullard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taylor.
Bullard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bullard throws out a counter right but Taylor avoids it with no problem.
Bullard looks to throw the jab but Taylor is out of range.
Taylor wants to clinch up but Bullard keeps it at a distance.
Bullard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor wants to clinch but Bullard slips to the side
letting Bullard counter with a right hand.
Bullard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bullard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buzz Bullard 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!

Taylor slips under a jab.
Taylor drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bullard connects with a nice looking jab.
Taylor ducks right into an uppercut from Bullard.
Taylor wants to clinch
and Bullard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bullard uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bullard darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Taylor slips a jab from Bullard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bullard lands a right hook to the body.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bullard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bullard. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taylor tries to clinch but Bullard moves out of range.
Taylor moves away from the strike by Bullard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bullard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor tries to clinch up
and Bullard makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bullard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice straight punches there by Bullard. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Bullard.
Taylor tries to clinch but Bullard moves away
and Bullard counters with a straight right hand.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice defenses there by Taylor.
Taylor on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bullard misses the shot to the body.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Bullard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bullard misses with a double jab.
Taylor slips under a jab from Bullard.
Taylor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bullard throws out the jab.
Taylor slips a jab from Bullard.
Taylor wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Bullard misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor clinches with his opponent.

Bullard manages to break the clinch.
A jab from Bullard misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor closes the distance but Bullard moves to the side
and Bullard counters with a stiff right hand.

Taylor gets a clinch.

Bullard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Bullard pushes him off.
Taylor is looking to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bullard! But no joy.
Taylor tries to clinch up
and Bullard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taylor staying out of range there.
As Bullard tries to get set, Taylor tries to push him back and clinch up but Bullard manages to avoid the attempt.
Taylor takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bullard just misses with a punch to the body.
Bullard throws an overhand right that lands on Taylor's shoulder, as Taylor tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bullard scores with a decent looking hook.
Bullard scores with a three punch combo!
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bullard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bullard throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bullard throws a jab but it's blocked by Taylor.
Taylor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Bullard finds it's way through Taylor's defenses.
Bullard lands a jab.
Taylor walks into a stiff left hand from Bullard.
Bullard misses with a hook

and Taylor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Bullard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bullard misses the jab.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Bullard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bullard misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bullard is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Bullard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Bullard.
A swing and a miss from Bullard.
Bullard misses with an uppercut.
Taylor tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bullard manages to circle out of the way.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Taylor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bullard.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bullard. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bullard lands with a hook. Taylor tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bullard swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bullard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Bullard pushes him off.
A little jabbing left from Bullard on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bullard scores with a jab to the head.
Taylor tries to clinch but Bullard moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buzz Bullard really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bullard tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bullard throws the left hand but Taylor avoids the punch easily.
Bullard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Taylor tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bullard manages to circle out of the way.
Nice cross by Bullard.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bullard tests Taylor's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taylor is looking to clinch but Bullard is avoiding it.
Bullard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bullard throws a jab but it's blocked by Taylor.
Taylor is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Bullard.
Taylor tries to clinch but Bullard is having none of it.
Bullard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taylor.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Bullard circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Bullard circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Bullard.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Bullard pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Bullard.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Bullard pushes him off.
A big left from Bullard misses.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Taylor takes the fight into the clinch.
Taylor tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bullard just stands there and leans against the cage.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Bullard forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Taylor tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bullard just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Colby Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bullard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor moves to clinch but Bullard breaks away
and Bullard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Taylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taylor tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bullard smiles and moves away.
Nice uppercut there from Bullard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bullard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taylor circles away quickly and effectively.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bullard throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Taylor on the side of the head.
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 Bullard up against the cage in a clinch.

Bullard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bullard.
Taylor is looking to counter the offense by Bullard and move into the clinch.
Bullard lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Bullard keeps the fight on the outside.
Bullard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Bullard circles away.
Taylor closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Bullard counter with a right hand.

Taylor closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor jumps guard.
Bullard looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bullard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taylor pushing down on Bullard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Taylor is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bullard is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bullard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Taylor seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bullard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bullard moves into full guard.
Bullard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taylor looking to pass the guard.
Bullard is trying to keep Taylor in close.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buzz Bullard dominated that fourth 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Taylor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bullard.
Taylor moves out of range of the strikes.
Bullard cracks Taylor with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bullard cracks Taylor with a good jab.
Taylor tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bullard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taylor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bullard.
Bullard moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bullard misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Bullard misses.
Bullard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Bullard circles away and keeps his distance.
Bullard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bullard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bullard misses with a combination

and Taylor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Bullard won't allow it.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Bullard won't allow it.

Bullard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bullard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Bullard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Bullard.
Taylor is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Bullard.
Nice uppercut lands for Bullard. That snapped Taylor's head back.
Nice defenses there by Taylor.
Bullard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taylor.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bullard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bullard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bullard scores with a jab to the body.
Bullard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Colby Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bullard looks to throw the jab but Taylor is out of range.

Taylor instigates a clinch.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Bullard holds him up against the cage and eventually Taylor drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Colby Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Bullard won't allow it.
Bullard misses with a hook from the clinch.

Taylor drags the fight down to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Taylor looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

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

Taylor throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bullard escapes and throws Taylor's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Bullard throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Bullard crashes against the mat.
Taylor is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bullard's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Colby Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor won't allow Bullard to pass to mount.
Bullard sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bullard working over Taylor with some ground and pound. Taylor looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

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.
Bullard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Taylor is trying to maintain the position but Bullard is very close to passing his half guard.
Buzz Bullard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Taylor is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bullard pulls his head out easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buzz Bullard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bullard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 44:50
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 44:50
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buzz Bullard!
Buzz Bullard is the new bantamweight champion!
Buzz Bullard decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.