PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Colby Taylor (ranked 48 p4p, 5252 weight class) and Kadyn Mercer (ranked 5 p4p, 308 weight class). Colby Taylor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taylor
vs
Mercer

170 cm
29
145
25 - 4 - 1

170 cm
26
145
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Colby Taylor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kadyn Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor leaves Mercer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taylor lands a nice shot that snaps Mercer's head back.
Mercer takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Taylor lands the left hand.

Taylor moves into the clinch.

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 is looking for a triangle here but Mercer uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.
Taylor is trying to control Mercer's posture but Mercer avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taylor preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

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

Taylor looking for submissions off his back.

Taylor actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Taylor looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Taylor trying to control but Mercer postures up.
Taylor wants to improve his position but Mercer is controlling well.
Taylor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Taylor is positioning himself well to prevent Mercer advancing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to control Mercer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taylor avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Mercer walks into a jab.
Taylor lands a right hook to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Taylor.
Mercer shoots and misses
and Mercer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mercer shoots in but no luck this time.
Colby Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kadyn Mercer.
Taylor lands a right hook to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Taylor as he connects with a hook.
Colby Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the liver by Taylor. Beautiful body shot.
Mercer with a poor takedown
and Taylor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Taylor clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short right from Taylor on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Taylor walks away with a smile on his face. Mercer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mercer closes the distance and clinches up with Taylor, looking for a takedown. Mercer pushes Taylor against the cage but Taylor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mercer fails with the takedown
and Taylor counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Taylor pushes Mercer up against the cage in a clinch.

Taylor gets control of Mercer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Taylor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor trying to keep a closed guard but Mercer is proving a slippery customer.

Mercer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Mercer got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taylor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mercer has managed to get both his arms back between Taylor's legs - danger averted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mercer takes one to the chin there.
Taylor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mercer.
Mercer takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mercer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taylor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mercer.
Colby Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kadyn Mercer.
Taylor lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Taylor scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mercer doesn't seem bothered though.
Mercer has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mercer there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor lands with a right hand.
Mercer shoots and misses
and Taylor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mercer with a lazy takedown attempt
and Taylor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mercer fails with the takedown
and Taylor makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Mercer tries to keep at a distance but Taylor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Taylor lands a right hand.

Mercer is rocked!
A short right from Taylor on the inside.
Mercer is still on wobbly legs! Can Taylor finish him?
Mercer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Taylor just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mercer is trying to pull guard but Taylor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mercer jumps guard but Taylor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mercer fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mercer jumps guard but Taylor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Taylor lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mercer is breathing heavily.
Taylor lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Mercer.
Taylor scores with a hook to the body.
Taylor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Mercer with a big uppercut! Mercer tries to clinch up but Taylor pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Mercer to the mat! Mercer covers up and Taylor unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Colby Taylor!
A relieved looking Colby Taylor thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.