PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Back To School by Deftones kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Nathan Taylor enters the cage!

Maia
vs
Taylor

183 cm
23
200 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
217 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

[MMABR]Terror Trition[†CoE†]

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Taylor.

It looks like Demian Maia has been cut.
Taylor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Maia darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Taylor manages to get to full guard.
Taylor trying to control the position here.
Maia throws a big right hand that misses.
Maia postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maia working some strikes from top position.
Maia with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Maia with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maia sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Taylor's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to kick Maia off but Maia keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Taylor is defending against the submission attempts here by Maia.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia wants to pass the guard but Taylor is defending well.
Taylor taking some punishment here, with Maia in his half guard.
Maia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maia wants to pass the guard but Taylor is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor works his way to full guard. Good work.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Taylor has control of Maia's left arm, preventing Maia from doing any damage.
Taylor manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Maia really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Taylor controlling the pace for now.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor controlling the position easily from mount.
Maia is working to get back to half guard.
Maia is working hard here to advance position.

That's four 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.
Taylor controlling his opponent.
Maia is working to get back to half guard.
Maia has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Taylor takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Maia is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Demian Maia's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Maia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Maia persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Maia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maia closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taylor circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demian Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor throws a nice inside leg kick.
Taylor lands a with a good body shot.
Maia takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Taylor lands a left and a right that send Maia crashing to the mat, dazed. Taylor thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Maia is rocked!
Nathan Taylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Oh Maia is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Maia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Maia persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Maia seems to have got his legs back now.
Taylor cracks Maia with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Maia falls to his knees and Taylor doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nathan Taylor!