PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Timothy Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Howard
vs
Taylor

167 cm
18
132 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Timothy Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Eddie Farnsworth and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taylor as he jumps to the side.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Taylor moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Howard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Howard 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 Timothy Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howard looking for a takedown.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Howard is controlling 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 wants to sweep here but Howard controlling him for the moment.
Taylor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Taylor uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Taylor with a poor takedown

and Howard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Taylor's guard now.
Taylor has control of Howard's left arm, preventing Howard from doing any damage.
Howard looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Howard is fighting to break Taylor's control of his arms but Taylor is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard throwing strikes but missing.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Howard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Howard postures up in Taylor's guard and throws a big left but Taylor blocks it.
Howard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Howard wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Taylor is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howard defends well.
Taylor looks gassed!
Howard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in 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.
Howard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Howard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Howard postures up.
Howard looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Taylor forces his way into half guard.
Taylor trying to control from half guard but Howard is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Taylor dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Howard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Taylor sneaks out the side door and pushes Howard away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Taylor doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Howard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Howard wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Howard tries to stand but Taylor is controlling from the bottom.
Howard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taylor is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Howard.
Timothy Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Taylor drives through and clinches with Howard against the cage.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Howard keeps him there for the moment.
Taylor gets underhooks to prevent Howard's takedown attempt.
Taylor has Howard pushed against the cage.
Howard keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

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 tries for a takedown. No joy.
Howard lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
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 Howard walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Timothy Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Taylor.

Howard closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Taylor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Howard is working away from the top position though.
Taylor regains full guard. Nicely done.
Taylor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Taylor working a defensive guard here.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Howard from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard drops back looking for a leg! Taylor is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Taylor manages to kick Howard off! Howard jumps back into Taylor's guard.
Taylor throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Taylor wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt

and Howard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Howard prevents Taylor from getting back to his feet.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Howard postures up.
Taylor has Howard pulled in close to control his posture.
Taylor looking to control.
Howard won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Howard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taylor on the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taylor is on top in guard.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Howard is working an open guard so Taylor takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timothy Howard dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Howard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt

and Howard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Taylor is trying to stand back up but Howard is controlling him
Howard tries to stand and escape but Taylor is controlling the position.
Howard trying to mount his opponent but Taylor defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Howard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taylor wants to control but Howard is keeping busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Taylor controls Howard momentarily but Howard frees himself.
Howard stops Taylor from standing up.
Howard thows a big elbow that misses.
Howard postures up.
Howard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Howard trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Taylor doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Howard scores a takedown into full mount!
Howard throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Taylor is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Howard there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Taylor wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Howard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard wants to control the pace but Taylor is squirming around nicely.
Taylor regains half guard.
Taylor trying to control here.
Howard is trying to control. Taylor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Taylor is pressing down on Howard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has momentary wrist control but Howard slips an elbow through the middle.
Taylor wants to sweep but no luck.

Taylor scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Taylor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taylor wants it to stay on the feet.
Howard avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Howard moves out of range of the body kick.
Howard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taylor's waist but Taylor gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Howard off to one side.

Taylor drives through and clinches with Howard against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Timothy Howard.
I think Howard 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timothy Howard!