PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach GIllam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor comes to the cage accompanied by More Than You Are. Shaun Taylor is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Taylor
vs
GIllam

182 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

189 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shaun Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zach GIllam!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Taylor.

It looks like Zach GIllam has been cut.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.

GIllam pushes Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Taylor tries to break free but GIllam pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor fails to pull the fight into his guard.
GIllam misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taylor takes a knee right on the jaw!

GIllam tightens his grip and picks Taylor up, before dumping him to the ground. Taylor manages to land in 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.
GIllam preventing the sweep.
Taylor trying to control the position here.

GIllam decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Taylor, up you get!
Taylor connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Taylor throws a leg kick that misses.
Taylor lands a slapping body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

GIllam fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taylor, pushing him back against the cage.
GIllam keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
GIllam tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
GIllam lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.
GIllam tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Taylor changes levels and goes for a takedown here. GIllam fights it off and pushes away nicely.
GIllam tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Taylor as GIllam shoots in.
GIllam takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but GIllam sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaun Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor throws a right and a left that GIllam avoids nicely.
Taylor throws a head kick but GIllam moves out of range.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
GIllam shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

GIllam gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Taylor regains full guard. Nicely done.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but GIllam is one step ahead there.
Taylor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. GIllam manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but GIllam has wrist control.
Taylor controlling from the top position.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
GIllam keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but GIllam is retaining full guard.
Taylor won't allow GIllam to get back to his feet.
GIllam really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Taylor. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a big right hand that misses.
GIllam avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taylor trying to control but GIllam is working from the bottom.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. GIllam swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor 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 throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Taylor postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is working GIllam over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
GIllam keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.
GIllam working a defensive guard here.
GIllam looks gassed!
GIllam utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Taylor gets to his feet. GIllam looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Taylor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zach GIllam's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taylor fakes a jab and throws a low kick but GIllam checks it well.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor with a hook.
A head kick by GIllam misses

and Taylor counters with a takedown into side control.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but GIllam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Taylor wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by GIllam, who protects the arm well.
The ground and pound from Taylor seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Taylor tries to advance to mount but GIllam denies him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
GIllam dodges the ground and pound from Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
GIllam takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The strikes coming from Taylor are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Taylor trying to control the position but GIllam is working away.
Taylor looking to punish the body of his opponent here but GIllam is avoiding damage well.
GIllam is looking to regain half guard here but Taylor keeps moving and retains side control.
Taylor in side control lands a decent elbow.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but GIllam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Taylor are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Taylor are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Taylor trying to control the action but GIllam is working from the bottom.
GIllam taking a bit of punishment here - Taylor scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor takes a little break here. GIllam wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Taylor advances to mount.
Taylor raining down shots from the mount!
Taylor lands with some strikes.
GIllam wants to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.
The referee warns GIllam that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
GIllam is breathing heavily.
A nice elbow there by Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor raining down shots from the mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor with the ground and pound from mount.
Taylor looking to control and managing it successfully.
Taylor scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish GIllam?
Taylor trying to control but GIllam is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taylor cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Taylor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zach GIllam's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nice cross by Taylor.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Taylor is trying to maintain a safe position but GIllam gets an underhook and turns Taylor into the cage.
GIllam fails to pull guard.
Taylor tries to break free but GIllam pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor takes a shot to the head.
GIllam keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Taylor's efforts to push away.
GIllam tries to score a body lock takedown but Taylor shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Taylor wants a takedown.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but GIllam is controlling the position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. GIllam obliges.
Taylor is trying to push GIllam away but GIllam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
GIllam prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.
Taylor is trying to break free.

GIllam tightens his grip and picks Taylor up, before dumping him to the ground. Taylor manages to land in guard.
GIllam takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
GIllam trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor pulls GIllam in close to his closed guard and prevents GIllam from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
GIllam postures up.
GIllam must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
GIllam trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taylor.
Taylor misses with a leg kick.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - GIllam circles away.
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
GIllam tries for a takedown but Taylor circles away easily
and Taylor counters with a nice body shot.
Shaun Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zach GIllam.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but GIllam bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - GIllam looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two 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 misses with the combination.
Taylor lands with an uppercut that bounces GIllam off the cage and back into rage.
GIllam fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taylor avoids it really well and circles away.
GIllam throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taylor sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taylor tries to clinch up but GIllam circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor misses with a few strikes there.
Taylor shoots and misses

and GIllam counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Taylor takes a knee to the side of the body.
Taylor jumps guard but GIllam stands there with Taylor around his waist. Taylor gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
GIllam fails to pull the fight into his guard.
GIllam is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
GIllam's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to break free of the clinch but GIllam has double underhooks.
GIllam tries to throw a body punch but Taylor avoids it by throwing GIllam back against the cage.

GIllam is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Taylor can't fight it off and eventually GIllam manages to take the fight to the floor. Taylor looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Taylor is pulling down on GIllam's head. It's preventing any offense from GIllam, at least for the moment.
GIllam trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor is pulling down on GIllam's head to control his posture.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
GIllam is not content to let Taylor control the position.
Shaun Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
GIllam is in trouble now - Taylor has advanced to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
Shaun Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
GIllam is in a horrible position here. Taylor smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zach GIllam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Taylor wants to finish this one by submission but GIllam is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Taylor.
GIllam wants to hold on but Taylor pushes him away.

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 Shaun Taylor.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taylor, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:26
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:26
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:26

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