PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Darville (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Darville
vs
Taylor

190 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Max Darville!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darville closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Darville keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Max Darville seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Taylor.
Darville displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Darville misses with a series of wild punches.
Good standup being displayed there by Darville as he connects with a hook.
Darville moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.

Darville has taken the fight to the clinch.
Darville scores with a shot to the side of Taylor's head.
Darville gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taylor.
Taylor has Darville pressed against the cage, preventing Darville from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Taylor with that takedown attempt.
Max Darville has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Taylor.
Darville misses with a jab, cross combination.
Darville tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Darville swivels and escapes.
Darville wants to land a leg kick but Taylor is out of range.
Darville misses with a wild body shot.
Darville throws a leg kick but Taylor sees it coming and moves out of range.
Darville lands a jab.
A right-left combo lands from Darville.
Taylor avoids a punch combination nicely.
Darville stalks Taylor and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taylor's face. Taylor staggers backwards, shaken.
Taylor slips a jab and a cross from Darville.
Taylor avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taylor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Darville swivels and escapes.
No joy there for Darville, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taylor.
Max Darville is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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.
A combination from Darville does no damage.
Taylor on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Darville lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taylor circles away quickly and effectively.
The fighters circling - Darville throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Darville throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Darville is breathing heavily.
Darville throws a one two combo.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor takes one on the button.
Darville leaves Taylor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taylor dodges the punch combination from Darville.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Darville but Darville pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Darville scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Darville leaves Taylor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taylor takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Taylor takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Darville tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Darville throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor has a takedown stuffed.

That's four 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.
Darville goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Darville throws a right and a left that Taylor avoids nicely.
Darville with a jab.

Darville closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Taylor tries to score a body lock takedown but Darville shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Darville has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Darville has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Darville wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taylor prevents Darville from breaking the clinch.

Taylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Darville tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Darville tries to bum rush Taylor with a series of wild strikes but Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Darville dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Darville scores with a hook to the body. Taylor takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Taylor walks into a stiff left hand from Darville.
Darville misses with a straight right.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Darville is out of range.
Darville misses with a two punch combination.

Darville closes the distance and pushes Taylor back into the cage.
Darville wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taylor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Darville gets underhooks to prevent Taylor's takedown attempt.
Taylor tries to score a body lock takedown but Darville shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Max Darville has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Taylor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor has Darville pressed against the cage, preventing Darville from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Darville has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Darville's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taylor has Darville pressed against the cage, preventing Darville from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Darville tries to circle away but Taylor has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Darville is trying to break the clinch but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Darville wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darville is trying to break free.
Darville has had enough of the clinch but Taylor keeps him there for the moment.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Darville swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Darville avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Darville lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taylor is defended easily by Darville.
Darville moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Darville throws a right and a left that both miss.
Darville cracks a nice hook into Taylor's ribs.
Darville moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Taylor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Darville sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Darville lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Darville drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Darville manages to get underhooks.
Darville wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Darville wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Taylor gets control of Darville's arms and successfully pulls guard. Taylor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Darville throws and elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Darville's guard. Nice move by Taylor!
Darville keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Darville is keeping the position for now.
Darville is pulling down on Taylor's head. It's preventing any offense from Taylor, at least for the moment.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Darville keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Darville.
Darville wants to stand and escape but Taylor is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. James Taylor wasn't active enough on the ground.
Taylor looks for a takedown but Darville sprawls well.
Darville is working the combinations to good effect here.
Darville throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Darville throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taylor.
Darville throws a right and a left that both miss.
Darville throws a right hand that Taylor ducks under and follows up with a left that Taylor also avoids with ease.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Darville swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Darville sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Max Darville is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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.
Darville lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Darville.

Taylor has Darville up against the cage in a clinch.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Darville moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
Taylor tries to score a body lock takedown but Darville shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Darville's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Darville wants to break the clinch but can't.
Darville is pressed up against the cage. Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Darville down to the mat. Darville avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Darville wants to land a leg kick but Taylor is out of range.

Darville clinches up against the cage.
Taylor drops down looking for an ankle pick but Darville pulls his leg out and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Darville throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Darville 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. 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.

Darville throws a right and a left that both miss.
Darville keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Darville lands a nice hook to Taylor's body. Taylor takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Taylor checks a leg kick.

Darville rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Taylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Darville misses with a double jab.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Darville as he jumps to the side.
Taylor has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darville misses with a wild combination.
Darville scores with a nice strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darville keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Max Darville has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Taylor.
Darville throws a right and a left that Taylor avoids nicely.
Darville lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Darville looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Darville.
Taylor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Darville avoids it really well and circles away.
Darville throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taylor.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.
Darville moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

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.
Darville looks to throw the jab but Taylor is out of range.
No luck for Taylor with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Taylor with that takedown attempt.
Darville throws a low kick but Taylor moves out of range easily.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice jab there from Darville.
A right-left combo lands from Darville.
Darville misses with a looping right.
Taylor slips a jab and a cross from Darville.
Darville leaves Taylor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darville lands a head shot.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Darville sprawls well. Darville wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
Darville misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Darville. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor slips under a jab.
Taylor shoots in looking for a takedown. Darville tries to sprawl out of it but Taylor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Darville manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Darville moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Darville. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Darville throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.
Taylor takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Darville fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Darville misses with a wild combination.
Taylor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Darville digs a good hook to Taylor's body.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Darville misses with the combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Horrible takedown by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Darville which made him look bad.
James Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darville swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Darville showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Darville, 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Darville!