PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mac Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuvel Wickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mac Taylor could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Yuvel Wickson's chin.

Taylor
vs
Wickson

188 cm
27
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
272 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mac Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yuvel Wickson!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor is looking to clinch.
Wickson misses with a double jab.

Taylor drives through and clinches with Wickson against the cage.
Wickson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wickson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Mac Taylor has been cut.
Wickson misses with an elbow strike.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Taylor is trying to push Wickson away but Wickson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Taylor avoids a wild elbow strike from Wickson.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Wickson has him pressed against the cage.
Wickson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taylor avoids it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Wickson.

Taylor has Wickson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Taylor pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Wickson tumbling to the mat - Taylor dives into Wickson's guard.
Wickson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Wickson being controlled here, momentarily.
Taylor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor prevents Wickson from getting back to his feet.
Wickson trying to control the position.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wickson is keeping the position for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tayloris looking to pass into half guard but Wickson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Wickson is in guard.
Wickson stopping the sweep attempt from Taylor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to stand but Wickson is controlling the position.
Taylor controlling the position.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wickson.
Wickson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wickson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wickson.
Wickson is fighting to break Taylor's control of his arms but Taylor is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Taylor's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Taylor has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mac Taylor.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Wickson pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wickson throws an overhand right that lands on Taylor's shoulder, as Taylor tries to avoid the shot.
Wickson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wickson throws a hook but Taylor blocks it.
Wickson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wickson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor avoids the body shot from Wickson.
Taylor closes the distance and clinches up with Wickson, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes Wickson against the cage but Wickson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Taylor looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Taylor not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is nestled in close to Wickson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Taylor is keen to just control but Wickson is a slippery customer.
Taylor controlling the action here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Taylor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Wickson sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wickson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wickson swings widly with a right hand

and Taylor counters with a combination of strikes to the head and body that crumple Wickson!

Wickson is rocked!
Taylor not doing much here.
Wickson is still in real trouble! Can Taylor finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taylor looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Wickson seems to have recovered his senses.
Mac Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor moves nicely into side control.

Taylor goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Wickson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Taylor's guard! Nice work there by Wickson!
Taylor pulls Wickson in close to prevent any damage.
Wickson stopping the sweep attempt from Taylor.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Taylor holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wickson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Taylor is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Taylor has escaped and now he's on top!
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wickson keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control but Wickson is working from the bottom.
Taylor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taylor is working Wickson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taylor stands and throws Wickson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Wickson's face as Taylor controls the position.
Taylor in side control, throwing shots but Wickson defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wickson is letting Taylor control him for a moment.
Wickson struggling a bit here.

Taylor tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wickson is looking to regain half guard here but Taylor keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mac Taylor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mac Taylor's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wickson as he jumps to the side.
Wickson throws a shot from downtown. Taylor moves away and avoids it.
Taylor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wickson.
Taylor scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Some bone on bone action there as Taylor checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Wickson is looking to land body kicks.
Taylor tries to clinch but Wickson moves out of range.
Wickson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taylor blocks the body kick.
Taylor closes the distance and clinches up with Wickson, looking for a takedown. Taylor pushes Wickson against the cage but Wickson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wickson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Wickson.
Wickson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wickson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Taylor counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Wickson's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor controls from within his opponent's guard.
Taylor is looking to work some ground and pound but Wickson has wrist control.
Taylor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Wickson's head.
Taylor seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Taylor looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor cracks Wickson with a solid left hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor is stalling in the full guard.
Taylor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Wickson keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Wickson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Wickson has his foot on Taylor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taylor works his way back into a safe position though.
Taylor showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mac Taylor.

Taylor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Taylor's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Taylor controls the position from side control.
Wickson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Yuvel Wickson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Taylor working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor controlling from side mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mac Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

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