PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Herald Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerome Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor's entrance music is Smoke the Fire!!. A fine choice. Powers has chosen We Run This - Missy Elliot as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Taylor
vs
Powers

198 cm
27
129 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

184 cm
29
147 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Herald Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jerome Powers!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Powers throws out a loose jab but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Powers is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taylor.
Powers defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.
Powers scores with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Taylor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Jerome Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Taylor is working for takedown but Powers is calmly controlling the position for now.
Taylor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herald Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Powers prevents the takedown attempt.

Powers breaks from the clinch.
Powers looks to score with a jab to the body but Taylor is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor moves out of range of the strikes.
Powers fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taylor avoids the body shot from Powers.
Powers with a nice cross.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Powers shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Powers misses with a body shot.
Powers takes a swing at Taylor's ribcage but misses.
Taylor throws out a leg kick but Powers moves out of range and Taylor only half commits.
A left and a right from Taylor both land. Nice combination.
Powers looks to score with a jab to the body but Taylor is just out of range.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Powers moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor fails with the takedown.
Taylor pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Taylor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Powers.
Taylor closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nice defenses there by Taylor.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Powers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taylor manages to avoid it.
Taylor tries to clinch but Powers is having none of it.
Powers throws a good cross that connects.

Powers changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Taylor looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Powers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Taylor has escaped the position, nice work there.
Taylor tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Powers wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Powers moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Powers landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Taylor is being controlled here.
Powers scoring with punches and elbows.
Taylor struggling a bit here.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Taylor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Powers on the ground.
Taylor lands with a punch from half guard.
Taylor misses with a head shot. Powers uses the momentum to regain guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Powers is on top in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Powers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Powers landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powers postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Powers dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Powers moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Taylor is rocked!
Powers throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taylor sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Oh Taylor is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Powers connects with the punch.
Powers connects with a combination that backs up Taylor into the cage. Powers lands a flurry of punches that gets past Taylor's guard. Taylor is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Powers bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jerome Powers!
During a confident post fight interview, Jerome Powers thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.