PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shannon Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Legend (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Taylor
vs
Legend

185 cm
19
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Shannon Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Legend!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legend wants to clinch.
Legend looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Taylor shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Legend's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taylor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Legend, up you get!
Taylor looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Legend is fending him off so far but Taylor persists. Nope, Legend circles away and we're back to standing.
John Legend seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Legend gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Taylor thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Taylor gets to his feet - Legend follows without any prompting.

Taylor closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Taylor controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legend tries to bench press Taylor off him but Taylor keeps the position.
Taylor tries to move into full mount but can't pass Legend's legs.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
You can see the frustration on Legend's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Taylor taking a breather here.
The strikes coming from Taylor are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor working the head with strikes.

Taylor stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shannon Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Legend misses with a wild combination.
Taylor takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A head kick from Legend lands but Taylor takes it in his stride.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but Legend sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Legend lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Taylor backs up against the cage.
Legend misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Taylor controlling the position.
Legend parries the strikes from Taylor easily there. Taylor is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Legend to escape.

Taylor has hold of Legend's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Legend tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Taylor cranks the arm and Legend screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Legend, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Shannon Taylor!