PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sid Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Falaris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Falaris comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Single Ladies - Brazilian Version kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Taylor
vs
Falaris

181 cm
29
201 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

200 cm
33
190 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sid Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Falaris!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, John Mangel and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Falaris swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor looks to land a combination but Falaris avoids it well.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.
Falaris wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Falaris is defending well for now.
Taylor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Falaris blocks it with crossed arms.
The referee calls for Taylor to work.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taylor dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Taylor is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Taylor trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor pressing his opponent against the cage.
Falaris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sid Taylor.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taylor.
Falaris takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Taylor throws a series of punches but Falaris moves out of range.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor dives in and grabs Falaris's left leg, looking for a takedown. Falaris pushes down on Taylor's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Falaris.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Falaris as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sid Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falaris throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Falaris throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taylor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Falaris avoids it really well and circles away.
Sid Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Falaris sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Falaris swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Taylor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Falaris wants to slow Taylor down by chopping away at his legs.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taylor misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falaris circles away from the clinch attempt
and Falaris makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Taylor really felt that one!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Falaris both land. Nice combination.
Taylor misses with a low kick.
Falaris will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A low kick from Taylor is predictable there
and Falaris counters with a nice kick to the body.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but Falaris sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Taylor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Falaris swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sid Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Falaris looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Taylor!

It looks like Marcus Falaris has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor throws a wild body kick that Falaris sees coming a mile off.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Taylor.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Falaris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taylor on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Taylor connects with an inside leg kick.
Taylor shoots for a takedown but Falaris saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sloppy strikes from Taylor. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor throws a lazy body kick
and Falaris makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Taylor really felt that one!
A head kick misses from Taylor.
Sid Taylor is winning the standup battle so far.
Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Falaris misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with a hook
and Falaris counters with a nice body shot.
Falaris lands a nice looking body shot.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Falaris moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor blocks a head kick by Falaris.
Falaris throws a head kick that Taylor semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sid Taylor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marcus Falaris's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taylor darts in and clinches Falaris up against the cage.
Falaris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.

Falaris pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick
and Falaris counters with a low kick, right behind Taylor 's knee.
A shot to the body from Taylor misses
and Falaris counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Taylor lands a leg kick that knocks Falaris off balance momentarily.
Taylor is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taylor.
Falaris throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taylor's corner calls for a 1-2. Taylor obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Taylor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Falaris pinned against the cage. Falaris gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Falaris lands a nice leg kick that just misses Taylor's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Falaris moves out of range easily.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sid Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Falaris avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Falaris is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falaris thuds a left hand into Taylor's body.
Taylor has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor shoots in looking for a takedown. Falaris tries to sprawl out of it but Taylor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Falaris manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Falaris blocks a head kick by Taylor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a sloppy head kick and Falaris moves out of range easily.
Marcus Falaris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Falaris lands with a shot to the body.
Falaris moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A nice inside leg kick there by Falaris. That's going to slow Taylor down.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Falaris sprawls well. Falaris wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
Falaris misses with a kick to the body.

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 Sid Taylor.
Well Taylor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sid Taylor!
Sid Taylor seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.