PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mikey Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Devin Carrier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Devin Carrier is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Taylor
vs
Carrier

160 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

158 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikey Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Devin Carrier!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taylor looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Taylor is looking to stall here but Carrier recovers full guard.
Taylor works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Taylor thows a huge punch but Carrier dodges it nicely.
Taylor looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Taylor wants to take a breather but Carrier is having none of it.
Carrier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Carrier keeps the fight on the outside.

Carrier looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Taylor!
You can see the frustration on Taylor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Carrier tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Taylor is looking to reverse the position.

Carrier looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Carrier is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taylor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.

Carrier is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Taylor has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.

Carrier wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Taylor, who protects the arm well.

Carrier tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Carrier swings around for an armbar but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Carrier's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carrier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Taylor passes into half guard.

Carrier actively working from the bottom here.
Taylor trying to control the action but Carrier is working from the bottom.
Taylor controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to advance position but Carrier counters by regaining guard.
Carrier manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taylor manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carrier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taylor trying to strike off his back.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mikey Taylor will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

No luck for Carrier with that takedown attempt.
Taylor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taylor wants it to stay on the feet.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Carrier circles away and keeps his distance.

Taylor looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Carrier!
Taylor wants to control but Carrier is keeping him busy.
Carrier defending against the ground and pound.
Taylor trying to control the action but Carrier is working from the bottom.
Carrier is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws an elbow but Carrier slips to the side and avoids it well.
Taylor trying to control the position but Carrier is working away.
Carrier defending against the ground and pound.
Mikey Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Carrier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Taylor closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Taylor lands in his opponent's guard.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carrier working for a triangle but Taylor defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor looking to sit in guard and control but Carrier gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Carrier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Carrier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carrier drops back, looking for a kneebar! Taylor looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Taylor looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Taylor!
Taylor tries to stand but Carrier is controlling his head.
Carrier is looking for a sweep.
Carrier struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikey Taylor dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Carrier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor looks to clinch
and Carrier counters with a nice uppercut.
Taylor slaps away a takedown attempt from Carrier, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Taylor shoots in and bounces Carrier off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor trying to control but Carrier is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carrier is looking for a triangle but Taylor pushes his legs off easily.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Carrier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor wants to get up but he can't break Carrier's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Carrier 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.
Carrier keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Carrier is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taylor looking to sit in guard and control but Carrier gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Carrier is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.
Taylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carrier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Carrier's guard.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Carrier keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carrier is keeping the position for now.

Carrier had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Taylor defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to stand and escape but instead Carrier has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Carrier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Carrier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Carrier throws a big elbow that misses.
Carrier postures up in Taylor's guard and throws a big left but Taylor blocks it.
Devin Carrier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mikey Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Carrier accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikey Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

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