PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ronald Reigns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Taleb (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Reigns
vs
Taleb

195 cm
25
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
209 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

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 Montreal, Ronald Reigns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tyler Taleb!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taleb gets a clinch.

Reigns breaks the clinch.
Taleb looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Reigns throws a combination that misses

and Taleb moves into the clinch.

Taleb manages to break the clinch.
Reigns takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Taleb closes the distance and clinches up with Reigns, looking for a takedown. Taleb pushes Reigns against the cage but Reigns circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taleb throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reigns's waist but Reigns gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taleb off to one side.
Reigns misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice takedown defense from Reigns. No joy for Taleb on that attempt.
Ronald Reigns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Taleb.
Taleb shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reigns sprawls well. Reigns wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taleb gets slowly back to his feet.
Reigns thows a body shot but no joy.
Reigns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taleb was well out of range. Poor timing from Reigns.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns throws a series of punches but Taleb moves out of range.
Taleb misses with a kick to the body.
Taleb misses with a body shot.
Taleb dives in and grabs Reigns's left leg, looking for a takedown. Reigns pushes down on Taleb's head and hops out.
Taleb looks for a takedown but Reigns sprawls well.
Taleb shoots in but Reigns avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taleb looks winded!
Reigns misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taleb.
Taleb doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Taleb has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Taleb shoots in and drives through. Reigns sprawls well.
Ronald Reigns is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reigns looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taleb moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Reigns missing with a left hand there. Taleb was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Reigns works over Taleb's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Tyler Taleb has been cut.
Taleb avoids a punch combination nicely.
Reigns misses with a combination
and Taleb counters with a left and a right that stings Reigns.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taleb closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A punch combination from Reigns misses.
Reigns avoids the head kick by Taleb.
Taleb closes this distance looking for a takedown but Reigns circles away.
Reigns misses with a jab, cross combination.
Reigns swats away the attempt to clinch by Taleb.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns misses with a combination
and Taleb connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Taleb fails with the takedown.
Taleb fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Reigns misses with a wild combination.
Reigns throws a nice looking combination but Taleb bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taleb misses with a low kick.
Reigns looks to throw the jab but Taleb is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reigns. Taleb does a little dance to reset his feet.
Reigns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reigns thows a body shot but no joy.
Taleb shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taleb changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reigns tries to avoid it but Taleb manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reigns to the ground. Reigns escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taleb looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taleb shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reigns pinned against the cage. Reigns gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Reigns scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taleb looks for the body kick but Reigns saw that one coming.
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 Ronald Reigns will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tyler Taleb's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Reigns throws a lazy uppercut
and Taleb counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Reigns is looking to wear down Taleb with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Taleb keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Reigns.
Taleb tries a head kick but it misses.
Taleb fails to land the takedown.
Taleb stalks Reigns and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Reigns's face. Reigns staggers backwards, shaken.
Reigns misses with an uppercut
letting Taleb counter with a right hand.
Taleb looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reigns is fending him off so far but Taleb persists. Nope, Reigns circles away and we're back to standing.
Reigns throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Taleb wants to clinch up but Reigns keeps it at a distance.
Taleb is breathing heavily.
Reigns is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taleb.
Reigns displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Reigns rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taleb moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns misses with a double jab
and Taleb counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Reigns thinking.
Taleb shoots in but no luck this time.
Ronald Reigns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Taleb.
Taleb showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Reigns.
Taleb ducks under a wild hook from Reigns.
Reigns throws a jab when Taleb was well out of range.
Taleb misses with a head kick.
Reigns throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taleb with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Reigns to score with a decent uppercut.
Reigns lands a nice hook to Taleb's body. Taleb takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taleb goes for a double leg but Reigns avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Reigns continues to drive forward.
Taleb tries to pull guard but Reigns forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Taleb tries to circle away but Reigns has him pinned against the cage.
Reigns wants to break free but Taleb has control.
Taleb tries to pull guard but Reigns holds him up against the cage and eventually Taleb drops back down to his feet.
Reigns tries to break free but Taleb pushes him back against the cage.
Reigns gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taleb.
Reigns is trying to break the clinch but Taleb is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Taleb's efforts to push away.
Reigns wants to break free but Taleb has control.

Reigns breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reigns looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Taleb tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Reigns manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Reigns just misses with a punch to the body.
Taleb takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Taleb dives in for a single leg takedown but Reigns sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Taleb jumps guard but Reigns turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Taleb tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Reigns just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taleb is trying to pull guard but Reigns has him pressed against the cage.

Taleb decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Reigns stands and steps away. Taleb gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Taleb tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reigns sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taleb somewhat.
Reigns throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ronald Reigns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reigns lands a two punch combo.
Taleb takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taleb has a takedown stuffed.
A punch combination from Reigns misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronald Reigns dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tyler Taleb's cut.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

No luck for Taleb with that takedown attempt.
Reigns throws a right hand that misses
and Taleb counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Reigns looks to land a combination but Taleb avoids it well.
Reigns misses with a wild combination.
Taleb moves in looking to clinch but Reigns pushes him off.
Ronald Reigns is winning the standup battle so far.

Taleb shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Reigns on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Reigns tries to get out of the position.
Taleb stops Reigns from standing up.

Reigns wriggles free and stands up.
Taleb fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taleb fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taleb fails with the takedown.
Ronald Reigns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Taleb.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reigns. Taleb does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taleb takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Reigns stuffs the takedown attempt from Taleb. Taleb gets slowly back to his feet.
Reigns scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Reigns swings away with a body shot that misses

and Taleb counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taleb.
Reigns prevents the takedown attempt.
Reigns wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taleb tries to break the clinch but Reigns is controlling the position.
Reigns is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Taleb tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Reigns is trying to force a seperation but Taleb has the dominant position.
Taleb wants to break the clinch but can't.

Reigns manages to break the clinch.
Reigns misses with an uppercut.
Taleb tries to close the distance and clinch but Reigns swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Reigns swats away the attempt to clinch by Taleb.
Taleb closes the distance and clinches up with Reigns, looking for a takedown. Taleb pushes Reigns against the cage but Reigns circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Taleb avoids a punch combination nicely.
Reigns misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Reigns throws a shot from downtown. Taleb moves away and avoids it.

Taleb drives through and clinches with Reigns against the cage.
Taleb taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Reigns escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Reigns displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Taleb.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Taleb or perhaps it was just good defense by Reigns which made him look bad.
Reigns swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Taleb moves into range and clinches up with Reigns.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taleb.
Reigns prevents the takedown attempt.
Reigns wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taleb tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Reigns breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tyler Taleb has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ronald Reigns is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reigns throws a body punch but Taleb moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tyler Taleb.
I think Reigns has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a draw!