PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Taleb (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronald Reigns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Taleb
vs
Reigns

187 cm
25
209 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

195 cm
25
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reigns swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Taleb counters with a left and a right that stings Reigns.
Taleb defending well as Reigns loads up on a big left hand.
Reigns misses with a few strikes there.
Taleb tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reigns sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taleb somewhat.
Reigns takes a swing at Taleb's ribcage but misses.
Taleb pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taleb fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Reigns fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taleb.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Taleb. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taleb shoots in but Reigns avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taleb feints a jab promting Reigns to slip. Taleb then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Reigns slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Reigns has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Ronald Reigns is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taleb throws a head kick that misses.
Taleb misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reigns.
Taleb shoots for a takedown but Reigns saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taleb connects with a body shot that sends Reigns's belly button to the back.
Taleb avoids a punch combination nicely.
Reigns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taleb was well out of range. Poor timing from Reigns.
Taleb lands with a right hand.
Taleb seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Reigns misses with a wild body shot.
Reigns throws a body punch but Taleb moves out of range.
Taleb avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns looks to score with a jab to the body but Taleb is just out of range.
Reigns dodges the punch combination from Taleb.
Taleb lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Reigns misses with a wild combination.
Reigns throws a hook but Taleb blocks it.
Reigns bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Taleb's head.
Taleb fails to land the takedown.
Reigns misses with a double jab.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Reigns. Those never looked like landing.
Reigns will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taleb looks for a takedown but Reigns sprawls well.
Taleb dives in for a single leg takedown but Reigns sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Taleb is breathing heavily.
Reigns is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Taleb misses with a knee strike.

Reigns breaks the clinch.
Reigns misses with a series of wild punches.
Taleb looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Reigns missing with a left hand there. Taleb was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Reigns throws a right and a left that Taleb avoids nicely.
Reigns tries to bum rush Taleb with a series of wild strikes but Taleb uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Reigns misses with a left hand

and Taleb holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Taleb is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Reigns is defending well for now.

Reigns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taleb fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reigns avoids it really well and circles away.
A combination from Reigns does no 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 Tyler Taleb will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taleb throws a body kick that misses.
Taleb uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reigns.
Taleb shoots in looking for a takedown. Reigns tries to sprawl out of it but Taleb keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reigns manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Reigns moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Tyler Taleb has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Taleb or perhaps it was just good defense by Reigns which made him look bad.
Ronald Reigns seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Reigns thows a body shot but no joy.
Taleb tries to clinch up but Reigns circles away and keeps his distance.
Reigns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taleb is looking to clinch but Reigns is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Reigns misses with a wild combination.
Reigns wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Reigns throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taleb.
Taleb fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Taleb. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taleb throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reigns sizes up Taleb with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Reigns pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Reigns throws a big shot that misses.
Taleb avoids the body shot from Reigns.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns misses with a body shot.
Taleb avoids a punch combination nicely.

Taleb gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Reigns keeps control of Taleb as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Reigns wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taleb has him pressed against the cage.
Taleb looking for a takedown.
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!
Taleb looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Reigns breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taleb shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reigns pinned against the cage. Reigns gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Taleb tries to clinch but Reigns is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taleb shoots in for a takedown but Reigns shows good takedown defense.
Reigns scores with the left hand. Taleb knows he should have avoided that one.
Tyler Taleb is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reigns scores with a one two! Taleb had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Taleb. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Reigns throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Reigns throws the left hand but Taleb avoids the punch easily.
Reigns stuffs the takedown.
Reigns misses with a body shot.
Reigns throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Reigns ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Reigns throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Reigns blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reigns lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Taleb tries to land a front kick but Reigns steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taleb tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taleb uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reigns.
Reigns is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Taleb rather than just go for the knockout.
Reigns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taleb manages to avoid it.
Reigns throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reigns lands an overhand right.

Taleb closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Reigns pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taleb blocks a jab.
Reigns misses with an uppercut. Taleb saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronald Reigns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tyler Taleb's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Reigns scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Taleb takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Taleb is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Reigns throws a combination that misses
and Taleb counters with a one-two to the body.
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.
Taleb will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Reigns bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reigns takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Taleb walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reigns circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns punishes Taleb's body with a nice straight punch.
Nice takedown defense from Reigns. No joy for Taleb on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Taleb. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reigns fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Reigns swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Reigns fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Reigns scores with a three punch combo!
Reigns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taleb manages to avoid it.
A right-left combo lands from Reigns.

Taleb gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taleb has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Reigns is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Taleb breaks from the clinch.
Reigns stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns misses with the combination.
Taleb tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Reigns swivels and escapes.
Sloppy strikes from Reigns. Those never looked like landing.
Reigns chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Taleb can pounce on him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taleb uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Reigns.
Taleb looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Reigns lands a jab to the head.
Reigns throws an overhand right that lands on Taleb's shoulder, as Taleb tries to avoid the shot.
Reigns throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Reigns stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reigns wants it to stay on the feet.
Reigns lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taleb circles away quickly and effectively.

Taleb closes the distance and clinches.

Reigns breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reigns clobbers Taleb with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Taleb throws the kick towards the body but Reigns avoids it.
Reigns stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reigns wants it to stay on the feet.
Reigns throws a series of punches but Taleb avoids them all with ease.
A right-left combo lands from Reigns.
Taleb tries to clinch there but Reigns circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taleb throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taleb shoots in for a double leg but Reigns sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Reigns throws a good cross that connects.
Reigns throws a combination that misses
and Taleb counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Taleb shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Reigns as he jumps to the side.
Reigns misses with a two punch combination.
Reigns throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taleb sees it coming and avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taleb tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Reigns defends well and Taleb ends up having to push Reigns into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Reigns breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some wild striking there from Reigns.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronald Reigns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Reigns has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronald Reigns!