PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Jyllendael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor has chosen This Fire Burns as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jake Jyllendael
vs
Taylor

184 cm
30
246 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

190 cm
26
240 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Jyllendael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shawn Taylor!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jyllendael.
Jyllendael definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Jyllendael shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shawn Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Taylor gets a clinch.

Jyllendael pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jyllendael takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jyllendael plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Shawn Taylor has been cut.
Nice takedown defense from Taylor. No joy for Jyllendael on that attempt.

Taylor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jyllendael, pushing him back against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Taylor creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jyllendael escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jyllendael instigates a clinch.
Come on Jyllendael - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Jyllendael manages to pull guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jyllendael managing to control the position.
Taylor pushing down on Jyllendael's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jyllendael does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jyllendael is looking to improve his position.
Taylor throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Taylor stalling away here and it's allowed Jyllendael to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Jyllendael has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Taylor off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Jyllendael closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Taylor quickly recovers to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Jyllendael is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jyllendael tries to stand but can't do so whilst Taylor controls his leg.
Jyllendael throwing shots but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Jyllendael lands strikes from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jyllendael sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taylor defending well though.
Jyllendael is thwarting Taylor's attempts to control the position.
Jyllendael wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.
Jyllendael wants to take a breather but Taylor is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor wants to improve his position but Jyllendael is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jyllendael not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jyllendael not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jyllendael in particular looking to stall.
Jyllendael lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jyllendael is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Taylor wants to get back to full guard.
Jyllendael takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor wants to control but Jyllendael is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Jyllendael is looking for a kimura but Taylor is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jyllendael to get the leverage.
Jyllendael wants to take a breather but Taylor is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to get back to full guard.
Jyllendael not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Taylor wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor keeps trying to improve his position.
Jyllendael throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Jyllendael is trying to work for a kimura but Taylor is defending well.
Jyllendael throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor is not content to let Jyllendael control the position.
Taylor wants to improve his position but Jyllendael is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Jyllendael dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shawn Taylor's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jyllendael throws a body punch but Taylor moves out of range.
Jyllendael lands a leg kick that knocks Taylor off balance momentarily.
Jyllendael misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Jyllendael fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taylor, pushing him back against the cage.
Jyllendael lands an elbow inside.

Jyllendael breaks the clinch.

Jyllendael has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jyllendael as Taylor tries to tie him up.

Jyllendael has Taylor pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Jyllendael pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Taylor tumbling to the mat - Jyllendael dives into Taylor's guard.

Jyllendael stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor has Jyllendael up against the cage in a clinch.
Jyllendael landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Taylor prevents the takedown attempt.
Taylor working hard to break the clinch.
Taylor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jyllendael walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Taylor gets a clinch.

Jyllendael manages to pull guard.
Jyllendael scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor cracks Jyllendael with a solid left hand.

Jyllendael working for a triangle but Taylor defends it easily.
Jyllendael seems keen to control Taylor's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jyllendael wants to stand but Taylor is controlling the position.
Jyllendael working a defensive guard but Taylor passes into half guard.
Jyllendael tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
Jyllendael trying to control here.
Taylor prevents Jyllendael from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Jyllendael manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Taylor keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Jyllendael has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Taylor uses from the top position.
Taylor postures up.
Jyllendael bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taylor's guard.
Jyllendael preventing the sweep.
Taylor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jyllendael manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Jyllendael manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jyllendael jumps guard.
Taylor passes Jyllendael's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ground and pound from Taylor.
Taylor wants to take a breather but Jyllendael is having none of it.
Taylor tries to stand and escape but Jyllendael is controlling the position.
Jyllendael tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.
Taylor not landing any meaningful shots this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jyllendael wants to get back to full guard.
Taylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Taylor is keen to just control but Jyllendael is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Jyllendael dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shawn Taylor's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Jyllendael closes the distance and clinches.
Jyllendael crunches a lovely knee into Taylor's ribcage.
Jyllendael keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Taylor's efforts to push away.
Jyllendael manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Jyllendael breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Taylor with that takedown attempt.

Jyllendael gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taylor tries a body shot but Jyllendael blocks it.

Jyllendael breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jyllendael avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Jyllendael shoots in looking for a takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl out of it but Jyllendael keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taylor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jyllendael bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Jyllendael tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jyllendael has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Jyllendael working away.
Jyllendael in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Jyllendael is trying to get an arm triangle but Taylor is defending well.

Jyllendael thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jyllendael working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Taylor is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Taylor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Taylor takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Taylor is not content to let Jyllendael control the position.
Taylor managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Jyllendael.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is not content to let Jyllendael control the position.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.
Taylor struggling a bit here.
Jake Jyllendael overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jyllendael lands a nice forearm strike.
Taylor is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Jyllendael's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Jyllendael looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Jyllendael stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Taylor to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Taylor tries for a takedown. No joy.
Taylor is trying to push Jyllendael away but Jyllendael has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Jyllendael pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Taylor moves into the clinch successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor tries to land a knee to the head but Jyllendael blocks with his arms.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Shawn Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor wants to get back to striking at distance but Jyllendael won't allow it.
Jake Jyllendael is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jyllendael's elbow.
Jyllendael just leaning against Taylor, taking a breather.
Taylor looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Jyllendael showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jyllendael 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Jyllendael!
After the fight, Jake Jyllendael was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
The defeated Shawn Taylor had this to say: 'He was..just....He was the better fighter tonight. I'm down but not out. It's not about the knockdown, it's about the get-up. I'll be back, better than ever. '.