PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norbert Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Spikes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon Spikes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taylor
vs
Spikes

181 cm
24
194 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Norbert Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brandon Spikes!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Lou da Vinci and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spikes has managed to clinch.
Taylor lands a right hand that snaps the head of Spikes backwards.

Spikes tightens his grip and picks Taylor up, before dumping him to the ground. Taylor manages to land in guard.

Taylor has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Spikes off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Spikes moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.
Taylor looks to land a combination but Spikes avoids it well.

Spikes scores with a takedown into Taylor's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taylor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Spikes looking to sit in guard and control but Taylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spikes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Taylor passes into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Taylor working away.
Taylor controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Taylor working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Spikes bucks up and tries to throw Taylor off but instead Taylor has got his back!
Spikes breaks Taylor's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Spikes throwing strikes but missing.
Taylor has control of Spikes's left arm, preventing Spikes from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spikes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taylor is proving hard to escape from.
Spikes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Spikes preventing the sweep.
Taylor is controlling Spikes's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Spikes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Spikes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor has his hands on Spikes's head, controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Spikes tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.

Spikes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spikes trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Spikes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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 Norbert Taylor will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Spikes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Spikes stands up from half guard.

Spikes shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Taylor napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Spikes working the head with strikes.
Taylor sneaks back into half guard.
Spikes prevents Taylor from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to control Spikes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taylor avoid being mounted?
Spikes throwing shots but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Spikes is looking to take a break and control but Taylor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Spikes prevents Taylor from improving his position.
Taylor keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.
Taylor controlling the position well.
Spikes is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spikes throws a strike but Taylor avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Spikes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Spikes gets a takedown into half guard.
Spikes wants to take a breather but Taylor is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor keeping hold of Spikes's head, controlling as best he can.
Taylor is trying to stand.
Spikes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
Spikes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spikes.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Taylor is refusing to be controlled, as Spikes sits in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Spikes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Taylor wants to clinch.
Spikes tries to counter with a clinch but Taylor shakes him off and moves away.
Spikes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taylor counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Spikes gets a double leg takedown into Taylor's guard.
Taylor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taylor wants to sweep here but Spikes controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spikes wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Spikes passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spikes is trying to control. Taylor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Spikes is looking to stall here but Taylor recovers full guard.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Spikes from controlling successfully.
Spikes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Spikes from controlling successfully.
Taylor has Spikes pulled in close to control his posture.
Spikes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Spikes gets a takedown into half guard.
Spikes stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Spikes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taylor is refusing to be controlled, as Spikes sits in half guard.
Taylor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Spikes is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Spikes thows a huge punch but Taylor dodges it nicely.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Spikes not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Spikes connects with the punch.

It looks like Norbert Taylor has been cut.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Spikes gets a takedown into half guard.
Spikes stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Spikes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Spikes 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Spikes!