Vancouver, BC – A spot in the middleweight tournament finals was at stake in the co-main event, as Elvis Mutapcic and Jesse Taylor squared off.
WSOF 7: Jesse Taylor smothers Elvis Mutapcic en route to unanimous decision
Taylor immediately looked for the takedown and was able to get it up against the cage. He moved from half guard in to mount and transitioned quickly to the back with one hook. Back in the half guard position Taylor continued to throw down punches. With two-minutes left in the first, Mutapcic is bloodied up on the mat with Taylor smothering him. Taylor looked to go for a guillotine choke, but wound up on the bottom. Mutapcic transitioned to the back position, but Taylor rolled in to the guard. The bell sounded in that position.
Taylor again started the round with a takedown, Mutapcic looked for the guillotine, but JT Money pushed through. Taylor again locked up an arm-in guillotine and rolled in to mount. Mutapcic pulled out and Taylor ended up in side control. After no action, the referee stood the two back up. On the break Mutapcic ended up mounting Taylor and attempted to go for an arm-triangle, but Taylor rolled him over and ended up in the guard position. The second round ended the same as the first, on the ground with Taylor in Mutapcic’s guard.
Taylor opened with a high-kick to a takedown attempt, but Mutapcic stuffed it. The second takedown attempt came right after and this time Taylor was successful. Taylor controlled the entire third round from the top position in Mutapcic’s guard.
“Elvis is a tough, standup guy. I wanted to ensure the win. The belt’s going to be mine, I assure you that. The belt’s mine. Hey, it’s a tournament format. I want to do what it takes to win. “
“The stars started aligning a couple of years ago. I think experience goes a long way. I always had the talent. I’m kind of a slow learner. I’m starting to put it all together, and I’m not going to stop until I prove I’m the best in the world at middleweight. I don’t care if it’s boring. I’m going to keep winning.”
“I want to break that Branch.”
Jesse Taylor def. Elvis Mutapcic via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
