PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Danny Rand (ranked 3823 p4p, 363 weight class) and Daniel McCullen (ranked 4245 p4p, 385 weight class). Rand's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Wu Tang-Protect Ya Neck. 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.

Rand
vs
McCullen

176 cm
26
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

176 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Danny Rand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel McCullen!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A chopping leg kick lands by Rand.
Rand pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rand throws an overhand right that lands on McCullen's shoulder, as McCullen tries to avoid the shot.
McCullen swings for the body but Rand moves out of range.
McCullen with a hook.
McCullen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rand was well out of range. Poor timing from McCullen.
Rand fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McCullen manages to avoid it.
Rand throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by McCullen.
McCullen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rand checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rand. That's going to slow McCullen down.
McCullen misses with a wild body shot.
Rand looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rand scores with a spinning back kick!
McCullen walks into a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rand tries to clinch up.
Rand wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A leg kick checked by McCullen.
Rand bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McCullen's head.
McCullen misses the jab.
It appears Rand was looking to counter with a kick there.
Rand misses with an uppercut
and McCullen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McCullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rand blocks a jab.
Rand misses with a hook. McCullen ducked under it nicely.
Rand throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McCullen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rand was well out of range. Poor timing from McCullen.
McCullen lands with a nice body punch.
Rand wants to land a leg kick but McCullen is out of range.
Rand thuds his shin into the meat of McCullen's side.
Rand lunges at McCullen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by McCullen's hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCullen. Rand does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCullen scores with a nice head shot.
McCullen scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheers as McCullen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rand doesn't seem phased though.
Rand lands an overhand right.
Rand has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McCullen finds it's way round the side to connect with Rand's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rand slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've been told by Rand's head coaches at XceL Elite Striking and Conditioning that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Some wild striking there from Rand.
Rand lands a nice shot that snaps McCullen's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rand scores with a nice head shot.
Rand tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rand wants to clinch but McCullen slips to the side
and McCullen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Danny Rand seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCullen swings for the body but Rand moves out of range.
McCullen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rand walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rand pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McCullen lands with a shot to the body.
McCullen throws a body shot but no joy.
McCullen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
McCullen lands with a nice body punch.
Rand misses with a double jab.
McCullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rand is just out of range.
Rand connects with the punch.
Rand looks to score with a jab to the body but McCullen is just out of range.
Rand pushes McCullen away with a front kick.
McCullen throws a right and a left that Rand avoids nicely.
McCullen connects with a leg kick. Rand looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullen scores with a jab to the body.
McCullen blocks a head kick by Rand.
McCullen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rand rather than just go for the knockout.
McCullen connects with a body shot that sends Rand's belly button to the back.
McCullen throws a combination that misses
and Rand counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice defenses there by Rand.
McCullen misses with the combination.
McCullen slips a jab from Rand.
Rand waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McCullen.
McCullen tries to bum rush Rand with a series of wild strikes but Rand uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McCullen misses with a wild body shot.
Rand feinted with a counter takedown.
McCullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rand is just out of range.
Rand fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rand misses with an attempted mid kick.
McCullen throws out a counter right but Rand avoids it with no problem.
Rand misses with a wild body shot.
Donk. Rand catches McCullen right on the button with a cross.
Rand looking to land some kicks to the body here.
McCullen slips a straight right by Rand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McCullen misses with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCullen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rand lands a nice shot that snaps McCullen's head back.
Rand smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
McCullen lands with a good body shot.
Rand throws the left hand but McCullen avoids the punch easily.
McCullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rand is just out of range.
Rand fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
McCullen swings for the body but Rand moves out of range.
McCullen misses with a wild body shot.
A big left from McCullen misses.
McCullen throws a body punch but Rand moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rand throws the left hand but McCullen avoids the punch easily.
Rand missing with a left hand there. McCullen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rand throws out a loose jab but McCullen uses good head movement to avoid it.
A countering left hand to the body from McCullen misses.
Rand lands a glancing blow to the side of McCullen's head.
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 Danny Rand will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McCullen misses with a body shot.
A lazy body kick from Rand
and McCullen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McCullen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rand.
Rand bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps McCullen's head backwards.
McCullen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McCullen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nice body kick there by McCullen.
Rand scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rand.
A leg kick checked by Rand.
McCullen slips a straight right by Rand.
McCullen tests Rand's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCullen. Rand does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCullen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rand wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rand throws a body punch but McCullen moves out of range.
McCullen swings for the body but Rand moves out of range.
McCullen misses with a hook.
Rand misses with a lunging right hand
and McCullen counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rand throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rand takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McCullen misses with a body shot.
McCullen has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
McCullen jabs Rand to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rand tries to clinch up but McCullen circles away and keeps his distance.
McCullen scores with a jab to the body.
McCullen keeps Rand at a distance using the push kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! McCullen crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rand - the referee stops the clock and McCullen gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rand. McCullen manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
McCullen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rand throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rand catches McCullen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
McCullen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rand slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
McCullen blocks a head kick by Rand.
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!
McCullen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rand.
Rand thumps McCullen with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rand on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rand checks a low kick from McCullen.
McCullen lands a nice shot to the body.
Rand lands a head kick. McCullen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
McCullen looks to land a body kick but Rand moved away.
Rand thinks about countering with a body kick.
Rand cracks McCullen with a right hand to the side of the head.
A punch combination from McCullen misses.
Danny Rand is winning the standup battle so far.
Rand displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rand avoids a kick to the body.
Rand takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
McCullen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rand scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rand misses with a straight right.
Rand is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McCullen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rand has time to react.
McCullen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rand on the side of the head.
McCullen throws a good cross that connects.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McCullen lands a nice shot to the body.
McCullen swings for the body but Rand moves out of range.
Rand throws an overhand right that lands on McCullen's shoulder, as McCullen tries to avoid the shot.
McCullen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rand with a body shot.
Rand rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McCullen counters with a good, hard body kick but Rand shrugs it off.
Rand fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McCullen is out of range.
McCullen looks to land a left hand but Rand moved out of range nicely.
A lazy left from Rand finds it's target.
Rand scores with a nice head shot.
A big right from Rand misses.
McCullen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
McCullen lands a nice shot that snaps Rand's head back.
Rand bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
McCullen needs to keep his hands up - Rand had a free shot at his head there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCullen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rand misses with a looping right.
McCullen throws a low kick but Rand moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rand just misses with a punch to the body.
McCullen misses the shot to the body.
Rand ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rand fails with an attempt to clinch.
McCullen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
McCullen scores with a hook.
McCullen's corner calls for a 1-2. McCullen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McCullen misses with a leg kick.
McCullen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rand cracks the inside of McCullen's front leg.
McCullen lands a jab to the head.
Rand with a jab.
McCullen misses with a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rand looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
McCullen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rand throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
McCullen misses with a wild body shot.
Rand slips a straight right by McCullen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel McCullen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rand jabs McCullen right on the nose. McCullen blinks but takes it well.
McCullen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rand throws a hook to the side of McCullen's head but McCullen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McCullen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rand with a body shot.
Rand moves in looking to clinch but McCullen pushes him off.
A decent looking cross lands there for McCullen.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rand, right into the meat.
Rand scores with a jab to the jaw.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rand.
Rand goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rand throws a body shot but no joy.
Rand fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McCullen wants to slow Rand down by chopping away at his legs.
McCullen defending well as Rand loads up on a big left hand.
McCullen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCullen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rand throws an off balance right hand
and McCullen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCullen throws a nice outside leg kick.
McCullen lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rand throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McCullen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rand counters with a straight right hand.
McCullen throws out a leg kick but Rand moves out of range and McCullen only half commits.
McCullen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rand.
McCullen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
McCullen throws a jab but it's blocked by Rand.
Rand scores with a one two! McCullen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rand looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rand cracks the inside of McCullen's front leg.
McCullen lands a nice shot to the body.
McCullen misses with a leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Rand on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by McCullen!
Good shot there by Rand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Rand does it's job there.
Rand misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McCullen blocks a jab.
McCullen misses with a wild body shot.
McCullen throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rand tries to clinch up.
Rand connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
McCullen throws a leg kick but Rand sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nice jab there from Rand.
McCullen slips a jab from Rand.
McCullen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Rand with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McCullen throws a body shot but no joy.
Rand connects with a body shot that sends McCullen's belly button to the back.
Rand throws a wild body kick that McCullen sees coming a mile off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rand misses with a looping left.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McCullen! But no joy.
McCullen blocks a head kick by Rand.
McCullen moves out of range as Rand throws a body kick.
McCullen throws out a counter right but Rand avoids it with no problem.
McCullen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rand just misses with a punch to the body.
Rand tried to score with a low kick but McCullen checks it.
McCullen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rand drops his hands momentarily and McCullen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
McCullen fails to land with a series of punches.
McCullen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McCullen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rand manages to avoid it.
Rand tries a head kick but it misses.
McCullen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rand.
McCullen throws the kick towards the body but Rand avoids it.
McCullen slips under a jab.
McCullen misses with a jab to the body
and Rand counters with an inside leg kick.
Rand tries to clinch but McCullen moves out of range.
McCullen walks into a jab.
McCullen jabs at Rand's body.
McCullen lands a nice looking body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McCullen.
McCullen avoids the body shot from Rand.
McCullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McCullen misses with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullen lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rand pushes McCullen away with a front kick.
McCullen scores with a nice body kick.
McCullen moves out of range as Rand strikes.
McCullen throws out a counter right but Rand avoids it with no problem.
McCullen just misses with a punch to the body.
Rand bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rand misses with a hook.
McCullen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
McCullen lands a nice shot that snaps Rand's head back.
McCullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McCullen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rand's head backwards.
McCullen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rand dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McCullen. That did some damage!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rand takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rand feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McCullen's calf.
Rand throws the left hand but McCullen avoids the punch easily.
McCullen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A jab from Rand does it's job there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Rand showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rand 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Rand!
During a confident post fight interview, Danny Rand thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.