PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Euan Daxton (ranked 1501 p4p, 1870 weight class) and Excalam Black (ranked 226 p4p, 289 weight class). Daxton comes to the cage accompanied by Mr Brightside. The crowd seem to be enjoying Black's choice of entrance music: Signe de contradiction. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Daxton
vs
Black

190 cm
30
224
8 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
200
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥

Â© Trap House
Shadow Realm NYC

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Euan Daxton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Excalam Black!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Reed Andrews and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Daxton.
Daxton looks to land a left hand but Black moved out of range nicely.
Black throws a leg kick but Daxton sees it coming and moves out of range.
Daxton misses with a body kick.
Euan Daxton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Daxton ducks under a wild hook from Black.
Daxton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Black changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Daxton throws a right and a left that both miss.
Black is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Daxton tries a head kick but it misses.
Black with the counter takedown but Daxton avoids it easily.
Black thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daxton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Black circles away quickly and effectively.
Black scores with a punch to the head.

Black gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Black struggles to land a body shot inside as Daxton controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Black.
Black misses with a body punch.
I was talking to Daxton's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Black misses with a punch to the body.
Black is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Daxton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Black just leaning against Daxton, taking a breather.

Daxton manages to break the clinch.
Daxton takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Daxton scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Excalam Black has been cut.
Daxton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Black lands a slapping body shot.
Daxton rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Black moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Daxton takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Black drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Black advances to half guard.

Black is working for a kimura but Daxton is defending it quite comfortably.
Black trying to control from half guard but Daxton is working away.
Black looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Black not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Black scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Black is pressing down on Daxton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Daxton is holding on for now.
Daxton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Black.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Daxton defending well though.
Black throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Black is trying to work for a kimura but Daxton is defending well.
Daxton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Black.
Daxton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Black.
Black is keen to just control but Daxton is a slippery customer.
Black misses with a head shot. Daxton uses the momentum to regain guard.
Black is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Black wants to control from the top but Daxton keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black landing some decent shots from guard.
Daxton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Black has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Black trying to control but Daxton is working from the bottom.
Black throwing strikes but missing.
Daxton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Daxton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Black is controlling him.

Black postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Daxton is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Black, into his guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Excalam Black dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Excalam Black's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Black lands with an overhand left.
Black lands a jab to Daxton's midsection.
Daxton tries to work over Black's front leg with a kick but Black checks it.
Black has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Daxton avoids the body shot from Black.
Daxton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Black feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daxton fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Daxton lands a high kick!
Nice defenses there by Daxton.
A punch combination from Daxton misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Black missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Black is looking for a kimura but Daxton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Black to get the leverage.
Black wants to control but Daxton is keeping him busy.
Black wants to pass the guard but Daxton is defending well.
Black throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Daxton to regain full guard.
Black looking to sit in guard and control but Daxton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Black looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Black is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Daxton defends well.
Black 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.

Black has an active guard here but Daxton has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black trying to get back to full guard but Daxton takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Daxton is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Black is trying to escape the mount.
Black tries to improve his position but instead Daxton has taken his back!
Black tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black keeps trying to improve his position.
Daxton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Black on the ground.
Black breaks Daxton's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Black pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Daxton is keeping the position for now.
Black passes into half guard.
Black is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Daxton is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Daxton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Euan Daxton will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Excalam Black's cut.
That's time! Daxton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Black blocks a head kick by Daxton.
Black misses with a series of wild punches.
Black ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daxton moves away.
Daxton seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Black moves out of range of the strikes.
Daxton throws a leg kick

and Black counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Black.

Daxton is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Daxton misses with a hook to the ribs.
Black cracks Daxton with a nice body shot.
Daxton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Black has him pressed against the cage.
Black pressing his opponent against the cage.

Daxton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daxton goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Daxton swinging wildly here.
Daxton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Black feints the counter takedown.

Black looking to score a takedown here. Daxton is defending well but Black drives through and ends up in Daxton's guard.
Black passes Daxton's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Black seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Daxton does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Black content to control rather than advance.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Black lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Daxton defending well though.
Black wants to free his trapped foot but Daxton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Black throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Black wants to free his trapped foot but Daxton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Black thows a huge punch but Daxton dodges it nicely.
Black missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Daxton won't allow Black to pass to mount.
Black throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Black is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black works his foot free and advances to mount.
Black throws some wild stikes that Daxton manages to avoid easily.
Black lands a big shot there that rocks Daxton but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Black throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Daxton because Black loaded up on that one.
Black throws some wild stikes that Daxton manages to avoid easily.
Black is landing with some decent strikes but Daxton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Daxton?
Daxton is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Daxton is bucking up trying to escape but Black cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Daxton is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Black breaks from Daxton's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Black fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Black landing punches.
Black looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Black raining down shots from the mount!
Black tries to control but Daxton wriggling away.
Daxton blocking the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Excalam Black comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Black 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Excalam Black!
After winning the bout, Excalam Black thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Euan Daxton spoke after the fight, saying 'I'd like to thank my opponent for stepping in here with me. It was an honour to eat his punches.'.