PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Swardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nick Swardson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Cormier
vs
Swardson

173 cm
20
243 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
274 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Cormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Swardson!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Cormier closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Swardson wants to control but Cormier postures up.
Cormier landing strikes.
Cormier looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Swardson is avoiding damage well.
Cormier tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Cormier throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Swardson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Swardson trying to control from the bottom.
Swardson is looking for a sweep. Cormier is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Swardson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Swardson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cormier in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier postures up and lands a big shot to Swardson's brow.
Cormier in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cormier chips away with some ground and pound.
Cormier throws an elbow that misses. Swardson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cormier's guard. Nice move by Swardson!
Cormier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cormier might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cormier wants to improve his position but instead Swardson has moved into half guard.
Swardson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cormier is trying to control but Swardson manages to pass to mount!
Cormier wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Swardson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swardson throws some wild stikes that Cormier manages to avoid easily.
Poor strikes thrown by Swardson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Cormier tries to hold on but Swardson pushes him away.
Cormier is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cormier tries to lock up and control but Swardson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cormier is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Swardson misses with a head shot.
Swardson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Cormier wants to control but Swardson is having none of it.
Swardson looking to ground and pound but Cormier is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier is in all sorts of trouble here.
Swardson with a couple of short strikes.
Swardson lands a heavy elbow.
Cormier is in all sorts of trouble here.

Swardson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Cormier manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cormier prevents Swardson from moving into mount.
Swardson is looking to take a break and control but Cormier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cormier is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Swardson misses with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier dodges the ground and pound from Swardson.
Swardson is trying to ground and pound but Cormier uses the momentary lack of control by Swardson to regain half guard.
Cormier on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cormier tries to get out of the position.

Cormier makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Cormier misses with a hook.
Cormier thows a left - swing and a miss!
Swardson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Swardson closes the distance and pushes Cormier back into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Swardson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Swardson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Cormier tries to stall but Swardson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Swardson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cormier blocks an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nick Swardson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cormier cracks a nice hook into Swardson's ribs.
Nick Swardson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cormier shoots in and drives through. Swardson sprawls well.
Cormier swats away the attempt to clinch by Swardson.
Swardson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Swardson moves out of range as Cormier strikes.
Cormier avoids a punch combination nicely.
Swardson tries to clinch there but Cormier circles away.
Swardson throws a nice looking combination but Cormier bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Daniel Cormier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swardson misses with a double jab.
Cormier throws a looping overhand right but Swardson ducks down to avoid it.
Swardson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Swardson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A telegraphed right hand from Cormier misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nick Swardson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Swardson pushes Cormier up against the cage in a clinch.
Cormier working hard to break the clinch.
Cormier avoids the elbow strike from Swardson, against the cage.
Swardson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cormier blocks it with crossed arms.
Cormier working hard to break the clinch.
Cormier avoids the elbow strike from Swardson, against the cage.
Cormier tries to stall but Swardson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Swardson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cormier.
Swardson avoiding damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Swardson breaks from the clinch.
Swardson is looking to clinch.
Swardson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cormier scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Swardson's waist but Swardson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cormier off to one side.
Swardson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
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!
Donk. Cormier catches Swardson right on the button with a cross.
Cormier throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cormier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Swardson.
Swardson moves out of range as Cormier strikes.
Swardson throws a low kick but Cormier avoids it.
Swardson looks for the body kick but Cormier saw that one coming.
Cormier cracks a nice hook into Swardson's ribs.

Cormier throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Swardson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cormier is in Swardson's guard.
Cormier wants to control from the top but Swardson keeps moving.
Cormier postures up in Swardson's guard and throws a big left but Swardson blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cormier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Swardson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cormier has managed to get both his arms back between Swardson's legs - danger averted.
Cormier landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cormier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Swardson is keeping the position for now.
Cormier won't allow Swardson to sweep him here.
Cormier cracks Swardson with a solid left hand.
Cormier preventing the sweep.
Swardson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cormier won't allow Swardson to sweep him here.
Cormier makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swardson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cormier is aware though and is defending well.
Cormier trying to control but Swardson is working from the bottom.
Swardson controlling the position.
Cormier has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cormier wants to control from the top but Swardson keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cormier bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Swardson's head.
Cormier throws a body punch but Swardson moves out of range.
Cormier tests Swardson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cormier dominated that second round.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Swardson blocks a jab.
Cormier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Swardson.
Cormier throws an overhand right that lands on Swardson's shoulder, as Swardson tries to avoid the shot.
Swardson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Swardson misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cormier.
Swardson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cormier.
Cormier swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Swardson.
Cormier fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Swardson on the side of the head.
Swardson tries a head kick but it misses.
Cormier shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Swardson defends it nicely.
Cormier tries to bum rush Swardson with a series of wild strikes but Swardson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swardson connects with a solid leg kick.
Swardson throws the left hand but Cormier avoids the punch easily.
Cormier avoids the head kick by Swardson.
Cormier just misses with a punch to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Swardson, right into the meat.

Cormier shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swardson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cormier's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cormier's back!
Swardson is punishing Cormier with some ground and pound.
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!
Swardson not allowing Cormier to control his hands.
Cormier is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier covering up well and avoiding damage.
Cormier just trying to survive but Swardson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Swardson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Cormier tries to escape but Swardson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Swardson struggling to keep hold of the position.
Cormier wants to control his opponent's hands but Swardson gets his hands free.
Cormier is keeping busy.
I really don't envy Cormier right now.
Cormier covering up well under a series of strikes from Swardson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swardson is looking for a choke. Cormier gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Cormier manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Cormier distracts Swardson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cormier won't allow Swardson to sweep him here.

Swardson looking for a guillotine here but Cormier defends easily.

Swardson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cormier defends it easily.
Swardson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Swardson trying to keep a closed guard but Cormier is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swardson keeping full guard, as Cormier tries to pass.
Cormier with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Swardson has momentary wrist control but Cormier slips an elbow through the middle.

Swardson working for a triangle but Cormier defends it easily.
Cormier content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swardson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cormier throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Swardson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Daniel Cormier.
I think Cormier has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Cormier!