PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiezer Marcelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerome Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Marcelo
vs
Daniels

180 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thiezer Marcelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jerome Daniels!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marcelo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marcelo misses with a takedown attempt - Daniels sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marcelo tries a head kick but it misses.
Daniels shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Marcelo fails with an attempt to clinch.

Marcelo moves into the clinch successfully.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Daniels.
Marcelo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Marcelo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Daniels looking for a takedown.
Marcelo stops a takedown attempt from Daniels.
Thiezer Marcelo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerome Daniels.

Daniels has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Marcelo uses from the top position.
Daniels controls Marcelo momentarily but Marcelo frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marcelo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marcelo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelo won't allow Daniels to sweep him here.
Daniels wants to stand and escape but Marcelo is having none of it.
Marcelo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Daniels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marcelo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Daniels is trying to control the position but Marcelo postures up.
Daniels keeping moving, preventing Marcelo from controlling successfully.

Daniels had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Marcelo is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Daniels Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Marcelo's back instead.
Daniels looks gassed!
Marcelo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

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.
Daniels prevents Marcelo from standing back up.

Daniels is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Marcelo kicks Daniels off and gets back to his feet.
Marcelo doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Daniels to counter with a crisp jab.
Marcelo shoots for a double leg takedown but Daniels sprawls well. He's pushed Marcelo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Marcelo misses with a takedown attempt

and Daniels counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Daniels tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcelo is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels is looking to stand up but Marcelo won't let him.
Marcelo keeping full guard, as Daniels tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Marcelo is trying to keep Daniels in close.
Daniels trying to control but Marcelo is working from the bottom.
Marcelo keeping full guard, as Daniels tries to pass.
Marcelo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Marcelo moves into range and clinches up with Daniels.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Daniels goes for a takedown attempt but Marcelo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A lazy body kick from Marcelo
and Daniels counters with a left and a right that stings Marcelo.
Daniels tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marcelo swivels and escapes.
Marcelo throws a left and a right that both miss

and Daniels counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Marcelo's guard now.

Marcelo is rocked!

Daniels drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Daniels jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Oh Marcelo is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Daniels forces his way into half guard.
Daniels is tying to control. Marcelo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Marcelo seems to have got his legs back now.
Marcelo wants to get back to his feet.
Marcelo is looking for a sweep. Daniels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Daniels is just content to waste time from the top position. Marcelo takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Daniels dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marcelo tries to clinch but Daniels is having none of it.
Thiezer Marcelo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marcelo throws a lazy head kick

and Daniels counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Marcelo lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Marcelo has Daniels pulled in close to control his posture.
Marcelo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Daniels drops back looking for a leg! Marcelo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Marcelo manages to kick Daniels off! Daniels jumps back into Marcelo's guard.
Daniels wants to pass the guard but Marcelo is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Marcelo holds on and takes a little breather.
Daniels tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcelo is retaining full guard.
Marcelo controlling Daniels's posture.

Daniels has gone for a leg lock! Marcelo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Daniels's guard.
Daniels is breathing heavily.
Marcelo wants to control from the top but Daniels keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Marcelo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Daniels is keeping the position for now.
Daniels looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marcelo is one step ahead there.
Daniels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marcelo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Daniels has his foot on Marcelo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Marcelo works his way back into a safe position though.
Marcelo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Daniels trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marcelo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Daniels fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marcelo, pushing him back against the cage.
Marcelo can't get the takedown.

Marcelo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Daniels uses from the top position.
Marcelo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Daniels wants to control from the top but Marcelo keeps moving.

Marcelo working for a triangle but Daniels defends it easily.
Daniels works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcelo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Daniels is working away from the top position though.
Marcelo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Daniels is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Marcelo tries to roll over but Daniels keeps him under control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Marcelo wants to clinch up but Daniels keeps it at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marcelo misses with a takedown
and Daniels counters with a three punch combo that has Marcelo backing up. Marcelo nods at Daniels to acknowledge the strikes.
Daniels with a poor takedown

and Marcelo counters with a single leg into guard. Daniels didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thiezer Marcelo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Marcelo tries to clinch up.

Marcelo shoots in and bounces Daniels off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Daniels looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marcelo is one step ahead there.
Marcelo wants to control from the top but Daniels keeps moving.
Daniels preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marcelo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Daniels has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Jerome Daniels has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Marcelo wants to control from the top but Daniels keeps moving.
Marcelo advances to half guard.
Marcelo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Marcelo is trying to control the action in half guard but Daniels is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Daniels regains full guard. Nicely done.

Daniels throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marcelo gets to his feet - Daniels follows without any prompting.
Daniels shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marcelo pinned against the cage. Marcelo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Daniels fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Marcelo is out of range.

Daniels clinches.
Daniels tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Marcelo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Daniels.
Thiezer Marcelo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerome Daniels.
Marcelo stops a takedown attempt from Daniels.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcelo is looking to break free of the clinch but Daniels has double underhooks.
Daniels is working for takedown but Marcelo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Daniels unloads a knee to the mid-section. Marcelo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Marcelo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Daniels is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Marcelo to the mat. Marcelo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Daniels looking to pass the guard.
Daniels trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcelo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcelo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Daniels wanted to stand there but Marcelo had control of the position.
Marcelo is looking to stand up but Daniels isn't so interested in that idea.
Marcelo is trying to keep Daniels in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels being controlled here momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marcelo shoots and misses

and Daniels counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Daniels looking to pass the guard.
Marcelo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Marcelo working a defensive guard but Daniels passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome Daniels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Daniels 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome Daniels!