PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike McDaniel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brock Lesner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Mike McDaniel has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Mike McDaniel seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

McDaniel
vs
Lesner

200 cm
26
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

210 cm
19
265 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike McDaniel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brock Lesner!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDaniel tries for a takedown but Lesner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lesner slaps away a takedown attempt from McDaniel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lesner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and McDaniel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McDaniel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike McDaniel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDaniel managing to block the knees to the body from Lesner.
Lesner tries to land knees in the clinch but McDaniel avoids the damage to the body.

McDaniel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McDaniel shoots in looking for a takedown. Lesner tries to sprawl out of it but McDaniel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lesner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McDaniel slips a jab and a cross from Lesner.
Lesner slaps away a takedown attempt from McDaniel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McDaniel misses with a body shot.
McDaniel stalks Lesner and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lesner's face. Lesner staggers backwards, shaken.
Lesner dives in and grabs McDaniel's left leg, looking for a takedown. McDaniel pushes down on Lesner's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lesner.
Nice sprawl there from Lesner as McDaniel shoots in.
McDaniel tries to clinch up but Lesner circles away and keeps his distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lesner.
McDaniel closes the distance and clinches up with Lesner, looking for a takedown. McDaniel pushes Lesner against the cage but Lesner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lesner throws a head kick that misses.
A big left from Lesner misses.
Lesner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McDaniel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lesner.
Brock Lesner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDaniel dives in for a single leg takedown but Lesner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
McDaniel tries to pull guard but Lesner won't allow it.
Lesner is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McDaniel is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesner using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
McDaniel is breathing heavily.
McDaniel avoiding damage as Lesner throws knees to the body.
McDaniel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lesner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McDaniel definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Lesner misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McDaniel.
McDaniel goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lesner prevents it.
McDaniel prevents Lesner from breaking the clinch.
Lesner prevents a body shot from McDaniel.

McDaniel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horrible takedown by Lesner or perhaps it was just good defense by McDaniel which made him look bad.

McDaniel takes the fight into the clinch.
Lesner trying to stall but McDaniel improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lesner just misses with a elbow thrown towards McDaniel's brow.
Lesner is looking to take this one to the mat.

McDaniel has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lesner uses from the top position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Lesner passes McDaniel's left leg - he's now in half guard.
McDaniel is positioning himself well to prevent Lesner advancing to mount.
McDaniel trying to control but Lesner postures up.
McDaniel is trying to get back to full guard.
McDaniel keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike McDaniel just wasn't active enough.
Lesner throws a right and a left that both miss.

McDaniel rushes Lesner and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McDaniel blocks a body shot from Lesner.

McDaniel ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. McDaniel no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
McDaniel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lesner scoring with punches to the head and body.
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!
Lesner being controlled here momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lesner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McDaniel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
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 Mike McDaniel will probably get the nod.
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.

McDaniel ducks under a wild hook from Lesner.
Lesner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lesner misses with a combination
and McDaniel counters with an inside leg kick.
McDaniel moves out of range as Lesner throws a body kick.
Lesner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lesner misses with a hook

and McDaniel counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McDaniel passes Lesner's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with McDaniel in particular looking to stall.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lesner is trying to stand up here but McDaniel is controlling him well.
McDaniel not doing much here.
Lesner is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike McDaniel wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Lesner shoots for a double leg takedown but McDaniel sprawls well. He's pushed Lesner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
McDaniel works Lesner's body with a nice hook.
McDaniel shoots in and drives through. Lesner sprawls well.
Mike McDaniel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lesner slaps away a takedown attempt from McDaniel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lesner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McDaniel counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Lesner is lucky that one didn't land flush.
McDaniel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lesner tries to avoid it but McDaniel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lesner to the ground. Lesner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike McDaniel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDaniel lands a head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lesner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McDaniel pinned against the cage. McDaniel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McDaniel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lesner sprawls well. Lesner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McDaniel gets slowly back to his feet.
McDaniel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lesner.
Lesner throws a right and a left that McDaniel avoids nicely.
Lesner keeps the fight on the outside.
Lesner shoots for a takedown but McDaniel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McDaniel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lesner as he jumps to the side.
McDaniel dives in for a single leg takedown but Lesner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel working aggressively here.
Lesner stops a takedown attempt from McDaniel.
Lesner is struggling to control the position.
McDaniel avoiding damage as Lesner throws knees to the body.
McDaniel prevents a body shot from Lesner.
McDaniel goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lesner prevents it.
McDaniel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McDaniel is trying to drag Lesner to the mat but Lesner just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lesner tries to pull guard but McDaniel holds him up against the cage and eventually Lesner drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lesner leaning his opponent against the cage.
McDaniel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lesner jumps guard but McDaniel stands there with Lesner around his waist. Lesner gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
McDaniel stalling.
McDaniel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lesner tries to land knees in the clinch but McDaniel avoids the damage to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McDaniel manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike McDaniel 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. This is the final round!

McDaniel darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McDaniel frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lesner slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Lesner is trying to stand back up but McDaniel is controlling him

McDaniel is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

McDaniel is looking for a kimura but Lesner is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McDaniel to get the leverage.
Lesner wants to improve his position but McDaniel is controlling well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lesner wants to get back to his feet.

Lesner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McDaniel pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDaniel controlling the pace.
Lesner works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDaniel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McDaniel advances position into side control!
Lesner tries to get back to half guard but can't.

McDaniel has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lesner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McDaniel manages to avoid it.

McDaniel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lesner looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mike McDaniel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McDaniel is staying tight to Lesner's torso, preventing him from escaping.
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!
Lesner wants to get back to his feet but McDaniel drags him back down.
McDaniel moves into full mount!
McDaniel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lesner blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesner blocking the ground and pound.
McDaniel controlling the position easily from mount.

McDaniel working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Lesner blocking the ground and pound.
Lesner keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

McDaniel working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel wants to control the pace but Lesner is squirming around nicely.
Lesner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lesner tries to improve his position but instead McDaniel has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDaniel somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Even with his hooks in, McDaniel manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Lesner is really stuck here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brock Lesner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike McDaniel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Lesner is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike McDaniel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McDaniel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike McDaniel!