PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Victorious (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henderson Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Victorious
vs
Cormier

195 cm
31
215 lbs
12 - 21 - 1

180 cm
30
223 lbs
14 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 12 - 21 - 1, fighting out of London, Victor Victorious !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Henderson Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier tries to score a power double leg takedown but Victorious sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cormier somewhat.
Cormier misses with a series of wild punches.
Cormier throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Victorious 's waist but Victorious gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cormier off to one side.

Cormier shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cormier showed some decent athleticism there.
Victorious is refusing to be controlled, as Cormier sits in half guard.
Cormier throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier thows a huge punch but Victorious dodges it nicely.
Victorious is looking to escape.
Victorious trying to control but Cormier postures up.
Victorious is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Victorious wants to get back to his feet.
Cormier is thwarting Victorious 's attempts to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Victorious looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Victorious has managed to clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Victorious .

Cormier manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cormier wants to get back to his feet but Victorious is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cormier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Victorious .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Victorious wants to control but Cormier is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Cormier is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cormier has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Victorious is looking to improve his position.
Cormier seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cormier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Victorious keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Victorious avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cormier.
Victorious is trying to stand.

Victorious is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cormier pulls his head out easily.
Cormier throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Cormier is looking for a kimura here.
Victorious is staying active underneath Cormier, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Victorious wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cormier tries for a takedown but Victorious sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Victor Victorious has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henderson Cormier.
Cormier fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Victorious avoids it really well and circles away.
Victorious feinted with a counter takedown.
Cormier fails with the takedown
and Victorious counters with a stiff right hand.
Victorious is looking to land body kicks.
Cormier shoots in for a takedown but Victorious shows good takedown defense.
Cormier fails with the takedown

and Victorious counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Victorious .
Cormier blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cormier is trying to pull guard but Victorious has him pressed against the cage.
Victorious tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Victorious tries for a takedown. No joy.

Cormier tightens his grip and picks Victorious up, before dumping him to the ground. Victorious manages to land in guard.
Victorious wants to sweep here but Cormier controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henderson Cormier 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.

Victorious is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cormier sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A thudding body kick lands there by Victorious !
Victorious throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Victorious stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Victorious wants it to stay on the feet.
Cormier has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Victorious tries to sprawl but Cormier drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cormier tries to pass to full mount but Victorious defends it.
Victorious has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cormier is working away from the top position though.
Cormier not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cormier is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Victorious is just riding it out for now. Cormier eventually gives up the hold.
Victorious is trying is best to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Victorious is trying to control but can't.
Victorious looks like he's trying to stand up.
Victorious blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cormier.
Victorious has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cormier is working away from the top position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Victorious looks to land a combination. Cormier sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Victorious closes the distance and pushes Cormier back into the cage.
Cormier is trying to drag Victorious to the mat but Victorious just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Victorious breaks the clinch.
Victorious looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cormier shoots in and bounces Victorious off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Victorious utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cormier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Victorious avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cormier looking to pass the guard.
Victorious will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cormier controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cormier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Victorious is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Henderson Cormier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cormier fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Victor Victorious has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henderson Cormier.

Cormier tries to keep at a distance but Victorious has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cormier has Victorious pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Victorious manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cormier has Victorious pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Victorious manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Victorious drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cormier gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Victorious breaks the clinch.
Cormier fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Victorious with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Victorious darts in and clinches Cormier up against the cage.
Victorious tries to break free but Cormier pushes him back against the cage.
Victorious throws an elbow that misses.
Victorious tries a knee to the head but Cormier blocks it.
Cormier tries for a takedown but Victorious manages to get underhooks.

Victorious drags the fight down to the ground.
Cormier working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cormier stays in close to Victorious 's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Victorious wants to get back to his feet but Cormier is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cormier's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
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 Victor Victorious 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. This is the final round!

Cormier closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Victorious to the mat! Victorious manages to get full guard.
Victorious manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cormier manages to get himself to full guard.

Victorious wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.
Victorious stopping the sweep attempt from Cormier.
Victorious is in close to Cormier's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Victorious wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.
Victorious has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cormier is proving hard to escape from.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Victorious accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier keeping moving, preventing Victorious from controlling successfully.

Cormier is working an open guard so Victorious takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Victorious is looking to land body kicks.
Cormier leaves Victorious with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Cormier shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Cormier is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Victorious defends it well.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Victorious to regain full guard.
Cormier stops Victorious from standing up.
Cormier trying to control but Victorious is working from the bottom.

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

Victorious wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Victorious landing with the ground and pound.
Victorious postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cormier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cormier wants to stand up but Victorious is controlling him.
Cormier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Victorious .
Cormier is pulling down on Victorious 's head to control his posture.
Victorious sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cormier's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Victorious wants to take a breather but Cormier is having none of it.
Victorious throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Cormier to regain full guard.
Cormier working a defensive guard here.

Victorious gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Cormier shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Victorious manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cormier slips nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cormier missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henderson Cormier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cormier 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henderson Cormier!
Henderson Cormier very nearly forgot to thank xXx Fight Gear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.