PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neal Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neal Erickson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Erickson
vs
Daniels

225 cm
19
270 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
21
275 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Neal Erickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Daniels!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daniels tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James Daniels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Daniels is looking to score with low kicks.
Erickson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Erickson staying out of range there.
Erickson feinted with a counter takedown.
Erickson cracks a nice hook into Daniels's ribs.
Erickson looks to score with a jab to the body but Daniels is just out of range.
Erickson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Daniels should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Erickson lands with a straight right. Daniels didn't see that one coming.
Erickson swats away the attempt to clinch by Daniels.
Daniels misses with a straight left.
Daniels on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Daniels misses with a left hand

so Erickson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Erickson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Erickson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Erickson stops Daniels from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daniels has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Erickson has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Erickson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Erickson tries for a takedown but Daniels manages to get underhooks.
Erickson is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neal Erickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Daniels is pressed up against the cage. Erickson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Daniels down to the mat. Daniels avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Erickson cracks Daniels with an open hand slap.

Daniels has Erickson up against the cage in a clinch.
Daniels wants to break free but Erickson has control.
Daniels tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Daniels trying to land knees to the body.
Daniels wants to break the clinch but can't.
Erickson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Erickson has Daniels pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Daniels manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson is working for takedown but Daniels is calmly controlling the position for now.
Daniels is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Daniels throws an elbow but it misses.
Daniels prevents a takedown attempt there.
Erickson tries for a takedown. No joy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Daniels.
Daniels gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Erickson.
Erickson is working for takedown but Daniels is calmly controlling the position for now.

Daniels's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Daniels has Erickson up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Daniels is pressed up against the cage. Erickson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Daniels down to the mat. Daniels avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Erickson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Daniels swings for the body but Erickson moves out of range.
Daniels moves in looking to clinch but Erickson pushes him off.
James Daniels is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Erickson avoids the head kick by Daniels.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Daniels. Those never looked like landing.
Erickson slips under a jab from Daniels.
Daniels throws a hook but Erickson blocks it.
Daniels is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Daniels throws a wild body kick that Erickson sees coming a mile off.
Daniels tries to clinch there but Erickson circles away.
Erickson attempts a counter takedown but Daniels avoids it well and moves away.
We've been informed that Daniels has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Erickson scores with a jab to the head.

Erickson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Daniels has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Erickson is on him like a limpet, forcing Daniels back against the cage.
Erickson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Daniels fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Erickson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Daniels.
Daniels takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Daniels misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Daniels fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Erickson, pushing him back against the cage.
Erickson prevents a body shot from Daniels.
Erickson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Daniels avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Erickson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Daniels pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Erickson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Daniels pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Erickson goes for a takedown attempt but Daniels pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Daniels tries to clinch up but Erickson circles away and keeps his distance.
Erickson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Erickson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Daniels back to the cage. Erickson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Erickson scores with a head kick.
Erickson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Daniels is looking to clinch.
Erickson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Daniels.
Daniels tried to score with a low kick but Erickson checks it.
Erickson avoids the head kick by Daniels.
Daniels's corner calls for a 1-2. Daniels obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Daniels tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Erickson was well out of range. Poor timing from Daniels.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Daniels will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Daniels.
Erickson defending well as Daniels loads up on a big left hand.
Daniels avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Daniels takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Erickson throws a body punch but Daniels moves out of range.
Daniels wants to slow Erickson down by chopping away at his legs.
Erickson feinted with a counter takedown.
Daniels takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Daniels closes the distance and clinches.

Erickson lands a takedown into guard.
Erickson throwing strikes but missing.
Erickson prevents Daniels from getting back to his feet.
Daniels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Erickson wants to stand and escape but Daniels is having none of it.
Daniels tries to stand but Erickson is controlling from the bottom.

Daniels stands and steps away. Erickson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Erickson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Daniels throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Erickson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Daniels.
Erickson scores with a hook to the body. Daniels takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Erickson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Daniels throws a half hearted mid kick.
A big right from Daniels misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels misses with a hook. Erickson ducked under it nicely.
Erickson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Erickson avoids the body shot from Daniels.

Daniels has managed to clinch.
Daniels stops a takedown attempt from Erickson.
Erickson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Daniels pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Daniels pushes Erickson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Daniels tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Erickson's elbow.
Erickson is working for takedown but Daniels is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neal Erickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Erickson wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Daniels tries to land a knee to the head but Erickson blocks with his arms.
Daniels has a couple of punches blocked by Erickson.
Erickson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Daniels gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Daniels looking to throw knees to the head but Erickson is blocking nicely.
Erickson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Daniels pulls his leg out and moves away.
Erickson moves out of range as Daniels strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Daniels.
Erickson thuds a left hand into Daniels's body.
Erickson swinging wildly here.
Erickson slips a jab from Daniels.
Erickson feinted with a counter takedown.
Daniels misses with a head kick.
Daniels misses with a body shot.
The crowd cheers as Erickson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Daniels doesn't seem phased though.
Daniels moves in looking to clinch but Erickson pushes him off.
Daniels swings for the body but Erickson moves out of range.

Daniels clinches up against the cage.
Erickson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Daniels pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels is looking to clinch.
Daniels throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A swing and a miss from Daniels.
Erickson misses the shot to the body.
Erickson just misses with a punch to the body.
Erickson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Erickson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Daniels.
Erickson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Daniels sprawls and moves away.
Erickson fails to land with a series of punches.
Erickson is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Daniels closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Daniels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Daniels misses with a straight right.
Erickson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Daniels manages to avoid it.
Erickson swats away the attempt to clinch by Daniels.
Erickson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Daniels.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Daniels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Erickson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Daniels looks to land a right hand but Erickson moved out of range.
Erickson feinted with a counter takedown.
Daniels drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Erickson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Daniels stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Daniels doesn't manage to clinch there - Erickson circles away.
Daniels walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Erickson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Daniels takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Daniels closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Daniels is looking to clinch but Erickson is avoiding it.
Neal Erickson is winning the standup battle so far.
Daniels motions for Erickson to come forward. Daniels throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniels tries to clinch but Erickson moves out of range.
Erickson throws a body shot but no joy.
Daniels will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Erickson is looking to wear down Daniels with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Daniels tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Daniels has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Erickson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Daniels.
Daniels throws a leg kick but Erickson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Erickson throws a series of punches but Daniels moves out of range.
Daniels tries to counter with a clinch but Erickson shakes him off and moves away.
Erickson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Daniels momentarily.
Erickson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Daniels.
Erickson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Daniels throws a leg kick
and Erickson counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Daniels clinches up against the cage.
Daniels cracks Erickson with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Erickson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Erickson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Daniels is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Daniels's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels lands a hook to the side of the head.
Erickson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Daniels after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neal Erickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Daniels lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Daniels is trying to break free.
Daniels misses with a hook from the clinch.
Erickson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Daniels's efforts to push away.
Erickson goes for a takedown attempt but Daniels pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A big left from Daniels misses.
Erickson needs to keep his hands up - Daniels had a free shot at his head there.
Erickson swats away the attempt to clinch by Daniels.
Erickson misses with a straight right.
Daniels misses with a body kick.
Daniels swings for the body but Erickson moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson scores with a hook to the body. Daniels takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Daniels swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Daniels throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Daniels ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Erickson moves away.
Daniels wants to clinch.
James Daniels is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Daniels moves into range and clinches up with Erickson.
Daniels misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Daniels looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Daniels goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Daniels throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Erickson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Daniels is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels gets underhooks to prevent Erickson's takedown attempt.
Erickson tries for a takedown but Daniels manages to get underhooks.
Erickson has Daniels pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Daniels manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Erickson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Daniels prevents it.
Daniels tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Neal Erickson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Erickson is working for takedown but Daniels is calmly controlling the position for now.
Daniels stalling in the clinch.
Erickson is working for takedown but Daniels is calmly controlling the position for now.
Daniels throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Daniels.
Erickson blocks the elbow strike.
Erickson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Daniels missing with knees to the body.
Erickson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Daniels gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Erickson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Daniels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Daniels winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Daniels!
A victorious James Daniels thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.