PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Deontay Wilder (ranked 23553 p4p, 516 weight class) and Daniel Cormier (ranked 24556 p4p, 506 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Wilder
vs
Cormier

211 cm
21
268 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

183 cm
19
222 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

Excellent boxer
Good chin

Basic striking
Prefers standup

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Deontay Wilder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Daniel Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Santiago Holmes and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cormier gets a clinch.
Cormier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wilder's elbow.
Cormier tries a knee to the head but Wilder blocks it.
Wilder has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Wilder misses with a hook to the ribs.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Cormier managing to block the knees to the body from Wilder.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cormier as Wilder tries to tie him up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier trying to land knees to the body.
Cormier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wilder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier missing with knees to the body.
Wilder tries to stall but Cormier uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cormier missing with knees to the body.
Wilder tries to land knees in the clinch but Cormier avoids the damage to the body.
Wilder dodges an elbow strike from Cormier.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Wilder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cormier slows down the pace here.
Wilder avoiding damage as Cormier throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wilder managing to block the knees to the body from Cormier.
Cormier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wilder's efforts to push away.
Wilder effectively controlling the action here.
Wilder tries to break the clinch but Cormier is controlling the position.
A short body shot lands from Cormier as the two fighters clinch.
Wilder avoiding damage as Cormier throws knees to the body.
Cormier trying to land knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cormier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Wilder is defending well for now.
Wilder avoiding damage as Cormier throws knees to the body.
Wilder effectively controlling the action here.
Wilder tries to land knees in the clinch but Cormier avoids the damage to the body.
Wilder dodges an elbow strike from Cormier.
Wilder is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

Cormier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wilder looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A big right from Cormier misses.

Cormier drives through and clinches with Wilder against the ropes.
Wilder goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cormier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wilder avoids it.
Wilder tries to land knees in the clinch but Cormier avoids the damage to the body.
Cormier has Wilder pressed against the ropes, preventing Wilder from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cormier manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wilder managing to block the knees to the body from Cormier.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cormier dominated that 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.

Cormier clinches up against the ropes.

Cormier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wilder avoids the head kick by Cormier.
Cormier tries to clinch there but Wilder circles away.

Cormier moves into the clinch.
Wilder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Cormier breaks the clinch.

Cormier darts in and clinches Wilder up against the ropes.
Wilder working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier missing with knees to the body.
Wilder is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Wilder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Wilder wants to stall.
Cormier managing to block the knees to the body from Wilder.
Wilder is trying to break free.
Cormier is trying to maintain a safe position but Wilder gets an underhook and turns Cormier into the ropes.
Cormier is trying to stall.
Cormier tries to throw a body punch but Wilder avoids it by throwing Cormier back against the ropes.
Cormier missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cormier managing to block the knees to the body from Wilder.
Wilder managing to block the knees to the body from Cormier.
A short body shot lands from Wilder as the two fighters clinch.
Cormier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wilder avoids it.
Daniel Cormier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Wilder is looking to control Cormier's arms but Cormier gets an underhook and turns him. Now Wilder has his back to the ropes.
Wilder working aggressively here.
Wilder is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cormier is defending well for now.
Wilder managing to block the knees to the body from Cormier.
Wilder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cormier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wilder avoids it.
Cormier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wilder tries to break the clinch but Cormier is controlling the position.
Cormier is struggling to control the position.
A frustrated look appears on Wilder's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cormier manages to break the clinch.
Cormier thows a leg kick but Wilder checks it
and Wilder counters with a two punch combo.

Cormier closes the distance and pushes Wilder back into the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Wilder just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cormier's brow.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Cormier. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Wilder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier just leaning against Wilder, taking a breather.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Wilder's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cormier manages to break the clinch.

Cormier closes the distance and clinches.
Wilder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cormier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Cormier throws an elbow but misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier misses with an elbow strike.
Wilder is trying to force a seperation but Cormier has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cormier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Wilder's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cormier gets a clinch.

Cormier breaks the clinch.
Wilder tries to close the distance and clinch but Cormier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cormier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Wilder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wilder stalling in the clinch but Cormier improves position.
Wilder will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cormier up against the ropes.
Cormier blocks an elbow strike from Wilder.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Wilder is defending well for now.
Wilder is looking to break free of the clinch but Cormier has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cormier avoiding damage.
Wilder has had enough of the clinch but Cormier keeps him there for the moment.
Wilder avoids a wild elbow strike from Cormier.
Cormier misses with a body punch.
Cormier 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.
Cormier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wilder avoids it.
Cormier tries to throw a body punch but Wilder avoids it by throwing Cormier back against the ropes.
Wilder wants to break free but Cormier has control.
Cormier has Wilder pressed against the ropes.

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.
Cormier prevents Wilder from breaking the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Wilder tries to break the clinch but Cormier is controlling the position.
Cormier misses with an elbow strike.
Wilder taking a breather.

Wilder pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cormier doesn't manage to clinch there - Wilder circles away.
Cormier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick from Wilder lands but Cormier takes it in his stride.

Cormier clinches up with Wilder and pushes him back against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cormier has him pressed against the ropes.
Cormier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wilder.
Cormier looking to slow down the pace here.
Wilder using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cormier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cormier looking to slow down the pace here.
Wilder connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cormier's face.
Cormier keeps control of Wilder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cormier tries to land knees in the clinch but Wilder avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wilder makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wilder has had enough of the clinch but Cormier keeps him there for the moment.
Cormier tries a body shot but Wilder blocks it.
Cormier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wilder.
Wilder looking to slow down the pace here.
Cormier lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Wilder or not.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cormier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wilder avoids it.
Deontay Wilder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daniel Cormier is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wilder is trying to force a seperation but Cormier has the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Cormier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cormier 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

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