PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kim Sweet (ranked 5098 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Cormier (ranked 4937 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.

Sweet
vs
Cormier

189 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
222 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kim Sweet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Danny Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier shoots for a takedown but Sweet saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sweet really is a fat lump.

Cormier feints and as Sweet raises his hands in defense, Cormier changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sweet is pulling down on Cormier's head to control his posture.
Sweet looking for a sweep. Not yet Sweet, not yet.
Sweet controls Cormier momentarily but Cormier frees himself.
Cormier preventing the sweep.
Sweet keeping moving, preventing Cormier from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sweet wants to sweep but no luck.
Cormier sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sweet's guard.
Cormier is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sweet wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweet trying to hold on to Cormier's head to control him but Cormier postures up.
Sweet tries to roll over but Cormier keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cormier is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sweet is just riding it out for now. Cormier eventually gives up the hold.
Sweet controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Cormier is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sweet doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cormier.
Sweet is staying active underneath Cormier, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.
Sweet is looking to improve his position.
Cormier trying to control from half guard but Sweet is working away.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sweet slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Cormier drops back looking for a leg! Sweet is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sweet manages to kick Cormier off! Cormier jumps back into Sweet's guard.
Sweet tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cormier trying to control but Sweet is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cormier closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sweet circles away.

Sweet gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cormier looks winded!
Sweet trying to control the position.
Sweet bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cormier's guard.

Sweet stands up from Cormier's guard - Sweet perhaps looking for a knockout.

Sweet feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweet wants to stand but Cormier is controlling his posture from full guard.

Sweet drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cormier looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cormier looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cormier!

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cormier wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sweet, who protects the arm well.

Cormier goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sweet rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cormier's guard! Nice work there by Sweet!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sweet would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Danny Cormier will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cormier tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sweet swivels and escapes.
Cormier misses with a takedown attempt

and Sweet counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cormier won't be happy with that.
Cormier takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Cormier tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sweet wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Sweet decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Sweet throws a sloppy head kick and Cormier moves out of range easily.
Sweet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sweet fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cormier avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cormier is defended easily by Sweet.
Kim Sweet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Cormier.
Cormier is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier with a poor takedown
and Sweet counters with a three punch combo that has Cormier backing up. Cormier nods at Sweet to acknowledge the strikes.
Cormier shoots and misses

and Sweet counters by moving into the clinch.
Sweet prevents the takedown attempt.

Sweet drags the fight down to the ground.

Cormier is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Sweet had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cormier defends it easily.
Sweet has Cormier pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sweet keeping moving, preventing Cormier from controlling successfully.
Sweet lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sweet has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cormier is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sweet working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sweet wants to stand but Cormier has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sweet trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

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

Sweet drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cormier manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sweet has Cormier in his guard.

Sweet tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cormier slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cormier wants to control from the top but Sweet keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cormier stopping the sweep attempt from Sweet.
Sweet wants to improve his position but instead Cormier has moved into half guard.
Sweet wants to improve his position but Cormier is controlling well.

Cormier seems to be working for a kimura but Sweet defends the submission attempt.

Cormier is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sweet is just riding it out for now. Cormier eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sweet wants to control but Cormier is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kim Sweet dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sweet misses with a jab, cross combination.

Cormier fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sweet to the ground. Cormier is now in Sweet's guard.
Cormier is pushing down on Sweet's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sweet is fighting to maintain full guard but Cormier has managed to sneak the leg through.
Danny Cormier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cormier controlling the action here.
Sweet is pressing down on Cormier's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sweet working a defensive guard here.
Cormier is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sweet keeping moving, preventing Cormier from controlling successfully.
Sweet looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Sweet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cormier won't allow Sweet to sweep him here.
Sweet is trying to keep Cormier in close.
Sweet is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sweet wants to get back to his feet.

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.

Sweet seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cormier manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sweet with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sweet throws a strike but Cormier rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sweet is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cormier wants to control from the top but Sweet keeps moving.
Sweet looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Sweet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cormier sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sweet bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cormier's guard.

Sweet decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

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

Cormier kicks Sweet off and gets back to his feet.
Kim Sweet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweet leaves Cormier with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Cormier dives in and scores a takedown into Sweet's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Sweet scoring with punches to the head and body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Danny Cormier.
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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

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