PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Danis (ranked 23167 p4p, 532 weight class) and Lars Wagner (ranked 5380 p4p, 472 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Danis
vs
Wagner

178 cm
24
193 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, David Danis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lars Wagner!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wagner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Danis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Danis misses with a wild body shot.

Danis has Wagner up against the cage in a clinch.

Danis manages to break the clinch.

Wagner moves into range and clinches up with Danis.
Wagner tries to break free but Danis pushes him back against the cage.
Wagner taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Danis tries to pull guard but Wagner won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Danis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Danis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wagner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wagner throws a counter combo.
Danis has his takedown stuffed
and Danis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wagner scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Wagner wants to clinch
and Danis counters with a head kick.
Danis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Wagner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Danis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wagner lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Danis backs up against the cage.

Danis clinches up against the cage.
Wagner is looking to control Danis's arms but Danis gets an underhook and turns him. Now Wagner has his back to the cage.
Danis is looking to break free of the clinch but Wagner has double underhooks.
Wagner tries to circle away but Danis has him pinned against the cage.

Danis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Danis fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wagner lands a nice shot to the body.
Wagner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Danis tries for a takedown but Wagner circles away easily
and Wagner counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Danis shoots in for a takedown but Wagner shows good takedown defense.

Wagner instigates a clinch.
Danis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Wagner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Danis manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danis fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Wagner connects with a body shot.
Wagner feints a jab promting Danis to slip. Wagner then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Danis slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Wagner connects with a body shot that sends Danis's belly button to the back.
Danis takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Danis tries to clinch but Wagner moves out of range.
Wagner unleashes a big counter combination but Danis bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Danis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Danis has his takedown stuffed
and Wagner counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Danis shoots in and drives through. Wagner sprawls well.
Wagner circles away from the clinch attempt
and Wagner counters with a left and a right that stings Danis.
We've been informed that Wagner has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wagner jabs at Danis's body.
Wagner moves in looking to clinch but Danis pushes him off.
Wagner stuffs the takedown.
Wagner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wagner shoots in for a takedown but Danis shows good takedown defense.
Horrible takedown attempt by Danis or perhaps it was just good defense by Wagner, which made it look bad.
Wagner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wagner moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Danis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Wagner dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wagner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Wagner is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Danis's half guard.
Wagner controlling the action here.
Danis missing with punches from the bottom.
Wagner tries to stand and escape but Danis actually recovers to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Danis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Wagner stands and steps away. Danis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Danis fails with the takedown
and Wagner counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Wagner moves into the clinch.

Danis manages to pull guard.

Wagner gets to his feet - Danis follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Wagner. Those never looked like landing.
Danis fails with the takedown
and Wagner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wagner circles away from the clinch attempt
and Wagner counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Danis thinking.
Wagner tries to close the distance and clinch but Danis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Danis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wagner is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Danis rather than just go for the knockout.
Danis fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Danis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wagner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wagner misses with a series of wild punches.
Danis throws a big counter combination but Wagner scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Wagner lands a body shot.
Danis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Wagner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wagner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Danis counters with an inside leg kick.
Wagner is breathing heavily.
Wagner is looking to clinch.
Lars Wagner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Danis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wagner circles away quickly and effectively.
Danis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Danis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wagner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wagner tries to clinch but Danis moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danis shoots in for a takedown but Wagner shows good takedown defense.
Wagner lands a jab-cross combination.
David Danis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Danis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wagner defending well as Danis loads up on a big left hand.

Danis gets the takedown into side control.

Wagner throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wagner wants to clinch up but Danis keeps it at a distance.
Wagner wants to clinch.
Danis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It looked like Danis was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Wagner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Wagner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Danis appears to be looking for a big counter.
Danis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wagner pinned against the cage. Wagner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wagner throws a counter combo.
Danis tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Wagner counter with a right hand.
Wagner doesn't manage to clinch there - Danis circles away.
Danis shoots in for a takedown but Wagner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danis with a poor takedown
and Wagner counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Danis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wagner looks to clinch
and Danis counters with a stiff right hand.
Wagner displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Wagner drives through and clinches with Danis against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wagner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Danis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Danis pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Danis being controlled here, momentarily.
Danis looking to control.
Danis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wagner is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Danis working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Danis 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Wagner gets to his feet. Danis looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wagner tries to clinch but Danis moves out of range.
Wagner tries to clinch but Danis moves out of range.
Danis throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Danis wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danis throws a lazy head kick
and Danis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Danis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wagner sprawls well. Wagner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Danis gets slowly back to his feet.
Danis shoots in for a takedown but Wagner shows good takedown defense.
Wagner is looking to clinch but Danis is avoiding it.
Wagner jabs Danis to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Wagner clinches with his opponent.
Wagner is trying to break the clinch but Danis has him pressed against the cage.
Danis tries to score a body lock takedown but Wagner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Danis pulls guard effortlessly.

Wagner stands and steps away. Danis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Danis tries to keep at a distance but Wagner has taken the fight into the clinch.

Danis jumps guard and drags Wagner to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Wagner controls from within his opponent's guard.
Wagner is continuing to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Wagner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wagner has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Wagner!