PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daniel McCullen (ranked 4392 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Alexander (ranked 5819 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander has chosen The pump as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McCullen
vs
Alexander

176 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
20
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel McCullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Joshua Alexander!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alexander swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McCullen jabs Alexander to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've been told by McCullen's head coaches at London MMA Club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
McCullen lands with a good body shot.
McCullen misses with a body kick.
McCullen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Alexander with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McCullen to score with a decent uppercut.
McCullen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alexander moves away.
McCullen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Alexander needs to keep his hands up - McCullen had a free shot at his head there.
McCullen scores with a jab to the body.
McCullen digs a good body shot into Alexander's ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alexander tries to close the distance and clinch but McCullen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by McCullen!
Alexander takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McCullen lands with a nice combination. Alexander backs away looking to recover.

McCullen closes the distance and clinches.

Alexander jumps into guard, dragging McCullen to the mat.
McCullen stopping the sweep attempt from Alexander.
Alexander is trying to control the position but McCullen postures up.
Alexander bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McCullen's guard.

McCullen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander trying to control but McCullen is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexander thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Alexander preventing the sweep.
Alexander trying to control but McCullen is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McCullen connects with a solid leg kick.
A jab lands there for McCullen.
McCullen jabs Alexander right on the nose. Alexander blinks but takes it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullen works Alexander's body with a nice hook.
Alexander takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McCullen lands a jab to Alexander's midsection.
Alexander looks to land a right hand but McCullen moved out of range.
McCullen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alexander.
McCullen scores with a jab to the body.
Daniel McCullen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McCullen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Alexander pulls guard successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alexander is trying to control the position but McCullen postures up.
Alexander might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McCullen haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Alexander controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel McCullen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McCullen throws out a powerful jab.
McCullen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Alexander momentarily.
McCullen slips a straight right by Alexander.
McCullen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alexander can do to turn this around?
Alexander keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alexander on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A shot to the liver by McCullen. Beautiful body shot.
McCullen scores with a jab. Alexander acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Alexander misses with a straight right.
Some wild striking there from McCullen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander moves forwards but McCullen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McCullen scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McCullen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McCullen throws a big counter combination but Alexander scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The fighters circling - Alexander throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alexander lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McCullen circles away quickly and effectively.
McCullen scores with a shot to the body.
That kick from McCullen tenderised Alexander's leg. Alexander is trying to keep his angry face on.
McCullen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A punch combination from Alexander misses.
McCullen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Alexander throws a right hand that misses
and McCullen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Alexander thinking.
McCullen stuns Alexander with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

McCullen drives through and clinches with Alexander against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is trying to break free.
Alexander tries to pull guard but McCullen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Alexander tries to pull guard but McCullen won't allow it.
McCullen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Alexander.
McCullen tries to throw a body punch but Alexander avoids it by throwing McCullen back against the cage.
McCullen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
McCullen is working Alexander over against the cage.
McCullen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Alexander jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McCullen walks away with a smile on his face. Alexander gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Daniel McCullen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Alexander.

McCullen has closed the distance and engaged Alexander in a clinch.
McCullen lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McCullen.
Alexander tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alexander jumps guard but McCullen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexander ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Alexander no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Alexander looking to hit a scissor sweep but McCullen is one step ahead there.
Alexander controls McCullen momentarily but McCullen frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCullen controlling from the top position.

That's four 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.
Alexander wants to sweep but no luck.
Alexander being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alexander misses with an uppercut
and Alexander takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A combination from Alexander does no damage.
McCullen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Alexander takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel McCullen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McCullen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
No joy there for McCullen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McCullen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Alexander drives through and clinches with McCullen against the cage.
McCullen scores with a nice hook to the head.
McCullen tries to work over Alexander's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McCullen tries a body shot but Alexander blocks it.

Alexander pulls guard.
Alexander is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McCullen tries to get to full guard but Alexander has control of the leg.
McCullen is looking to get back to full guard here but Alexander has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander trying to control the action but McCullen is working from the bottom.
McCullen struggling a bit here.
I wouldn't like to be where McCullen is right now.

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.
A lull in the action here.
Alexander trying to control the position but McCullen is working away.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCullen keeps working.
McCullen looks to move to half guard but instead Alexander has passed into mount! Damn!
McCullen tries to hold on but Alexander pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McCullen is squirming around, avoiding Alexander's attempts to control the action.

Alexander is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, McCullen has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Alexander swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joshua Alexander!