PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Euan Daxton (ranked 2162 p4p, 3287 weight class) and Siaosi Kuresa (ranked 288 p4p, 396 weight class). Euan Daxton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Daxton
vs
Kuresa

175 cm
25
167
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
165
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Euan Daxton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Siaosi Kuresa!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Michael Johnstone and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuresa swats away the attempt to clinch by Daxton.
Good standup being displayed there by Kuresa as he connects with a hook.
Euan Daxton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuresa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kuresa counters with a straight right hand.
Daxton is looking to clinch but Kuresa is avoiding it.
Kuresa lands a nice hook to Daxton's body. Daxton takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kuresa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kuresa keeps the fight on the outside.
It seemed like Kuresa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Daxton tries to clinch up
and Kuresa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daxton tries to clinch up
and Kuresa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Daxton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuresa keeps the fight on the outside.
Daxton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kuresa flicks out a counter leg kick but Daxton steps away.
Daxton tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kuresa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Daxton fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Daxton 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Daxton definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Danga de danga de dang - Kuresa scores with a four punch combination!
Kuresa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Daxton's head backwards.
Kuresa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kuresa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kuresa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kuresa fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Daxton on the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Daxton looks to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kuresa might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kuresa scores with a shot to the body.

Daxton closes the distance and clinches.
Daxton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kuresa walks away with a smile on his face. Daxton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Daxton tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuresa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daxton tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kuresa counters with a straight right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Daxton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuresa is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kuresa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kuresa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kuresa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Daxton wants to clinch.
Kuresa is looking for the big counter here.
Daxton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Daxton slips a jab and a cross from Kuresa.
Kuresa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Daxton tries to clinch there but Kuresa circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Daxton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A combination from Kuresa does no damage.
Donk. Kuresa catches Daxton right on the button with a cross.
Daxton tries to clinch up
and Kuresa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Daxton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kuresa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Daxton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuresa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Daxton slips a straight right by Kuresa.
As Kuresa tries to get set, Daxton tries to push him back and clinch up but Kuresa manages to avoid the attempt.
Daxton tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuresa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Daxton wants to clinch.
Daxton tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kuresa counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuresa lands a really nice looking cross but Daxton seems unphased.
Kuresa tries to land a leg kick but Daxton saw it coming and moves away.
We've been informed that Kuresa has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Kuresa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kuresa counters with a nice uppercut.
Daxton wants to clinch.
Daxton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Daxton darts in trying to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a straight right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Daxton moves in looking to clinch but Kuresa pushes him off.
A nice side step and Kuresa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Daxton walks into a jab.
Daxton tries to clinch up.
Daxton looks to clinch
and Kuresa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Siaosi Kuresa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kuresa throws a one two combo.
Daxton has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Daxton instigates a clinch.
Kuresa misses with an elbow over the top.
Daxton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kuresa walks away with a smile on his face. Daxton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kuresa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Kuresa as he connects with a hook.
Kuresa lands with a good body shot.
Daxton is looking to clinch.
Kuresa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Daxton looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kuresa misses with a wild combination.
Daxton looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Daxton wants to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a straight right hand.
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!
Kuresa lands a nice shot to the body.
Daxton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kuresa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Daxton tries to clinch
enabling Kuresa to counter with a crisp jab.
Daxton moves in looking to clinch but Kuresa pushes him off.
Kuresa is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daxton closes the distance but Kuresa moves to the side
and Kuresa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Daxton tries to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a straight right hand.
Daxton closes the distance but Kuresa moves to the side
and Kuresa counters with a three punch combo that has Daxton backing up. Daxton nods at Kuresa to acknowledge the strikes.
Daxton tries to clinch but Kuresa moves away
and Kuresa counters with a nice uppercut.
Daxton wants to clinch.
Kuresa swats away the attempt to clinch by Daxton.
Kuresa goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Daxton closes the distance but Kuresa moves to the side
and Kuresa counters with a nice uppercut.
Daxton wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Daxton with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kuresa to score with a decent uppercut.
Daxton tries to clinch up
enabling Kuresa to counter with a crisp jab.
Daxton moves in looking to clinch but Kuresa pushes him off.
Kuresa keeps the fight on the outside.
Daxton checks a leg kick.
Daxton tries to clinch up but Kuresa circles away and keeps his distance.
Kuresa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuresa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Daxton tries to clinch but Kuresa is having none of it.
Kuresa only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Daxton tries to clinch but Kuresa moves away
and Kuresa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuresa lands with a straight right. Daxton didn't see that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daxton closes the distance but Kuresa moves to the side
and Kuresa counters with a two punch combo.
Kuresa lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Daxton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuresa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kuresa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Daxton clinches up against the cage.
Daxton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kuresa smiles and moves away.
Daxton doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuresa circles away.
Siaosi Kuresa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kuresa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kuresa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kuresa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Daxton thinking.
Some wild striking there from Kuresa.
Daxton closes the distance but Kuresa moves to the side
enabling Kuresa to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuresa digs a good body shot into Daxton's ribs.
Kuresa connects with a looping right hand.
Kuresa scores with a nice right hand.
Daxton tries to clinch up
and Kuresa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Daxton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Daxton backing away here, and Kuresa unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Kuresa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kuresa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Daxton looks to clinch
and Kuresa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Daxton wants to clinch up but Kuresa keeps it at a distance.
Daxton tries to clinch but Kuresa is having none of it.
Daxton tries to clinch but Kuresa is having none of it.
Daxton closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Daxton gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Daxton looks to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Daxton has Kuresa up against the cage in a clinch.
Daxton is trying to pull guard but Kuresa has him pressed against the cage.
Kuresa is trying to break the clinch but Daxton is controlling him.
Kuresa is trying to push Daxton away but Daxton has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kuresa is trying to break the clinch but Daxton has him pressed against the cage.
Daxton tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kuresa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Daxton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kuresa walks away with a smile on his face. Daxton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Euan Daxton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big left from Kuresa misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daxton has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kuresa finds it's way round the side to connect with Daxton's head.
Daxton tries to clinch up
and Kuresa counters with a stiff right hand.
Kuresa scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daxton fails in his attempt to clinch.
It seemed like Kuresa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Daxton needs to keep his hands up - Kuresa had a free shot at his head there.
Daxton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kuresa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Daxton moves to clinch but Kuresa breaks away
and Kuresa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Daxton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kuresa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Daxton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Donk. Kuresa catches Daxton right on the button with a cross.
Daxton tries to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a nice uppercut.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kuresa!
Daxton doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuresa circles away.
Daxton tries to clinch up.
Daxton tries to clinch up.
A countering left hand to the body from Kuresa misses.
Siaosi Kuresa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Daxton tries to clinch there but Kuresa circles away.
Daxton tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kuresa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Daxton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuresa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuresa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Daxton wants to clinch but Kuresa slips to the side
and Kuresa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuresa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Daxton looks to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a two punch combo.
Kuresa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kuresa counters with a stiff right hand.
Daxton tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kuresa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Daxton dodges the punch combination from Kuresa.
Daxton is looking to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kuresa! But no joy.
Daxton tries to clinch there but Kuresa circles away.
Daxton staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Daxton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Daxton is looking to clinch.
Daxton closes the distance but Kuresa moves to the side
and Daxton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kuresa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Daxton tries to clinch but Kuresa moves away
and Kuresa counters with a stiff right hand.
Daxton moves to clinch but Kuresa breaks away
and Kuresa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kuresa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Daxton tries to clinch there but Kuresa circles away.
It seemed like Kuresa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Daxton closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kuresa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Daxton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuresa.
Kuresa misses with an uppercut. Daxton saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daxton darts in trying to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kuresa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuresa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Daxton moves out of range of the strikes.
Daxton darts in trying to clinch
and Kuresa counters with a left and a right that stings Daxton.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Daxton tries to clinch up but Kuresa circles away and keeps his distance.
Daxton tries to clinch but Kuresa is having none of it.
Kuresa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kuresa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuresa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuresa appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kuresa lands with a good body shot.
Euan Daxton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Siaosi Kuresa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Siaosi Kuresa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kuresa 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 24:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 24:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Siaosi Kuresa!