PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Levi Daan (ranked 325 p4p, 232 weight class) and Wilfred Ainsworth (ranked 46 p4p, 32 weight class). Ainsworth comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Fred Neil - Everybody's Talkin' kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Daan
vs
Ainsworth

182 cm
27
187
14 - 4 - 0

179 cm
34
185
29 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

NARCOS

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
NARCOS

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 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Levi Daan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wilfred Ainsworth!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ainsworth misses with a left hand
and Daan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ainsworth misses with a hook. Daan ducked under it nicely.
Daan has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts in the buildup to the fight.
Ainsworth connects with a leg kick.
Daan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ainsworth at a distance.
Daan has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ainsworth finds it's way round the side to connect with Daan's head.
Daan with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ainsworth uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Daan has time to react.
Ainsworth fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Daan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ainsworth.
Ainsworth attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Daan scores with a jab.
Daan tries to clinch there but Ainsworth circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daan throws a front kick that sends Ainsworth stumbling back into the cage.
Daan scores with a hook to the body. Ainsworth takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Daan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ainsworth connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Daan scrambles back to his feet.
Daan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ainsworth scores with a jab.
Daan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ainsworth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Daan connects with a body shot that sends Ainsworth's belly button to the back.
Ainsworth tried to score with a low kick but Daan checks it.
Daan feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Ainsworth throws a leg kick but Daan checks it.
A punch lands to the side of Ainsworth 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Daan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Daan checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ainsworth takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Daan throws the kick towards the body but Ainsworth avoids it.
A telegraphed right hand from Ainsworth misses the target.
Daan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ainsworth misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Daan.
Ainsworth throws a poor cross that misses
and Daan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Daan throws a push kick but Ainsworth slaps the foot to one side.
Donk. Ainsworth catches Daan right on the button with a cross.
Daan throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Daan scores with a body shot.
Daan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ainsworth to score with a decent uppercut.
Wilfred Ainsworth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Daan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ainsworth appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daan cracks a nice hook into Ainsworth's ribs.
Ainsworth looks to land a left hand but Daan moved out of range nicely.
Ainsworth swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Daan thuds his right hand into Ainsworth's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Daan lands a slapping body shot.
Daan wants to clinch
enabling Ainsworth to counter with a crisp jab.
Ainsworth fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Daan checks it well.
Daan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Ainsworth.
Ainsworth avoids the body shot from Daan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Ainsworth misses the target.
Daan tries to clinch up but Ainsworth circles away and keeps his distance.
Daan swings for the body but Ainsworth moves out of range.
Ainsworth fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Daan manages to avoid it.
Daan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ainsworth throws out a leg kick but Daan moves out of range and Ainsworth only half commits.
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!
Ainsworth slips a jab from Daan.
Daan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ainsworth was well out of range. Poor timing from Daan.
Ainsworth just misses with a punch to the body.
Ainsworth on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ainsworth moves away from the strike by Daan.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Levi Daan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ainsworth connects with an inside leg kick.
Daan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ainsworth.
Ainsworth fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ainsworth fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Daan manages to avoid it.
Ainsworth has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Daan.
Ainsworth moves out of range of the body kick.
Daan misses with a wild body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Daan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daan scores with a body shot.
Daan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Daan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ainsworth can pounce on him.
An inside leg kick from Ainsworth misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ainsworth throws a big shot that misses.
Daan is looking to wear down Ainsworth with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Daan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ainsworth stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Daan lands with a nice body punch.
Ainsworth looks to throw the jab but Daan is out of range.
Daan appears to be looking for a big counter.
Daan connects with an inside leg kick.
Donk. Daan catches Ainsworth right on the button with a cross.
Daan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ainsworth moves away.
Daan ducks under a wild hook from Ainsworth.
Daan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ainsworth sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Daan slips a straight right by Ainsworth.
Daan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daan cracks Ainsworth with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Ainsworth might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Daan has got the better of the exchanges.
Ainsworth works Daan's body with a nice hook.
Daan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ainsworth.
It looked like Daan was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ainsworth.
Ainsworth checks the leg kick.
Jab, jab by Ainsworth - just one landing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Daan lands a front kick.
Daan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A punch lands to the side of Ainsworth 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ainsworth circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ainsworth swings away with a body shot that misses
and Daan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ainsworth throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Ainsworth misses.
Daan is looking to clinch.

Daan closes the distance and clinches.
Daan misses with the head strike.
Daan blocks an uppercut.
Ainsworth misses with some punches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Daan.
Ainsworth throws a punch but it's blocked by Daan.
Daan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Daan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Daan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ainsworth backwards.
Ainsworth blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Daan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ainsworth can do to turn this around?

Ainsworth turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Ainsworth manages to end up in side control.
Ainsworth wants to lay and pray for a moment but Daan keeps working.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ainsworth tries to move to full mount but Daan actually manages to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daan is refusing to be controlled, as Ainsworth sits in half guard.
Ainsworth tries to pass the half guard into mount. Daan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Daan is trying to get back to full guard.
Daan controlling the position for now.
Ainsworth wants to take a breather but Daan is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Levi Daan dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Daan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Daan throwing a counter right hand but Ainsworth manages to avoid it.
Levi Daan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Daan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ainsworth swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ainsworth swats away the attempt to clinch by Daan.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ainsworth. Daan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Daan ducks under a wild hook from Ainsworth.
Levi Daan is winning the standup battle so far.
Daan blocks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ainsworth misses with a hook
and Daan counters with a thumping low kick.
Daan throws a body shot but no joy.
Ainsworth misses with a low kick.
Daan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ainsworth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ainsworth ducks under a wild hook from Daan.
Ainsworth appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ainsworth misses with a lunging right hand
and Daan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ainsworth misses with a jab to the body
and Daan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Daan gets a clinch.
Ainsworth struggles to land a body shot inside as Daan controls his hands.
Ainsworth misses with a punch on the inside.
Daan stops a takedown attempt from Ainsworth.
Daan blocking some punches.
Daan gets underhooks to prevent Ainsworth's takedown attempt.
Daan blocking some punches.
Ainsworth misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ainsworth goes for a takedown attempt but Daan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Levi Daan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wilfred Ainsworth.
Ainsworth with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ainsworth rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Daan counters with a nice uppercut.
Daan with the inside leg kick.
Daan misses the jab.
Daan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Daan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Daan checks a low kick from Ainsworth.
Daan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Ainsworth misses.

Daan rushes Ainsworth and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ainsworth tries to work over Daan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Daan.
Ainsworth working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ainsworth is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Daan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ainsworth struggles to land a body shot inside as Daan controls his hands.
Ainsworth drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Daan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Daan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Daan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ainsworth swings wildly with an uppercut but Daan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ainsworth tries to throw a body punch but Daan avoids it by throwing Ainsworth back against the cage.
Ainsworth swings wildly with an uppercut but Daan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Daan tries a body shot but Ainsworth blocks it.
Daan digs a right hand underneath Ainsworth's ribcage. Ainsworth let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Daan blocks an uppercut.
Ainsworth lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ainsworth misses with the head strike.
Daan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ainsworth.
Wilfred Ainsworth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ainsworth's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ainsworth has had enough of the clinch but Daan keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Levi Daan.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Daan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Levi Daan!
After winning the bout, Levi Daan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.