PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cedric Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Nazareth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Daniels
vs
Nazareth

173 cm
20
175 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

180 cm
20
175 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cedric Daniels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chad Nazareth!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nazareth displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Daniels throws out the jab.
Daniels lands a right hook to the body.
Nazareth checks the leg kick.
Nazareth throws a predictable looking body shot
and Daniels counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Daniels thows a body shot but no joy.
Nazareth uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Daniels.
Daniels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jab by Daniels.
Nazareth avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Daniels lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

It looks like Chad Nazareth has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nazareth slips under a jab.
Nazareth blocks a head kick by Daniels.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Daniels, right into the meat.
Daniels throws a jab when Nazareth was well out of range.
Daniels throws a jab but it's blocked by Nazareth.
Daniels takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Daniels is looking to slow Nazareth down with leg kicks.

Nazareth closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nazareth lands in his opponent's guard.
Nazareth won't allow Daniels to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazareth throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Daniels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Daniels controls Nazareth momentarily but Nazareth frees himself.
Nazareth throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Daniels is on top in guard.
Daniels wants to control from the top but Nazareth keeps moving.
Daniels tries to free his leg and advance position but Nazareth is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Daniels wants to stand but Nazareth has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Nazareth wants to sweep but no luck.
Daniels tries to free his leg and advance position but Nazareth is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Daniels throws a solid leg kick but Nazareth takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Daniels.
Daniels closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Daniels staying out of range there.
Nazareth takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Daniels is looking to clinch but Nazareth is avoiding it.
Daniels misses with a looping right.
Nazareth takes a swing at Daniels's ribcage but misses.
Nazareth fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nazareth uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Daniels.
Nazareth slips a jab from Daniels.
Daniels looks to throw the jab but Nazareth is out of range.
Daniels shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cedric Daniels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nazareth tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels looks to score with a jab to the body but Nazareth is just out of range.

Daniels closes the distance and pushes Nazareth back into the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nazareth is trying to break the clinch but Daniels is controlling him.
Daniels is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Nazareth's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Daniels working Nazareth over with knees to the body.
Daniels throws a punch but it's blocked by Nazareth.
Daniels keeps control of Nazareth as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Nazareth breaks from the clinch.
Daniels throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nazareth doesn't manage to clinch there - Daniels circles away.
Donk. Daniels catches Nazareth right on the button with a cross.
Daniels tries to close the distance and clinch but Nazareth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Daniels misses with an uppercut.
Daniels ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nazareth moves away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daniels keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Daniels is looking to land body kicks.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nazareth tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Daniels was well out of range. Poor timing from Nazareth.
Daniels misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Daniels dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chad Nazareth's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Daniels thows a body shot but no joy.
Nazareth scores with a decent looking hook.
Daniels misses with a hook.
Daniels ducks under a wild hook from Nazareth.
Nazareth keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Daniels misses with a straight right.
Daniels misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Daniels will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Daniels throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd cheers as Nazareth lands an impressive looking overhand right. Daniels doesn't seem phased though.
Nazareth keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Daniels.

Nazareth scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Daniels taking some punishment here, with Nazareth in his half guard.
Daniels wants to improve his position but Nazareth is controlling well.
Daniels is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nazareth scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nazareth wants to work for an arm triangle but Daniels is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from Nazareth there.
Nazareth scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nazareth lands with a punch from half guard.
Ground and pound from Nazareth.
Nazareth is nestled in close to Daniels, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nazareth missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nazareth takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nazareth landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nazareth sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Daniels defending well though.
Nazareth looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nazareth sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Daniels defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nazareth.
Nazareth winds up and cracks Daniels with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nazareth working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Daniels slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nazareth loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nazareth postures up in Daniels's guard and throws a big left but Daniels blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nazareth works over Daniels with some ground and pound from guard.
Nazareth postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nazareth looking to pass the guard.
Daniels will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazareth is in close to Daniels's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nazareth throws a big right hand that misses.
Nazareth wants to control from the top but Daniels keeps moving.
Nazareth keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Daniels's head.
Nazareth missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Daniels wants to get back to his feet but Nazareth is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Daniels wants to sweep here but Nazareth controlling him for the moment.
Daniels trying to control the position.
Nazareth with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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.
Nazareth lands a couple of elbows.
Nazareth connects with a couple of short punches.
Nazareth trying to control but Daniels is working from the bottom.
Nazareth scoring with some ground and pound.

Daniels has his foot on Nazareth's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nazareth works his way back into a safe position though.
Nazareth works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nazareth looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Daniels with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nazareth scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nazareth landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nazareth missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Nazareth there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nazareth shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Daniels napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Nazareth looks up at the clock and then as Daniels takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nazareth smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Daniels is letting Nazareth control him for a moment.
Nazareth working the ground and pound from side control.
Daniels is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Daniels managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nazareth.
Daniels is looking for a sweep.
Nazareth working the head and body with strikes.
Nazareth creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nazareth scores with a couple of short elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Daniels tries to buck Nazareth off but Nazareth is having none of it.
Daniels manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Chad Nazareth has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daniels is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Nazareth still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Nazareth has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Nazareth scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Daniels to see if he's OK.
Daniels takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Daniels is looking for a sweep.
Nazareth landing a few strikes.
Nazareth lands a decent elbow from side control.
Nazareth grinds an elbow into Daniels's temple.
Nazareth scoring with punches and elbows.
Nazareth in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Nazareth working the ground and pound.
Nazareth connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Daniels some visible discomfort.
Nazareth lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Daniels down.
Nazareth cracks Daniels with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nazareth looks up at the clock and then as Daniels takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nazareth smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Daniels takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nazareth lands a few punches from side control.
Nazareth landing strikes.
Nazareth connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Daniels some visible discomfort.
Daniels is looking to reverse the position.
Nazareth creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Daniels taking a bit of punishment here - Nazareth scoring with strikes.
Nazareth lands some shots froms side control.
Nazareth working the ground and pound.
Check out the look on Nazareth's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Daniels is trying to improve his position.
Nazareth is chipping away with strikes.
Nazareth working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Daniels is looking for a sweep.
Nazareth is putting a hurting on Daniels here, landing some big shots from side control.
Nazareth landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nazareth lands some shots froms side control.
Daniels takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Nazareth wants to control but Daniels is keeping him busy.
Daniels takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nazareth is looking to take a break and control but Daniels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Daniels is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nazareth's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Nazareth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nazareth 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Nazareth!