PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Criss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Cormier
vs
Criss

180 cm
27
260 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

196 cm
28
265 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daniel Cormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marco Criss!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Criss lands a two punch combo.
Criss looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cormier is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Criss.
Cormier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Cormier gets caught napping as Criss dives in and scores a takedown. Cormier manages to retain guard.

Criss gets to his feet - Cormier follows without any prompting.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cormier scores with a takedown into Criss's guard.
Cormier trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cormier is working Criss over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cormier won't allow Criss to get back to his feet.
Criss avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Criss can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cormier trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cormier accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cormier has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Criss is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Criss tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cormier gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Criss.
Daniel Cormier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Criss.
Criss is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cormier gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Criss looks gassed!
Criss is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cormier is defending well.
Criss tries a body shot but Cormier blocks it.
Criss wants to break the clinch but can't.
Criss has Cormier pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cormier manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Cormier gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Cormier missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cormier tries to pass the half guard into mount. Criss knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier controlling the action here.
Cormier takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
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!
Criss is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Criss pushes Cormier off and gets back to his feet.
Criss misses with a double jab.
Cormier connects with a body shot.
Criss needs to keep his hands up - Cormier had a free shot at his head there.
Cormier listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cormier moves in looking to clinch but Criss pushes him off.
Marco Criss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cormier shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Criss's guard.
Cormier trying to control but Criss is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cormier keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Criss's head.
Cormier trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cormier lands a couple of elbows.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Criss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Criss utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cormier throwing strikes from guard but Criss blocks nicely.
Cormier makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cormier working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cormier chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Criss wants to stand and escape but Cormier is having none of it.
Cormier with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cormier is stalling in the full guard.
Criss keeping full guard, as Cormier tries to pass.
Cormier cracks Criss with a solid left hand.
Cormier seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Criss uses the cage to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cormier dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cormier fails to land the takedown.
Criss catches Cormier with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Criss fails with a takedown attempt.
Criss throws a right and a left that Cormier avoids nicely.

Cormier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cormier tries to break the clinch but Criss is controlling the position.

Cormier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Daniel Cormier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Criss defending well as Cormier loads up on a big left hand.
Cormier fails to land with a series of punches.
Cormier tests Criss's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Criss slips a jab and a cross from Cormier.
Criss lands a two punch combo.
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!
Cormier throws an overhand right that lands on Criss's shoulder, as Criss tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cormier enables Criss to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cormier manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cormier preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Criss is breathing heavily.
Criss throwing strikes but missing.
Cormier keeping full guard, as Criss tries to pass.
Criss wants to stand but Cormier has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Criss tries to free his leg and advance position but Cormier is retaining full guard.
Criss is pushing down on Cormier's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cormier is fighting to maintain full guard but Criss has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cormier is looking to improve his position.
Cormier is looking to control Criss's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cormier avoid being mounted?
Daniel Cormier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Criss throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Criss is looking to pass Cormier's guard but actually Cormier recovers to full guard.
Cormier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Criss.
Cormier is trying to control the position but Criss postures up.
Criss throwing strikes but missing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Criss throws an elbow that misses. Cormier uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Criss's guard. Nice move by Cormier!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Criss is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cormier is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cormier's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cormier is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Criss manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Cormier misses the jab.
Criss throws a series of punches but Cormier moves out of range.
Cormier is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Criss.
Cormier will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Criss fails with a takedown attempt.

Cormier drives through and clinches with Criss against the cage.
Criss tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Criss tries to work over Cormier's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Criss lands a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Criss throws a big elbow that misses.
Criss looking to pass the guard.
Cormier might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Criss throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Criss pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cormier is keeping the position for now.
Cormier is looking to stand up but Criss isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Criss showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cormier looks to land a combination but Criss avoids it well.
Cormier swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Criss moves out of range of the strikes.
Cormier throws a hook to the side of Criss's head but Criss sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cormier looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Cormier gets a double leg takedown into Criss's guard.
Cormier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Criss swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Criss preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cormier looking to sit in guard and control but Criss gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Criss advances to half guard.
Criss takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Criss tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Criss throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Criss is looking for a kimura but Cormier is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Criss to get the leverage.

Cormier kicks off Criss and gets to his feet.
Criss misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A lazy left from Cormier finds it's target.
Cormier stuns Criss with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cormier throws a hook but Criss blocks it.
Criss showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cormier.
Criss looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cormier rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Criss moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Criss throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Cormier. Those never looked like landing.
Criss moves into range and connects with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cormier bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cormier is looking to take a break and control but Criss is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cormier creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Criss sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier trying to control the position but Criss is working away.
Criss is trying to get back to his feet.
Cormier is looking to take a break and control but Criss is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Criss is trying to get back to his feet.
Cormier knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Criss on the ground.
Cormier cracks Criss with a big right hand but Criss just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Cormier lands a few punches from side control.
Cormier cracks Criss with a big elbow.
Cormier working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Criss is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Criss takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

It looks like Marco Criss has been cut.
Cormier cracks Criss with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Cormier working the ground and pound from side control.
Cormier scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Criss to see if he's OK.
Cormier lands a few punches from side control.
Criss takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cormier lands a decent elbow from side control.
Criss is trying to buck Cormier off.
Cormier lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Cormier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cormier has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Cormier!
Daniel Cormier really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that 1337 ANZAC logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.