PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Merlin Curtis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Daniel (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.

Curtis
vs
Daniel

207 cm
18
140 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

165 cm
23
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Merlin Curtis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Daniel!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Daniel shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Curtis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
You can see the frustration on Curtis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Curtis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Curtis is pushing Daniel's head away, looking to escape. Daniel manages to hold on to the position though.
Curtis is looking to reverse the position.
Daniel misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Curtis on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Curtis tries to get out of the position.
Curtis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Daniel seems content to control.
Curtis is trying to stand.
Daniel content to control rather than advance.
Daniel lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniel wants to free his trapped foot but Curtis is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Curtis wants to get back to full guard.
Daniel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Still in half guard, Daniel seems content to control.
It looks like Daniel might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Josh Daniel has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Daniel stuffs the takedown.

Daniel has Curtis up against the cage in a clinch.
Daniel lands a hook that snaps the head of Curtis backwards.

Daniel drags the fight down to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniel throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Daniel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Daniel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Curtis manages to get himself to full guard.
Daniel trying to control the position from guard on top but Curtis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Curtis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Daniel forces his way into half guard.
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!

Daniel is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Curtis as he works his way to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtis keeping moving, preventing Daniel from controlling successfully.

Curtis is looking for a triangle but Daniel pushes his legs off easily.
Daniel trying to control the position from guard on top but Curtis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Daniel slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Daniel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Curtis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Daniel has managed to get both his arms back between Curtis's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curtis trying to keep a closed guard but Daniel is proving a slippery customer.

Curtis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Daniel defends it easily.
Daniel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Curtis is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Curtis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Daniel dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Curtis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Daniel tries to clinch but Curtis is having none of it.
A telegraphed right hand from Curtis misses the target.
Daniel is looking to clinch.

Daniel dives in and scores a takedown into Curtis's guard.
Curtis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Curtis is working hard here to advance position.

Curtis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Daniel defends well.
Curtis is trying to control the position but Daniel postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Curtis keeping moving, preventing Daniel from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniel wants to stand but Curtis is controlling his posture from full guard.
Daniel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Daniel's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Daniel hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Daniel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Daniel performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniel wants to free his trapped foot but Curtis is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Daniel prevents Curtis from improving his position.
Daniel is keen to just control but Curtis is a slippery customer.
Daniel wants to get back to his feet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Curtis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Daniel is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Josh Daniel was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Daniel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Curtis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Daniel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Curtis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Daniel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Curtis looking for a sweep. Not yet Curtis, not yet.
Daniel controls from within his opponent's guard.
Daniel wants to stand but Curtis is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniel trying to control the position from guard on top but Curtis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Daniel hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Curtis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A punch combination from Curtis misses.
Curtis looks to clinch

so Daniel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Daniel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Daniel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Daniel wants to clinch.
Curtis doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Daniel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Daniel controlling the action here.
Curtis trying to control here.
Josh Daniel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Daniel in particular looking to stall.

Curtis is defending against the submission attempts here by Daniel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniel tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Curtis.
Daniel trying to control from half guard but Curtis is working away.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Daniel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Curtis's head.
Daniel wants to stand up but Curtis manages to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Curtis throws his legs up looking for a submission but Daniel uses it to pass to side control.
Daniel tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Daniel working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Curtis can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtis is looking to reverse the position.
Daniel trying to control the position but Curtis is working away.
Daniel is chipping away with strikes.
Curtis manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Curtis wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Curtis wants to control but Daniel passes into side.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniel working the ground and pound.
Daniel wants to stand but Curtis is controlling his arm.
Curtis wants to get back to his feet but Daniel drags him back down.
Daniel tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Daniel trying to control the action but Curtis is working from the bottom.
Curtis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Daniel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Daniel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Daniel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Daniel!