PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Danniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eemeli Saeldur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Danniels could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Eemeli Saeldur's chin.

Danniels
vs
Saeldur

200 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
160 lbs
2 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joe Danniels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eemeli Saeldur!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danniels lands with a kick to the temple. Saeldur shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Saeldur shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Danniels is trying to defend but Saeldur finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Danniels trying to control but Saeldur postures up.
Danniels holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danniels tries to roll over but Saeldur keeps him under control.
Danniels is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Saeldur's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Saeldur's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danniels punches the canvas rather than the man.

Danniels is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Saeldur wants to escape the position.
Danniels slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Saeldur showing good submission defense here.
Saeldur avoids the strikes from Danniels.
Danniels misses with punches from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danniels tries to get the hooks in deep but Saeldur pushed the leg off.
Danniels misses with a punch to the head.
Saeldur wants to get back to his feet.
Danniels throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
What can Saeldur do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Saeldur really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Danniels. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Danniels misses with a punch to the head.
Danniels controlling the position well here. Saeldur rolled but Danniels kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danniels has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Danniels tightening his grip on Saeldur, looking for the choke.
Danniels throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

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.
Danniels is hanging on to Saeldur's back as he tries to escape.
Danniels tries to get the hooks in deep but Saeldur pushed the leg off.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Danniels controlling well, preventing Saeldur from escaping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Danniels's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Danniels dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saeldur fails with the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Saeldur. No joy for Danniels on that attempt.
Danniels scores with a jab. Saeldur acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Saeldur fails with a takedown attempt.

Saeldur shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Saeldur must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Danniels has his foot on Saeldur's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saeldur works his way back into a safe position though.
Danniels throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danniels has his hands on Saeldur's head, controlling the position.
Saeldur in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Danniels is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saeldur can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Danniels is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Saeldur defends well.

Danniels is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Danniels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Eemeli Saeldur seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saeldur tries to score a power double leg takedown but Danniels sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Saeldur somewhat.
Joe Danniels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eemeli Saeldur.
Saeldur wants to clinch up but Danniels keeps it at a distance.

Saeldur dives in and scores a takedown into Danniels's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saeldur won't allow Danniels to sweep him here.
Danniels really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Danniels kicks Saeldur off and gets to his feet.
Danniels shoots in and drives through. Saeldur sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Danniels finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Danniels closes the distance and pushes Saeldur back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Danniels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Saeldur. No joy for Danniels on that attempt.
Saeldur shoots in for a takedown but Danniels shows good takedown defense.
Saeldur uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Danniels.

Saeldur gets tackled into the cage by Danniels. Danniels maintains the clinch.

Danniels drags the fight down to the ground.
Danniels trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saeldur wants to control from the top but Danniels keeps moving.
Danniels trying to keep a closed guard but Saeldur is proving a slippery customer.

Danniels manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Danniels effectively controlling the action here.

Danniels ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Danniels no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danniels trying to control the position.
Saeldur trying to control the position from guard on top but Danniels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saeldur scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Saeldur wants to control from the top but Danniels keeps moving.
Joe Danniels overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Saeldur avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saeldur trying to control but Danniels is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Danniels dominated that second round.
That's time! Danniels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Danniels looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Danniels forces Saeldur back against the cage and clinches.
Saeldur is trying to drag Danniels to the mat but Danniels just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Saeldur pushes off an throws an elbow but Danniels leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Saeldur tries for a takedown but Danniels manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danniels is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Saeldur gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Danniels is looking for a takedown.
Danniels is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Saeldur to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Danniels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danniels tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saeldur just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saeldur tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A hook to the body from Saeldur.

Danniels's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Danniels closes the distance and clinches.
Saeldur prevents a body shot from Danniels.
Danniels tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saeldur smiles and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saeldur tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Danniels paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saeldur tries for a takedown but Danniels circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Saeldur shoots in looking for a takedown. Danniels tries to sprawl out of it but Saeldur keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Danniels manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Saeldur with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Danniels rushes Saeldur and presses him up against the cage.
Saeldur using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Danniels has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Danniels pulls Saeldur into guard.
Saeldur trying to control the position from guard on top but Danniels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saeldur wants to stand but Danniels has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Saeldur won't allow Danniels to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Danniels throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Danniels manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Danniels prevents Saeldur from breaking the clinch.
Saeldur is trying to break the clinch but Danniels is controlling him.
Saeldur has Danniels pushed against the cage.

Saeldur pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Danniels shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saeldur sprawls well. Saeldur wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Danniels gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Danniels gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Danniels lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Danniels is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Danniels controls from within his opponent's guard.
Eemeli Saeldur has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Danniels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Saeldur working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Danniels doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Danniels manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Danniels showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Danniels 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Danniels!