PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Daniel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Federici (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberto Federici is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Daniel
vs
Federici

178 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Demonic Drugs
SCP Fight Gear

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Daniel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roberto Federici!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jonathan Paton and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daniel jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Federici tries to bum rush Daniel with a series of wild strikes but Daniel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Daniel misses with a head kick.
Daniel throws a series of strikes that have Federici backpedaling.
Daniel goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Daniel looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Daniel is tying to control. Federici wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Federici has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Daniel is working away from the top position though.
Federici is not content to let Daniel control the position.

Federici looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Federici has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Daniel is working away from the top position though.
Daniel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Federici on the ground.
Daniel is tying to control. Federici wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniel wants to stand but Federici has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Daniel not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Federici misses with the combination.

Daniel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Federici pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Federici looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Daniel!
Daniel flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
BOOM! Federici connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Federici is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Federici fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Federici trying to control but Daniel is having none of it.
Federici has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniel is looking to improve his position but Federici isn't that keen on the idea.
Federici avoids the attempt from Daniel to control.
Federici lands a nice shot to the head.
Daniel tries to hold on but Federici pushes him away.
Federici looking to control but Daniel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Federici looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Federici looks gassed!
Federici is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Daniel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Daniel in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Daniel somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Daniel cracks Federici with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Daniel works over Federici's head and body with a nice combination.
Daniel throws a good cross that connects.
Daniel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Federici swats away the attempt to clinch by Daniel.
A combination from Daniel does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniel throws a nice looking combination but Federici bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Daniel looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Daniel tries to stand and escape but Federici is controlling the position.
Federici controlling the position well.
Daniel tries to stand but can't do so whilst Federici controls his leg.

Federici makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Daniel misses with a combination

and Federici counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Federici.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Daniel dominated that 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.

Daniel scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Federici throws a series of punches but Daniel avoids them all with ease.
Federici wants to clinch up but Daniel keeps it at a distance.
Daniel throws a series of strikes that have Federici backpedaling.
Daniel looks to land a combination but Federici avoids it well.
Daniel works over Federici's head and body with a nice combination.
Daniel misses with a combination

and Federici counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Daniel!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Daniel is desperately trying to improve his position but Federici has a good base and remains in mount.

Federici wants to finish this one by submission but Daniel is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Federici.
Daniel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Daniel tries to get out of the position.
Federici landing strikes from the mount and Daniel is in trouble!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Daniel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniel really wants to buck Federici off and get back to his feet.
Daniel is wriggling around trying to escape.
Federici throws some wild stikes that Daniel manages to avoid easily.
Roberto Federici has got the better of the ground game so far.
Federici punching from mount but Daniel doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Daniel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Federici with the ground and pound from mount.
Federici prevents Daniel from getting the reversal.
Federici can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Daniel is looking to escape.
Daniel wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Federici misses with a head shot.
Daniel squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Daniel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Daniel is trying to stand.
Federici looking to finish Daniel with some ground and pound. This is bad for Daniel!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Federici putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Daniel is looking to get to half guard.
Federici looking to finish Daniel with some ground and pound. This is bad for Daniel!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Federici landing strikes, looking to finish!
Daniel is wriggling around trying to escape.
Federici throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Daniel because Federici loaded up on that one.
Federici throws some wild stikes that Daniel manages to avoid easily.
Daniel is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Federici breaks from Daniel's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Daniel tries to reverse the position but Federici maintains control.
Federici punishing his opponent with strikes.
Federici throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Daniel because Federici loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Federici looking to finish with strikes here!
A nice elbow there by Federici.
Daniel throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Federici looking to control but Daniel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Daniel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Daniel holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Federici tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Federici punching from mount but Daniel doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Federici blocks Daniel's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Josh Daniel will probably get the nod.
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. And we move into the final round!

Daniel misses with a combination
and Federici counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Daniel tries to bum rush Federici with a series of wild strikes but Federici uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Federici shoots in for a double leg but Daniel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Daniel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Josh Daniel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left and a right from Daniel both land. Nice combination.
Daniel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Federici tries to clinch up but Daniel circles away and keeps his distance.
Federici slips a jab and a cross from Daniel.
Federici circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Daniel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Daniel misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Federici is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Daniel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniel looks to score with a jab to the body but Federici is just out of range.
Federici shoots for a takedown but Daniel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Daniel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Federici swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Daniel tries to clinch there but Federici circles away.
Federici has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Daniel rushes Federici and presses him up against the cage.

Daniel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Daniel closes the distance and clinches.
Daniel wants to break free but Federici has control.
Daniel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Federici gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Federici tries to pull guard but Daniel won't allow it.
Josh Daniel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Federici.
Daniel lands a right hand that snaps the head of Federici backwards.
Federici wants to get back to striking at distance but Daniel won't allow it.

Daniel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Daniel misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Federici is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Daniel.
Nice takedown defense from Federici. No joy for Daniel on that attempt.
Federici is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Daniel tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Federici counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Daniel!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Federici trying to control but Daniel is having none of it.
Federici lands a heavy elbow.
Federici throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Federici goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Daniel turns into him and now he's in Federici's guard.
Daniel won't allow Federici to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Federici is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Daniel wants to stand but Federici is controlling his posture from full guard.
Federici tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Daniel stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Daniel misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Federici gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Daniel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Daniel falls off balance throwing a combination

and Federici counters with a shoot takedown. Daniel fights it but they end up in guard.
Daniel wants to stand and escape but Federici is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Federici drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Federici jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Federici drops back looking for a leg! Daniel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Daniel manages to kick Federici off! Federici jumps back into Daniel's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Daniel tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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 Josh Daniel.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Daniel, 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

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