PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Iota Knox (ranked 2373 p4p, 230 weight class) and Claude Dacre (ranked 2347 p4p, 227 weight class). Knox comes into the arena with The Blacker The Berry | Kendrick Lamar blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Knox
vs
Dacre

171 cm
31
140 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

179 cm
23
154 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Iota Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Claude Dacre!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dacre avoids the body shot from Knox.
Knox throws a front kick aimed at Dacre's knee but Dacre avoids it well.
Dacre throws a predictable looking body shot
and Knox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Knox slaps away a takedown attempt from Dacre, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dacre closes this distance looking for a takedown but Knox circles away.
Dacre misses the shot to the body.
Dacre is looking to clinch.
It looked like Knox wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Claude Dacre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dacre misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Knox.
Knox throws a head kick but Dacre moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox misses with a hook. Dacre ducked under it nicely.

Dacre manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Knox on his heels. He'll look to pass Knox's guard now, I'm sure.
Knox is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dacre dives into side control.

Knox knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dacre on the ground.
Knox is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox is trying to escape the position but Dacre is controlling the position.
Knox's coaches at Relentless Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Dacre tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Dacre has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Dacre fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dacre looks for a takedown but Knox sprawls well.
Iota Knox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claude Dacre.
Knox throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice straight punches there by Dacre. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dacre.
Dacre misses with a takedown attempt - Knox sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox punishes Dacre's body with a nice straight punch.

Dacre rushes Knox and presses him up against the cage.
Dacre jumps guard but Knox turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Knox misses with some punches.
Knox misses with a punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Knox.
Knox working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Knox lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dacre backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dacre jumps guard.
Dacre has his hands on Knox's head, controlling the position.
Dacre wants to sweep but no luck.
Knox sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dacre told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Knox continues to stall.
Further stalling from Knox.
Dacre is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Knox trying to control but Dacre is working from the bottom.
Knox is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dacre tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knox quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Dacre rushes Knox and presses him up against the cage.
Dacre jumps guard but Knox stands there with Dacre around his waist. Dacre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knox presses Dacre against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Knox misses with a punch on the inside.
Dacre tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knox just stands there and leans against the cage.
Knox struggles to land a body shot inside as Dacre controls his hands.

Dacre pulls guard.
Knox engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Knox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dacre is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iota Knox dominated that round.
That's time! Knox's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A jab lands there for Dacre.
Knox misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dacre wants to counter with a clinch but Knox pushes him away.
Knox takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Dacre gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Dacre takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Iota Knox is winning the standup battle so far.
Knox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Knox looks to land a right hand but Dacre moved out of range.
Knox tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dacre was well out of range. Poor timing from Knox.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dacre closes the distance and pushes Knox back into the cage.
Dacre blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dacre tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knox just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dacre tries to pull guard but Knox forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Iota Knox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claude Dacre.
A head punch on the inside from Knox fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dacre tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Knox just leaning against Dacre, taking a breather.
Dacre takes a shot to the head.
Knox misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dacre tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Knox smiles and moves away.
Iota Knox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Dacre rushes Knox and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Dacre gets control of Knox's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dacre will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dacre has a closed guard, preventing Knox from standing up.
Dacre working a defensive guard here.
Knox looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
More hug and hope from Knox.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dacre looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dacre can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Knox controls the pace.
Dacre trying to keep a closed guard but Knox is proving a slippery customer.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Knox showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dacre misses the shot to the body.
Dacre shoots in for a takedown but Knox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A little feinted left hand from Knox on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dacre just misses with a punch to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Knox, as that shot connected.

Dacre clinches up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Knox.
Dacre jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Knox walks away with a smile on his face. Dacre gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Knox uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Dacre has time to react.

Knox has taken the fight to the clinch.
Knox tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dacre's elbow.
Knox lands with a left to the head.

Dacre manages to break the clinch.
Dacre is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Knox rather than just go for the knockout.
No luck for Dacre with that takedown attempt.
Dacre ducks under a wild hook from Knox.
Dacre tries to clinch
and Knox counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dacre misses with a hook. Knox ducked under it nicely.
Knox appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Dacre changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Knox tries to avoid it but Dacre manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Knox to the ground. Knox escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dacre fails with the takedown
and Knox counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Knox tries to land a front kick but Dacre steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Dacre fails with an attempt to clinch.

Knox has managed to clinch.
Iota Knox has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short body shot lands from Knox as the two fighters clinch.
Dacre fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A body shot lands from Knox.
Knox stalls.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Knox.
Dacre fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iota Knox dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dacre staying out of range there.
Dacre doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Knox counter with a right hand.
Knox connects with a looping right hand.
Knox changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Knox is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dacre can do to turn this around?
Knox stuffs the takedown attempt from Dacre. Dacre gets slowly back to his feet.
Knox cracks a nice hook into Dacre's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Knox.
Knox takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Knox takes one to the chin there.
Dacre gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Knox to counter with a crisp jab.
Iota Knox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claude Dacre.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dacre on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Knox fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dacre manages to avoid it.
Dacre appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Dacre has taken the fight to the clinch.
Knox works on Dacre's body with a couple of short punches.
Dacre blocking some punches.
Knox makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Knox.
Dacre is trying to pull guard but Knox has him pressed against the cage.
Dacre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knox working aggressively here.
Knox controlling the action here for a moment.
Knox lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Knox makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from Knox.
Claude Dacre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dacre prevents a body shot from Knox.
Knox holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Knox tries a body shot but Dacre blocks it.
Dacre working aggressively here.
A frustrated look appears on Dacre's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knox working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knox lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Dacre ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dacre no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Knox not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dacre looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Knox stays in close to Dacre's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dacre looking for a guillotine here but Knox defends easily.
Knox tries to free his leg and advance position but Dacre is retaining full guard.
Knox controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Dacre has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Knox should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Dacre has tightened it up now! Knox should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Claude Dacre!
During a confident post fight interview, Claude Dacre thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.