PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Cullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Saez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Lifer kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Cullen
vs
Saez

180 cm
19
188 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Cullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Simon Saez!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saez gets a clinch.

Saez drags the fight down to the ground.
Cullen wanted to stand there but Saez had control of the position.
Cullen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cullen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Saez is trying to keep Cullen in close.

Cullen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cullen misses with the combination.
Cullen tries a head kick but it misses.
Saez avoids the body shot from Cullen.

Cullen tries to keep at a distance but Saez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Cullen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Cullen manages to end up in side control.
Saez wants to control but Cullen postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saez tries to improve position but can't.
Saez can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen gets to mount! Saez was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Saez tries to lock up and control but Cullen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cullen tries to control but Saez wriggling away.
Saez wants to hold on but Cullen pushes him away.
Cullen wants to control the pace but Saez is squirming around nicely.

Cullen stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Saez is looking to clinch but Cullen is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cullen tries to clinch there but Saez circles away.
Cullen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saez as he avoids it easily.
Cullen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cullen misses with the combination.
Saez clinches but Cullen breaks the clinch

and Cullen moves into the clinch.
Saez tries a knee to the head but Cullen blocks it.
Saez prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Cullen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cullen is breathing heavily.

Saez breaks from the clinch.
Cullen misses with a series of wild punches.
Saez is looking to clinch but Cullen is avoiding it.
Saez stuffs the takedown.

Saez forces Cullen back against the cage and clinches.
Saez stops a takedown attempt from Cullen.
Saez misses with a knee strike.
Saez landing knees to the head.
Cullen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Saez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Saez connects with a knee to the head.
Saez prevents the takedown attempt.
Cullen can't get the takedown.
Cullen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Saez lands a nice elbow.
Saez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Saez scores with a knee to the head.
Saez stalling in the clinch but Cullen improves position.
Cullen can't get the takedown.
Saez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cullen.

Cullen breaks the clinch.
Cullen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Saez closes the distance and clinches.
Saez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cullen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Saez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Saez stalling.
Cullen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saez smiles and moves away.
Cullen has a takedown stuffed.
Cullen throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saez tries to clinch but Cullen is having none of it.
Cullen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cullen circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cullen.
Saez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cullen.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Saez.
Saez works to advance to full mount. Cullen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Saez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Cullen tries to hold on but Saez pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saez is landing with some decent strikes but Cullen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cullen is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Saez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cullen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cullen lands a with a good body shot.
Saez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cullen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cullen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Saez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saez tries to clinch there but Cullen circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cullen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Cullen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cullen misses with a head kick.
Cullen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saez's waist but Cullen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cullen off to one side.
Saez wants to clinch.
Cullen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saez's waist but Cullen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cullen off to one side.

Saez moves into the clinch successfully.
Saez is pressed up against the cage. Cullen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Saez down to the mat. Cullen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Saez moves in looking to clinch but Cullen pushes him off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Saez has Cullen up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Saez.
Cullen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cullen takes an elbow to the temple.

Saez drags the fight down to the ground.
Saez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cullen is one step ahead there.
Saez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cullen controls the pace.
Saez wants to control but Cullen passes easily into half guard.
Cullen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Saez wants to get back to full guard but Cullen has mounted him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saez wants to hold on but Cullen pushes him away.
Cullen working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saez is looking to get to half guard.
Cullen controlling his opponent.
Saez gets back to half guard.
Saez is trying to get back to full guard.
Cullen wants to take a breather but Saez is having none of it.
Saez wants to improve his position but Cullen is controlling well.
Cullen controlling the action here.

Cullen decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Saez as he jumps to the side.

Saez closes the distance and clinches.

Saez pulls Cullen into guard.

Saez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saez working a defensive guard here.

Cullen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Saez moves in looking to clinch but Cullen pushes him off.
Saez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cullen.

Saez clinches with his opponent.
Cullen tries to pull guard but Saez holds him up against the cage and eventually Cullen drops back down to his feet.

Saez breaks from the clinch.
Saez tries to clinch there but Cullen circles away.
Dan Cullen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses.

Saez takes the fight into the clinch.
Saez avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Saez.
Saez lands with a light punch inside.

Saez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Saez clinches with his opponent.
Saez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Saez looking to throw knees to the head but Cullen is blocking nicely.
A short right from Saez on the inside.
Cullen tries to pull guard but Saez won't allow it.
Saez lands a hook to the side of the head.

Saez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cullen is trying to keep an underhook but Saez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cullen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saez wants to free his trapped foot but Cullen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Saez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cullen works his way to full guard. Good work.

Cullen has his feet on Saez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Saez is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Simon Saez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cullen shoots in for a takedown but Saez shows good takedown defense.
Cullen misses with a series of wild punches.
Cullen connects with a high kick.
Saez tries to clinch there but Cullen circles away.
Saez tries to clinch but Cullen is having none of it.
Cullen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Saez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Cullen is rocked!

Saez has Cullen up against the cage in a clinch.
Oh Cullen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Saez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Saez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Saez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Saez wants to control from the top but Cullen keeps moving.
Cullen is looking to stand back up but Saez counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cullen.
Saez trying to control the position but Cullen is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cullen tries to escape but Saez is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saez advances to full mount.

Saez decides to stand back up.
Saez tries for a takedown but Cullen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cullen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cullen seems to have got his legs back now.
Cullen throws a series of punches but Saez moves out of range.
Saez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cullen as he jumps to the side.
Saez fails to land the takedown.
Dan Cullen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Saez.
Saez tries to clinch there but Cullen circles away.
Saez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cullen throws a hook but Saez blocks it.
An inside leg kick lands from Saez.
Saez fails in his attempt to clinch.
A combination from Cullen does no damage.
Saez shoots in and drives through. Cullen sprawls well.
Cullen swats away the attempt to clinch by Saez.
Saez tries to clinch but Cullen moves out of range.
Cullen throws a right and a left that Saez avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cullen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Saez!
Saez can't escape the position.

Cullen gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Cullen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cullen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saez swivels and escapes.
Cullen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saez pinned against the cage. Saez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cullen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cullen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Cullen.
Cullen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cullen tries to clinch up.
Dan Cullen is winning the standup battle so far.
Saez wants to clinch up but Cullen keeps it at a distance.
Cullen throws a series of punches but Saez moves out of range.
Cullen shoots in but no luck this time.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses.
Dan Cullen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saez fails with the takedown.
Saez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saez shoots in for a takedown but Cullen shows good takedown defense.
A head kick misses from Cullen.

Saez forces Cullen back against the cage and clinches.
Saez tries a knee to the head but Cullen blocks it.
Saez controlling the action here for a moment.

Saez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cullen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saez doesn't manage to clinch there - Cullen circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cullen circles away from the clinch attempt.

Cullen has closed the distance and engaged Saez in a clinch.
Saez tries a knee to the head but Cullen blocks it.
Cullen wants a takedown but no success here.
Cullen dodges an elbow strike from Saez.

Cullen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cullen!
Cullen throws a combination that misses

and Saez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cullen's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cullen is looking to stand up but Saez isn't so interested in that idea.
Saez trying to control but Cullen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Saez trying to control the position from guard on top but Cullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saez is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Simon Saez.
Cullen looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cullen has closed the distance and engaged Saez in a clinch.
Cullen tries to pull guard but Saez won't allow it.
Saez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cullen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cullen.
Saez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Saez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Saez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Saez!