PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Danial Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergej Rostow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Danial Cunningham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cunningham
vs
Rostow

222 cm
19
151 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Danial Cunningham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergej Rostow!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rostow throws a leg kick which misses Cunningham's front leg but catches the back leg as Cunningham tries to avoid it.

Rostow forces Cunningham back against the cage and clinches.
Rostow avoids the elbow strike from Cunningham, against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Rostow.

Cunningham jumps guard and drags Rostow to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cunningham striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Rostow landing with the ground and pound.
Rostow stopping the sweep attempt from Cunningham.
Rostow trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham looking for a sweep. Not yet Cunningham, not yet.
Cunningham is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rostow looking to sit in guard and control but Cunningham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rostow controls Cunningham momentarily but Cunningham frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rostow wants to sweep but no luck.
Rostow is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rostow working for a triangle but Cunningham defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rostow looking for subs off his back but Cunningham has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rostow missing with punches from the bottom.
Rostow is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rostow looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cunningham controlling the action here.

Cunningham decides to stand and escape the position.
Cunningham fails with a takedown attempt.

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.

Rostow clinches up with Cunningham and pushes him back against the cage.

Cunningham pulls guard successfully.
Rostow working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rostow would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cunningham really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cunningham has control of Rostow's left arm, preventing Rostow from doing any damage.
Cunningham keeping moving, preventing Rostow from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rostow is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Danial Cunningham will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rostow takes the fight into the clinch.

Rostow manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Rostow is looking for a triangle here but Cunningham uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rostow tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rostow is looking to get back to his feet here but Cunningham is keeping cool and he's managed to take Rostow's back.
Cunningham misses with an elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cunningham is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Rostow has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Cunningham 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.
Rostow breaks Cunningham's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cunningham is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rostow wants to control from the top but Cunningham keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cunningham is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rostow trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cunningham pulls Rostow in to control the position.
Cunningham wants to sweep but no luck.
Rostow controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cunningham looking for a sweep. Not yet Cunningham, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham is working hard here to advance position.

Rostow thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rostow works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rostow wants to get back to his feet.
Rostow seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cunningham does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rostow is breathing heavily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rostow shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cunningham counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rostow misses with a takedown attempt
letting Cunningham counter with a right hand.

Cunningham closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rostow quickly recovers to half guard.
Rostow tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Cunningham manages to move to mount!
Cunningham fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rostow is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rostow keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cunningham controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danial Cunningham dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rostow shoots for a takedown but Cunningham saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Rostow closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cunningham tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rostow smiles and moves away.
Rostow shoots in but no luck this time.

Cunningham throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rostow tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cunningham is in Rostow's guard.
Rostow is wriggling around but Cunningham manages to pass to half guard.

Rostow wants to get back to his feet.
Rostow takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rostow gets full guard.
Cunningham has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham stops Rostow from standing up.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Cunningham decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rostow misses with a combination
and Cunningham counters with a left and a right that stings Rostow.

Cunningham manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rostow on his heels. He'll look to pass Rostow's guard now, I'm sure.
Cunningham in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Cunningham gets to his feet. Rostow looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sergej Rostow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cunningham is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rostow's half guard.

Rostow has one foot on Cunningham's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cunningham forces Rostow back against the cage and clinches.
Rostow goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cunningham prevents it.
Danial Cunningham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergej Rostow.
Cunningham goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rostow prevents it.

Cunningham pulls guard.
Rostow trying to move into half guard but instead Cunningham has managed to sweep!

Cunningham tries to stand but Rostow is controlling from the bottom.
Rostow looking to control but Cunningham passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cunningham wants to stand but Rostow has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Rostow is looking to improve his position.

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.
Cunningham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rostow can do to turn this around?
Rostow is looking to control Cunningham's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rostow avoid being mounted?
Rostow wants to get back to his feet.
Cunningham tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rostow.
Sergej Rostow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Danial Cunningham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Cunningham is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rostow is just riding it out for now. Cunningham eventually gives up the hold.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danial Cunningham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cunningham, 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danial Cunningham!