PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ragnar Danneskjöld (ranked 3568 p4p, 429 weight class) and Troy Anselmo (ranked 1621 p4p, 215 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Danneskjöld
vs
Anselmo

185 cm
39
200 lbs
25 - 26 - 0

182 cm
30
188 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 25 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ragnar Danneskjöld!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Troy Anselmo!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danneskjöld checks the leg kick nicely there.
Danneskjöld moves out of range as Anselmo throws a body kick.

Danneskjöld clinches with his opponent.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Danneskjöld.
Danneskjöld taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Anselmo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Anselmo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anselmo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Danneskjöld tries a body shot but Anselmo blocks it.
Nice body punch from Danneskjöld - that landed with a thud.
Anselmo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Danneskjöld misses with a hook from the clinch.
Anselmo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Danneskjöld has picked Anselmo up - he's going for a ride! Danneskjöld dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Anselmo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Danneskjöld's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Danneskjöld's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anselmo keeps control of the position as Danneskjöld tries to break free.
Anselmo 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.
Danneskjöld is really stuck here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anselmo controlling the position well here. Danneskjöld rolled but Anselmo kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Anselmo is trying to stick to Danneskjöld's back but Danneskjöld is turning into Anselmo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Anselmo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Danneskjöld.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Danneskjöld wants to control from the top but Anselmo keeps moving.
Danneskjöld passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Anselmo can't do much from the bottom here.
Anselmo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Danneskjöld is staying active.
Danneskjöld cracks Anselmo with a big right hand but Anselmo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danneskjöld working away.
Anselmo 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Danneskjöld tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Anselmo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Danneskjöld throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ground and pound from Danneskjöld seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Anselmo stops Danneskjöld from passing to mount.
Danneskjöld working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anselmo sneaks back into half guard.
Anselmo is refusing to be controlled, as Danneskjöld sits in half guard.
Anselmo is trying to stand up here but Danneskjöld is controlling him well.
Anselmo preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Anselmo manages to get to full guard.
Anselmo keeping full guard, as Danneskjöld tries to pass.
Anselmo wants to sweep here but Danneskjöld controlling him for the moment.
Anselmo wants to stand and escape but Danneskjöld is having none of it.

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.
Danneskjöld trying to control the position from guard on top but Anselmo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anselmo controlling Danneskjöld's posture.
Danneskjöld preventing the sweep.
Danneskjöld slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Danneskjöld goes for a double leg but Anselmo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Anselmo continues to drive forward.
Danneskjöld tries for a takedown but Anselmo circles away easily
and Anselmo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice uppercut lands for Anselmo. That snapped Danneskjöld's head back.
Anselmo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Danneskjöld has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Anselmo throws a front kick aimed at Danneskjöld's knee but Danneskjöld avoids it well.
Anselmo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Troy Anselmo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Danneskjöld's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Danneskjöld throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Anselmo's waist but Anselmo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Danneskjöld off to one side.
Ragnar Danneskjöld seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danneskjöld fails in his attempt to clinch.
Anselmo throws an overhand right that lands on Danneskjöld's shoulder, as Danneskjöld tries to avoid the shot.
Danneskjöld darts in looking for a takedown but Anselmo gets double underhooks and turns Danneskjöld into the cage.
Danneskjöld fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ragnar Danneskjöld. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Danneskjöld takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danneskjöld has a couple of punches blocked by Anselmo.
Anselmo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Danneskjöld's elbow.
Anselmo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Anselmo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Danneskjöld makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anselmo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Anselmo lands a body shot.
Danneskjöld throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Danneskjöld pushes Anselmo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Danneskjöld tightens his grip and picks Anselmo up, before dumping him to the ground. Anselmo manages to land in guard.

Anselmo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Danneskjöld tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Anselmo's elbow.
Anselmo throws a head punch that misses.
Danneskjöld fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Danneskjöld misses with some punches.
Danneskjöld lands a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Danneskjöld can't get the takedown.
Anselmo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Danneskjöld.
Anselmo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anselmo misses with the head strike.
Danneskjöld tries to score a body lock takedown but Anselmo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Anselmo tries to work over Danneskjöld's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Anselmo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danneskjöld is struggling to control the position.
A right hook to the body lands for Anselmo.
Anselmo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Danneskjöld blocks an uppercut.
Danneskjöld prevents a body shot from Anselmo.
Anselmo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Danneskjöld as Anselmo tries to tie him up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Danneskjöld.
Anselmo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Anselmo is leaning against Danneskjöld and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Anselmo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Anselmo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Anselmo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Danneskjöld backwards.
Anselmo tries a body shot but Danneskjöld blocks it.
I was talking to Danneskjöld's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Danneskjöld tries to score a body lock takedown but Anselmo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Anselmo misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short left from Anselmo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anselmo misses with a punch to the body.
Anselmo lands with a short shot to the head.
Danneskjöld blocks an uppercut.
Anselmo prevents the takedown attempt.
Anselmo gets through Danneskjöld's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Anselmo pushes Danneskjöld back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Anselmo scores with a shoulder strike.
Danneskjöld blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Anselmo tries to work over Danneskjöld's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Danneskjöld goes for a takedown attempt but Anselmo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Anselmo lands a leg kick that knocks Danneskjöld off balance momentarily.
Danneskjöld closes this distance looking for a takedown but Anselmo circles away.
Anselmo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Anselmo lunges at Danneskjöld with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Danneskjöld's hand.
Anselmo swings for the body but Danneskjöld moves out of range.
Danneskjöld throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Anselmo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Anselmo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Anselmo.
A head kick misses from Danneskjöld.
Anselmo replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Danneskjöld blocks it well.
Danneskjöld steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Anselmo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Danneskjöld looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Danneskjöld thows a leg kick but Anselmo checks it
and Anselmo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Danneskjöld is rocked!
Danneskjöld fails with the takedown
and Anselmo scores with a counter punch that sends Danneskjöld to the canvas! Anselmo smells blood - he's punishing Danneskjöld with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Danneskjöld has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Troy Anselmo!
In his post fight interview, Troy Anselmo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
Ragnar Danneskjöld spoke after the fight, saying 'Who is John Galt?'.