PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Otis Keith (ranked 7529 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Neale (ranked 6881 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Keith
vs
Neale

160 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
20
173 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Otis Keith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daniel Neale!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neale shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Keith but Keith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Keith lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Keith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Neale.
Keith really is a fat lump.
Keith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Neale counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Keith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Keith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Neale throws a low kick, looking for Keith's leg but Keith calmly moves out of range.
Neale keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A nice side step and Neale releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neale stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Otis Keith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Neale pinned against the cage. Neale gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Neale but Neale pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No luck for Neale with that takedown attempt.
Neale throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Keith's waist but Keith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Neale off to one side.
Keith feinted with a counter takedown.

Neale closes the distance and pushes Keith back into the cage.
Keith is trying to break free.
Keith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Keith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Keith has Neale up against the cage in a clinch.

Neale ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Neale no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keith postures up in Neale's guard and throws a big left but Neale blocks it.
Neale has control of Keith's left arm, preventing Keith from doing any damage.
Keith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Keith throwing strikes from guard but Neale blocks nicely.
Keith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Neale works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Keith throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Keith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Keith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Neale looking for a guillotine here but Keith defends easily.
Neale wants to stand up but Keith is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Keith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Neale is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Neale keeping moving, preventing Keith from controlling successfully.
Keith with a flurry of punches that miss.
Keith is looking to work some ground and pound but Neale has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neale throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Keith.
Neale wants to counter with a clinch but Keith pushes him away.
Keith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Neale.
Keith dives in and grabs Neale's left leg, looking for a takedown. Neale pushes down on Keith's head and hops out.
Neale tries to score a power double leg takedown but Keith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Neale somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neale will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Neale takes the fight into the clinch.
Neale wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Keith has him pressed against the cage.

Neale successfully pulls guard.
Keith stands up over Neale, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Keith is looking to work some ground and pound but Neale has wrist control.
Neale preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Neale working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Keith.
Neale working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Keith.
Keith won't allow Neale to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniel Neale will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Neale moves into range and clinches up with Keith.
A frustrated look appears on Keith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Neale jumps guard but Keith turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Keith taking a breather.
Keith is looking to break free of the clinch but Neale has double underhooks.
Keith stops a takedown attempt from Neale.

Keith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Keith with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neale misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Keith is defended easily by Neale.
Neale feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neale closes the distance and clinches.
Keith tries to break the clinch but Neale is controlling the position.
Neale keeps control of Keith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Neale wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A body shot lands from Neale.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Keith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Neale shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Keith sprawls well. Keith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Neale gets slowly back to his feet.
Otis Keith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Neale.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neale keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Keith drives through with a takedown into guard.

Neale has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Keith has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Neale effectively controlling the action here.
Neale goes for a takedown attempt but Keith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Daniel Neale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Neale closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keith is trying to push Neale away but Neale has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Neale tries to break the clinch but Keith is controlling the position.

Keith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Keith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Neale holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Keith is trying to break the clinch but Neale has him pressed against the cage.
Neale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Neale wants a takedown.

Keith breaks the clinch.

Neale darts in and clinches Keith up against the cage.
Keith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Neale is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Keith pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neale keeps control of Keith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Keith can't break the clinch.
Keith throws a knee to the head but misses.

Keith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Neale throws a lazy head kick

and Keith counters with a nice double leg into side control. Neale won't be happy with that.
Keith landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neale is looking to reverse the position.
Keith grinds an elbow into Neale's temple.
Neale manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Daniel Neale has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neale wants to control but Keith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Neale manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Keith won't allow Neale to sweep him here.
Keith chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Neale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Keith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Neale dives in and grabs Keith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Keith pushes down on Neale's head and hops out.
Neale doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Keith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Keith shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Neale misses with a takedown attempt - Keith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Otis Keith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Neale.
Keith fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keith fails with the takedown
and Neale counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Neale.
Neale takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Keith tries for a takedown but Neale circles away easily
and Neale counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Good exchange - Neale coming out on top.

Neale closes the distance and clinches.
Keith is trying to maintain a safe position but Neale gets an underhook and turns Keith into the cage.

Keith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Keith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Neale circles away.
Keith leaves Neale with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neale misses the shot to the body.
Keith shoots and misses
and Neale counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Neale darts in and clinches Keith up against the cage.
Keith wants to break the clinch but can't.

Neale pulls guard effortlessly.
Neale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Keith postures up and lands a big shot to Neale's brow.
Neale is pulling down on Keith's head to control his posture.

Neale looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Neale throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Keith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Neale looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Neale looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Neale!

The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Keith tries to improve position but can't.
Keith pushes Neale away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Neale gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Neale just content to control the position.
Keith is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Neale is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keith blocking the ground and pound.
Neale blocks Keith's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Keith wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Neale is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
I would not like to be Keith right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Neale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Neale has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Neale!
In his post fight interview, Daniel Neale started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.