PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lucio Almeida (ranked 7625 p4p, 519 weight class) and Daniel McCullen (ranked 25475 p4p, 562 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Almeida
vs
McCullen

179 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

176 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucio Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel McCullen!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McCullen pinned against the cage. McCullen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McCullen steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
McCullen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Almeida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Almeida takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Almeida misses with a takedown attempt
enabling McCullen to counter with a crisp jab.
McCullen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McCullen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
McCullen just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Almeida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from McCullen misses.
Almeida fails with the takedown
and McCullen counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucio Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullen cracks the inside of Almeida's front leg.
McCullen throws a body punch but Almeida moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Almeida on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Almeida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McCullen.
McCullen stuffs the takedown.
McCullen appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Almeida moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice takedown defense from McCullen. No joy for Almeida on that attempt.
McCullen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Almeida tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McCullen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Almeida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McCullen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Donk. McCullen catches Almeida right on the button with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from McCullen. No joy for Almeida on that attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from McCullen misses.
Almeida tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McCullen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McCullen is looking for the big counter here.
McCullen takes a swing at Almeida's ribcage but misses.
McCullen scores with a nice body kick.
Almeida changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McCullen tries to avoid it but Almeida manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McCullen to the ground. McCullen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McCullen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Daniel McCullen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McCullen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McCullen thumps Almeida with a low kick.
McCullen has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Almeida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McCullen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by McCullen. That's going to slow Almeida down.
Both fighters circling a little - McCullen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Nice body kick from McCullen.
McCullen lands a nice looking body shot.
McCullen swats away the attempt to clinch by Almeida.
Almeida misses with a takedown
and McCullen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Almeida tries to clinch but McCullen moves away
and McCullen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Almeida shoots and misses
and McCullen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Almeida thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Almeida. McCullen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Almeida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McCullen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Almeida is breathing heavily.
McCullen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Almeida.
Almeida drops down looking for a counter takedown but McCullen sprawls and moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Almeida tries to clinch but McCullen moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McCullen! But no joy.
Almeida has his takedown stuffed
and McCullen counters with a series of strikes. Almeida will be more careful next time no doubt.
McCullen thuds his right hand into Almeida's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nice jab there from McCullen.
McCullen is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Almeida had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Almeida tries to clinch but McCullen is having none of it.
Almeida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel McCullen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McCullen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Almeida.
Lucio Almeida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice body punch from McCullen.
McCullen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Almeida is looking to clinch but McCullen is avoiding it.
Lucio Almeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCullen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Almeida fails with an attempt to clinch.
McCullen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
McCullen throws a body kick that misses.
Almeida feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Almeida throws a nice looking combination but McCullen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Almeida goes for a double leg but McCullen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as McCullen continues to drive forward.
Almeida throws a leg kick but McCullen sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick from McCullen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Almeida fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucio Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left lands for McCullen.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Almeida might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Almeida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McCullen swivels and escapes.
Almeida closes the distance looking to clinch
and McCullen counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida tries to move into range but McCullen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
McCullen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Almeida takes a step back to recover.
Almeida tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McCullen counters with an inside leg kick.
McCullen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice uppercut lands for McCullen. That snapped Almeida's head back.
Almeida ducks right into an uppercut from McCullen.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCullen lands with a shot to the body.
Almeida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCullen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
McCullen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Daniel McCullen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Almeida tries to clinch but McCullen moves away
and McCullen counters with a thumping low kick.

Almeida dives in and scores a takedown into McCullen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida throws a strike but McCullen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Almeida can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McCullen controls the pace.

Almeida is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McCullen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Almeida is looking to sweep but instead, McCullen has passed into half guard.
McCullen controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullen wants to free his trapped foot but Almeida is holding on for dear life with his legs.
McCullen slows the pace down in half guard.
McCullen is thwarting Almeida's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Almeida is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McCullen is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel McCullen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Almeida needs to keep his hands up - McCullen had a free shot at his head there.
McCullen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Almeida wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Almeida wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Almeida's sensitive parts.
McCullen swats away the attempt to clinch by Almeida.
Almeida shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCullen as he avoids it easily.
McCullen feints a counter leg kick.
Almeida closes the distance and clinches up with McCullen, looking for a takedown. Almeida pushes McCullen against the cage but McCullen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Almeida moves out of range as McCullen throws a body kick.
Almeida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Almeida backing away here, and McCullen unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
McCullen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Almeida counters with a left and a right that stings McCullen.
Almeida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida walks into a stiff left hand from McCullen.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts McCullen, as that shot connected.
McCullen just misses with a punch to the body.
McCullen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Almeida tries to score a power double leg takedown but McCullen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Almeida somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucio Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCullen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
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!
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCullen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No joy there for Almeida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Almeida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McCullen counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by McCullen. Beautiful body shot.
McCullen circles away from the clinch attempt
and McCullen counters with a three punch combo that has Almeida backing up. Almeida nods at McCullen to acknowledge the strikes.
McCullen stuns Almeida with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Almeida misses with a low kick as McCullen jumps back.
Almeida takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Almeida throws out a leg kick but McCullen moves out of range and Almeida only half commits.
A nice side step and McCullen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Almeida misses with the body kick
and McCullen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida shoots in for a takedown but McCullen shows good takedown defense.
McCullen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Almeida with a body shot.
Almeida wants to clinch up but McCullen keeps it at a distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McCullen! But no joy.
McCullen throws a body punch but Almeida moves out of range.
As McCullen looks to move away, Almeida throws a big counter combo but McCullen just gets out of the way.
McCullen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Almeida gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Almeida tries to clinch up.
McCullen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
McCullen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
McCullen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Almeida takes a step back to recover.
McCullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Almeida is just out of range.
Lucio Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCullen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel McCullen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McCullen 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 26:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel McCullen!