PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brock Resnar (ranked 4385 p4p, 4464 weight class) and Daniel Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cormier is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Face the Pain. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Resnar
vs
Cormier

160 cm
25
257
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
235
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Urban Fighter
Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brock Resnar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Daniel Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Resnar defends well and Cormier ends up having to push Resnar into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Cormier closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Resnar's guard.
Cormier connects with a couple of short punches.
Cormier throws a big right hand that misses.
Resnar keeping moving, preventing Cormier from controlling successfully.
Cormier is in close to Resnar's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Resnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cormier is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Resnar throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cormier accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cormier landing some decent shots from guard.
Cormier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cormier is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cormier passes into half guard.
Cormier landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Resnar is not content to let Cormier control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Cormier there.
Cormier is looking to pass Resnar's guard but actually Resnar recovers to full guard.
Cormier postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Resnar pulls Cormier in to control the position.
Cormier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cormier lands a couple of elbows.
Cormier postures up and lands a big shot to Resnar's brow.
Cormier postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cormier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Resnar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Resnar keeping full guard, as Cormier tries to pass.
Resnar could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cormier chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cormier trying to control but Resnar is working from the bottom.
Cormier working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Resnar's head.
Cormier is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Resnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cormier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Resnar seems keen to control Cormier's posture.
Cormier connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cormier trying to control but Resnar is working from the bottom.
Cormier is in close to Resnar's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cormier with a nice head shot there.
Resnar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cormier wants to control from the top but Resnar keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Resnar trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cormier dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cormier darts in looking for a takedown but Resnar gets double underhooks and turns Cormier into the cage.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cormier enables Resnar to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cormier manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cormier is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Resnar controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cormier working a defensive guard but Resnar manages to pass into side control anyway.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier dodges the ground and pound from Resnar.
You can see the frustration on Cormier's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cormier is looking for a sweep.
Resnar passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Cormier!
Cormier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Resnar prevents Cormier from getting the reversal.
Cormier tries to hold on but Resnar pushes him away.
Cormier is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Resnar tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cormier is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cormier really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Resnar working for a submission but Cormier is keeping him at bay.
Cormier sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Cormier is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Cormier is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Resnar wants to pass the guard but Cormier is defending well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cormier can do anything to dispel that myth.
Resnar keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cormier manages to get to full guard.
Cormier is trying to hold Resnar in close to prevent damage but Resnar has managed to pass into half guard.
Cormier is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cormier is staying active underneath Resnar, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cormier wants to improve his position but Resnar is controlling well.
Cormier is trying to maintain the position but Resnar is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Resnar controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Resnar closes the distance and pushes Cormier back into the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Resnar dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cormier looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cormier wants to control from the top but Resnar keeps moving.
Resnar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cormier manages to get himself to full guard.

Resnar gets to his feet - Cormier follows without any prompting.

Resnar bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cormier parries the strikes from Resnar easily there. Resnar is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cormier to escape.
Cormier can't do much from the bottom here.

Resnar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cormier is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier can't do much from the bottom here.
A control attempt from Cormier but he's now mounted!
Cormier is desperately trying to improve his position but Resnar has a good base and remains in mount.
Cormier is squirming around, avoiding Resnar's attempts to control the action.
Cormier wants to hold on but Resnar pushes him away.
Cormier tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two 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.
Cormier is trying to reverse the position but instead Resnar has taken his back - oops!
Cormier has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Resnar.
Resnar somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Cormier trying to control but not successfully.
Resnar 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.
Cormier looking very determined here, making life difficult for Resnar.
Cormier wants to control his opponent's hands but Resnar gets his hands free.
Cormier is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Resnar is staying active.
Cormier tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Resnar gets his hands free as Cormier looks to control.
Cormier can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier keeps trying to improve his position.
Cormier is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Resnar.

Cormier defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Cormier trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Resnar controlling well, preventing Cormier from escaping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brock Resnar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Resnar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brock Resnar!
Daniel Cormier was interviewed post fight and said 'You don't quit after you get beat. You pick yourself up, and you start rebuilding to accomplish your goals.'.