PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gordan Danns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amir Mahmutaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Amir Mahmutaj acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Danns
vs
Mahmutaj

190 cm
21
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

201 cm
19
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gordan Danns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Amir Mahmutaj!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Danns looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Danns thows a huge punch but Mahmutaj dodges it nicely.
Mahmutaj is looking for a sweep. Danns is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mahmutaj looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mahmutaj tries to roll over but Danns keeps him under control.
Danns trying to control from Mahmutaj's half guard. Mahmutaj has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Mahmutaj 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Danns postures up.
Danns wants to stand but Mahmutaj has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmutaj not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mahmutaj wants to get back to his feet but Danns is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Danns might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Danns tries to free his leg and advance position but Mahmutaj is retaining full guard.
Mahmutaj is controlling Danns's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Amir Mahmutaj was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Danns throws a good cross that connects.
Danns takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nice sprawl there from Danns as Mahmutaj shoots in.
Danns misses with a head kick.
Danns leaves Mahmutaj 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Danns looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mahmutaj fails with the takedown.
Gordan Danns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amir Mahmutaj.
Mahmutaj looks gassed!
Danns throws a nice looking combination but Mahmutaj bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mahmutaj tries to clinch there but Danns circles away.
Mahmutaj looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Danns is looking to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mahmutaj shoots and misses
and Mahmutaj takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Amir Mahmutaj has been cut.
Danns tries to clinch up.
Mahmutaj with a lazy takedown attempt

and Danns counters by moving into the clinch.
Danns fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmutaj tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Danns just stands there and leans against the cage.
Danns drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mahmutaj gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Danns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mahmutaj avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Danns. No joy for Mahmutaj on that attempt.
Danns throws a head kick that misses.
Mahmutaj keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Danns lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A combination from Danns does no damage.

Danns feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahmutaj wants to sweep but no luck.
Danns stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mahmutaj swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Danns has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mahmutaj keeping moving, preventing Danns from controlling successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Danns controlling from the top position.
Danns tries to free his leg and advance position but Mahmutaj is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

We're going to have a standup here because Gordan Danns wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Mahmutaj clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gordan Danns dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Amir Mahmutaj's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mahmutaj instigates a clinch.
Danns is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mahmutaj wants a takedown but no success here.
Danns drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mahmutaj gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Danns goes for a takedown attempt but Mahmutaj pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mahmutaj fails to land the takedown.

Mahmutaj has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danns has Mahmutaj pressed against the cage, preventing Mahmutaj from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Danns tries to pull guard but Mahmutaj won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gordan Danns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mahmutaj has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mahmutaj drops down looking for an ankle pick but Danns pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mahmutaj keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Danns feints and as Mahmutaj raises his hands in defense, Danns changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mahmutaj is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Danns wants to control from the top but Mahmutaj keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mahmutaj has an active guard here but Danns has managed to pass into half guard.
Mahmutaj is breathing heavily.

Danns looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mahmutaj tries to roll over but Danns keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmutaj wants to control but Danns is keeping busy.
Danns is pressing down on Mahmutaj's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mahmutaj is holding on for now.
Danns is controlling the pace.
Mahmutaj trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahmutaj is doing well to control the position and prevent Danns from advancing to side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Amir Mahmutaj has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Danns is defended easily by Mahmutaj.
Danns misses with a head kick.
Mahmutaj takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gordan Danns is winning the standup battle so far.
Horrible takedown by Mahmutaj or perhaps it was just good defense by Danns which made him look bad.
Mahmutaj is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gordan Danns will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Amir Mahmutaj's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mahmutaj shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Danns as he avoids it easily.
Mahmutaj shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Danns as he avoids it easily.
Mahmutaj fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Danns looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mahmutaj closes this distance looking for a takedown but Danns circles away.
Gordan Danns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amir Mahmutaj.
The fight stays on the outside here - Danns looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mahmutaj misses with a takedown attempt - Danns sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mahmutaj tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mahmutaj takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Danns closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Danns advances to mount.

Danns is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danns fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Danns fails with a takedown attempt.
Danns misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Danns circles away from the clinch attempt.

Danns fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mahmutaj, pushing him back against the cage.

Danns works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Mahmutaj looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danns is stalling in the full guard.

Mahmutaj is looking for a triangle but Danns pushes his legs off easily.
Mahmutaj is trying to control the position but Danns postures up.

Danns avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gordan Danns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mahmutaj can't keep his opponent in guard - Danns advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danns trying to control from half guard but Mahmutaj is working away.
Danns prevents Mahmutaj from improving his position.
Danns controlling the pace.
Danns knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mahmutaj on the ground.

Mahmutaj looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danns trying to control the action but Mahmutaj is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mahmutaj tries to get to full guard but Danns has control of the leg.

Danns stands up and beckons Mahmutaj to join him on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice inside leg kick there by Danns. That's going to slow Mahmutaj down.
Amir Mahmutaj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gordan Danns is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Danns shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gordan Danns showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Danns, 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gordan Danns!