PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Cornwall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xzibit Daul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cornwall
vs
Xzibit Daul

225 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Good elbows
Intelligent

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, Josh Cornwall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Xzibit Daul!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cornwall shoots in but no luck this time.
Josh Cornwall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cornwall shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Daul but Daul pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Cornwall instigates a clinch.
Come on Cornwall - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Cornwall tries to score a body lock takedown but Daul shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Cornwall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A knee to the head by Cornwall.
Daul takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Xzibit Daul has been cut.
Daul is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cornwall pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Daul jumps guard but Cornwall stands there with Daul around his waist. Daul gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cornwall tries to score a body lock takedown but Daul shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cornwall tries to score a body lock takedown but Daul shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Daul is trying to pull guard but Cornwall has him pressed against the cage.
Cornwall connects with a knee to the head.
Daul tries to pull guard but Cornwall holds him up against the cage and eventually Daul drops back down to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cornwall misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daul stops a takedown attempt from Cornwall.
Cornwall really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Daul jumps guard but Cornwall turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Daul jumps guard but Cornwall stands there with Daul around his waist. Daul gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cornwall goes for a takedown attempt but Daul pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Daul tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Daul clinches up with Cornwall and pushes him back against the cage.
Cornwall is working for takedown but Daul is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cornwall is breathing heavily.
Cornwall is trying to drag Daul to the mat but Daul just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Daul misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Daul moves into range and clinches up with Cornwall.
Daul goes for a takedown attempt but Cornwall pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Daul is trying to stall.
Cornwall tries a knee to the head but Daul blocks it.
Cornwall tries a knee to the head but Daul blocks it.
Daul tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cornwall just stands there and leans against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Daul's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cornwall changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Daul fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Daul or perhaps it was just good defense by Cornwall which made him look bad.
Cornwall looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Daul shoots in for a double leg but Cornwall sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Cornwall fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Daul, pushing him back against the cage.
Cornwall tries to score a body lock takedown but Daul shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Daul stalling in the clinch but Cornwall improves position.
Cornwall keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Daul's efforts to push away.
Cornwall throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Daul blocks it with crossed arms.
Daul is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cornwall gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daul prevents the takedown attempt.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Daul's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cornwall is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cornwall goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Daul stops a takedown attempt from Cornwall.
Daul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Daul trying to control the position but instead, Cornwall has worked for underhooks and has pushed Daul into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cornwall with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cornwall gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Daul.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Josh Cornwall will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Xzibit Daul's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Daul shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cornwall but Cornwall pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Daul.

Cornwall drives through and clinches with Daul against the cage.

Cornwall manages to break the clinch.
Cornwall fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cornwall showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Daul.

Cornwall closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Daul did well to prevent Cornwall getting side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cornwall is controlling the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cornwall has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cornwall trying to mount his opponent but Daul defends it.

Cornwall 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.
Cornwall with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Daul connecting with a few gentle strikes.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cornwall seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Daul for as long as he can get away with.

Cornwall is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cornwall controlling the action here.
Cornwall is trying to control. Daul wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cornwall controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Josh Cornwall just wasn't active enough.
A punch combination from Daul misses.
Cornwall shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Daul fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Daul tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cornwall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Daul somewhat.
Josh Cornwall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xzibit Daul.

Daul tries to keep at a distance but Cornwall has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cornwall with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cornwall stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cornwall tries to land a knee to the head but Daul blocks with his arms.
Josh Cornwall has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Daul is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cornwall to keep the fight standing.
Cornwall is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Daul gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Daul tries to pull guard but Cornwall won't allow it.
Daul wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cornwall controlling the action here for a moment.
Daul is trying to pull guard but Cornwall has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cornwall manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Daul looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cornwall dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Xzibit Daul's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cornwall rushes Daul and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Cornwall manages to break the clinch.
Daul shoots in for a double leg but Cornwall sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cornwall blocks a head kick by Daul.
Daul lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Cornwall looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cornwall will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cornwall keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cornwall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cornwall stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Daul wants to control but Cornwall is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cornwall sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Josh Cornwall.
Cornwall fails in his attempt to clinch.

Cornwall scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Daul tries to buck Cornwall off but Cornwall is having none of it.
Daul prevents Cornwall from moving into mount.
Cornwall is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Daul's shoulder. That is not cool.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Josh Cornwall wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Daul dives in for a single leg takedown but Cornwall sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cornwall is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Daul gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cornwall wants a takedown but no success here.
Cornwall wants to take the fight to the mat but Daul manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Cornwall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cornwall prevents a takedown attempt there.
Daul wants to get back to striking at distance but Cornwall won't allow it.
Cornwall has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Daul avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daul has Cornwall pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cornwall manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cornwall wants to take the fight to the mat but Daul manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Daul is trying to break the clinch but Cornwall is controlling him.

Cornwall turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Daul is looking for a sweep.
Cornwall moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Daul tries to escape but Cornwall is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daul is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cornwall's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Cornwall decides to return to a standing position.

Cornwall drives through and clinches with Daul against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cornwall.
Cornwall drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Daul misses with a shot to the kidneys.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daul tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cornwall just stands there and leans against the cage.
Daul is trying to pull guard but Cornwall turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Xzibit Daul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daul looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Cornwall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cornwall, 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Josh Cornwall!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Josh Cornwall!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Josh Cornwall!

Josh Cornwall wins by unanimous decision!