PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lance Cotton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Dank (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.

Cotton
vs
Dank

171 cm
22
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
23
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lance Cotton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steven Dank!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dank shoots in and gets a takedown into Cotton's guard.
Cotton wants to sweep here but Dank controlling him for the moment.
Cotton working a defensive guard here.
Cotton keeping full guard, as Dank tries to pass.
Dank wants to stand but Cotton is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cotton keeping moving, preventing Dank from controlling successfully.
Cotton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dank on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotton tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dank stands and throws Cotton's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cotton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cotton is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Dank's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cotton controlling the position well.
Cotton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cotton is not content to let Dank control the position.
Dank missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cotton is trying is best to control the position here.
Dank is trying to control. Cotton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cotton blocks a head kick by Dank.

Dank pushes Cotton up against the cage in a clinch.
Dank tries to land knees in the clinch but Cotton avoids the damage to the body.

Dank lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Dank trying to control from half guard but Cotton is working away.
Dank prevents Cotton from standing back up.
Dank is keen to just control but Cotton is a slippery customer.
Dank is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cotton keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotton is looking to control Dank's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cotton avoid being mounted?

Dank is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cotton sees it coming and defends easily.
Dank wants to control but Cotton is keeping him busy.
Dank is thwarting Cotton's attempts to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dank closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cotton's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cotton keeping moving, preventing Dank from controlling successfully.
Dank's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cotton wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cotton wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Dank manages to pass to side control.
Dank seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Dank dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dank fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cotton to the ground. Dank is now in Cotton's guard.
Dank pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cotton is keeping the position for now.
Dank stopping the sweep attempt from Cotton.
Cotton has his hands on Dank's head, controlling the position.
Cotton's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dank is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dank seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Dank pushes down on Cotton's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dank wants to take a breather but Cotton is having none of it.
Dank wants to stand up but Cotton is controlling the position.
Cotton preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Dank closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cotton to the mat! Cotton manages to get full guard.
Cotton keeping moving, preventing Dank from controlling successfully.
Cotton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dank prevents Cotton from getting back to his feet.
Dank wants to pass the guard but Cotton is keeping the position.
Dank is looking to work some ground and pound but Cotton has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dank engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cotton keeping full guard, as Dank tries to pass.
Cotton has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dank closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dank tries to advance to mount but can't.
Dank trying to control the action but Cotton is working from the bottom.
Cotton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dank moves into full mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dank can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cotton is looking to escape.
Cotton wants to control but Dank is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Dank showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cotton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Cotton moves into the clinch.
Cotton taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Dank lands a takedown into guard.
Dank wanted to stand there but Cotton had control of the position.
Dank throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dank content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Dank stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Dank throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cotton.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dank drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Dank wants to control from the top but Cotton keeps moving.
Cotton trying to keep a closed guard but Dank is proving a slippery customer.
Dank slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Dank. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Cotton wants to stand but Dank is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dank advances to half guard.
Cotton is staying active underneath Dank, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Dank is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dank is controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dank drives through and clinches with Cotton against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dank's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dank has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cotton moves into range and clinches up with Dank.
Cotton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Dank jumps guard and drags Cotton to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Dank is trying to control the position but Cotton postures up.
Dank looking for a sweep. Not yet Dank, not yet.
Dank avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dank preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cotton working some strikes from top position.
Cotton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Dank is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cotton defends well.
Dank takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cotton drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Dank manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cotton has Dank in his guard.

Cotton keeping moving, preventing Dank from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Dank comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dank 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Dank!