PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Downey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Gardenia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Downey
vs
Gardenia

178 cm
24
204 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

212 cm
18
222 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Daniel Downey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eli Gardenia!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Downey rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gardenia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gardenia looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Downey moves out of range of the body kick.
Gardenia lands a nice looking body shot.
Gardenia cracks Downey with a good jab.
Gardenia throws a body punch but Downey moves out of range.
Downey uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gardenia.
Downey was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The fighters circling - Gardenia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As Gardenia looks to move away, Downey throws a big counter combo but Gardenia just gets out of the way.
Gardenia misses the shot to the body.

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

Downey decides to stand back up.
Downey fails to land the takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gardenia jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardenia lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gardenia stuffs the takedown attempt from Downey. Downey gets slowly back to his feet.
Downey tries for a takedown but Gardenia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gardenia is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Downey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gardenia throws a nice looking combination but Downey bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Eli Gardenia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Downey slips a straight right by Gardenia.
Downey moves out of range as Gardenia strikes.
Gardenia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gardenia lands with a cross.
Downey showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gardenia.
Downey throws a big counter combination but Gardenia scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Downey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gardenia tries to avoid it but Downey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gardenia to the ground. Gardenia escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fighters circling - Gardenia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downey ducks right into an uppercut from Gardenia.
Gardenia misses with a body shot.
Gardenia jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Downey lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Downey.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Downey with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gardenia counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gardenia goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
No luck for Downey with that takedown attempt.
Gardenia throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Downey is breathing heavily.
Downey avoids the body shot from Gardenia.
Gardenia throws a low kick but Downey avoids it.
Gardenia is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Downey uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gardenia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardenia leaves Downey with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Downey takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gardenia keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Downey throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gardenia's waist but Gardenia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Downey off to one side.
A telegraphed right hand from Gardenia misses the target.
Gardenia stuns Downey with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gardenia throws an overhand right that lands on Downey's shoulder, as Downey tries to avoid the shot.
Downey moves out of range of the strikes.
Downey moves away from the strike by Gardenia.
Gardenia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Downey manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downey closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gardenia circles away.
Downey fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gardenia connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gardenia. Downey does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice body kick there by Gardenia.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Downey takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gardenia is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Downey takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Daniel Downey has been cut.
Gardenia takes a swing at Downey's ribcage but misses.
Gardenia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gardenia misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It looked like Downey was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Gardenia throws a hook but Downey blocks it.

Gardenia has Downey up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gardenia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Downey's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Downey will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gardenia let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Daniel Downey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gardenia throws a lazy right hand but Downey sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Downey shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gardenia sprawls well. Gardenia wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Downey gets slowly back to his feet.
Gardenia listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gardenia throws a body shot but no joy.
Downey seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downey takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gardenia lands a jab-cross combination.
Downey uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gardenia.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gardenia.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Downey.
Gardenia tries to improve position but can't.
Gardenia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Downey. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Downey stands up.
Downey staying out of range there.
Eli Gardenia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Downey blocks a head kick by Gardenia.
Gardenia misses the shot to the body.
Gardenia scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
No joy there for Gardenia, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Downey fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Downey. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardenia digs a good body shot into Downey's ribs.
Downey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Downey shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gardenia as he avoids it easily.
Gardenia connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gardenia throws a shot from downtown. Downey moves away and avoids it.
It looked like Downey wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gardenia throws a wild body kick that Downey sees coming a mile off.
It looked like Downey was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Downey takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gardenia misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gardenia moves into range and clinches up with Downey.
Downey is looking for a takedown.
Gardenia swings wildly with an uppercut but Downey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gardenia misses with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Downey's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gardenia throws a head punch that misses.
Gardenia misses with a punch to the body.
A short body shot lands from Gardenia as the two fighters clinch.
Gardenia goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gardenia.
Gardenia lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gardenia effectively controlling the action here.
Gardenia digs a right hand into Downey's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Downey's gas tank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardenia makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gardenia creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Downey blocking some punches.
Gardenia lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A body shot lands from Gardenia.
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!
Gardenia lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gardenia.
Gardenia misses with a hook to the ribs.

Gardenia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Downey is starting to get sloppy and is letting his hands down. Gardenia just took advantage and landed a stinging jab. Oh! Now a right hook, right on the button! Downey has gone limp and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Eli Gardenia!