PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edgars Al Dariush (ranked 96 p4p, 513 weight class) and Duncan Farquharson (ranked 16 p4p, 72 weight class). The key to victory for Edgars Al Dariush has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Al Dariush
vs
Farquharson

187 cm
24
207
12 - 1 - 0

195 cm
24
220
10 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

30th Century Beer Store
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edgars Al Dariush!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Duncan Farquharson!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Al Dariush fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Farquharson checks it well.
Farquharson with the counter takedown but Al Dariush avoids it easily.
Farquharson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Farquharson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Al Dariush defends it well.
Al Dariush throws a jab but it's blocked by Farquharson.
Farquharson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Farquharson slips a straight right by Al Dariush.
Farquharson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good leg kick by Al Dariush.
Al Dariush takes a swing at Farquharson's ribcage but misses.
Farquharson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farquharson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Al Dariush.
A jab from Al Dariush misses.
Farquharson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A big right from Al Dariush misses.
Farquharson with the counter takedown but Al Dariush avoids it easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Farquharson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Al Dariush chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Al Dariush misses with a straight right.
Farquharson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Al Dariush defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farquharson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Al Dariush.
Farquharson feints the counter takedown.
Al Dariush lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Farquharson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Farquharson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Al Dariush lands a head shot.
Al Dariush just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Dariush scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Farquharson doesn't seem bothered though.
Farquharson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Farquharson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Al Dariush looks to land a right hand but Farquharson moved out of range.
Al Dariush connects with a solid leg kick.
Al Dariush is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Farquharson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Farquharson avoids the body shot from Al Dariush.
Farquharson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Al Dariush scores with a sloppy right hand. Farquharson should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Dariush attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Farquharson feints the counter takedown.
Al Dariush throws a leg kick

and Farquharson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Farquharson.
Farquharson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Al Dariush looking for a guillotine here but Farquharson defends easily.

Al Dariush looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Farquharson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Al Dariush works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edgars Al Dariush dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Al Dariush feints and then cracks Farquharson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Farquharson down.
Al Dariush slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Al Dariush ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Farquharson moves away.
And Farquharson tries to counter it with a takedown but Al Dariush pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Farquharson avoids the body shot from Al Dariush.
Farquharson feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Dariush connects with a leg kick.
Al Dariush rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Farquharson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Dariush is not content to let Farquharson control the position.
Farquharson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Al Dariush avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Farquharson.
Farquharson wants to pass to mount but Al Dariush is defending the position.
Farquharson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Farquharson wants to free his trapped foot but Al Dariush is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Al Dariush keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Al Dariush is controlling Farquharson's trapped leg to prevent Farquharson from advancing to side control.
Farquharson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Al Dariush does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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.
Al Dariush has hold of Farquharson's hands but Farquharson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Farquharson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Dariush keeps working.
Farquharson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Farquharson lands with a punch from half guard.

Al Dariush looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Al Dariush on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Farquharson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Farquharson is pressing down on Al Dariush's thigh, looking to free his foot. Al Dariush is holding on for now.
Farquharson trying to control the action but Al Dariush is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farquharson wants to free his trapped foot but Al Dariush is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Farquharson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Dariush keeps working.
Farquharson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Farquharson moves nicely into side control.
Al Dariush takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Farquharson scores with punches from side control.
Farquharson is putting a hurting on Al Dariush here, landing some big shots from side control.
Farquharson advances to full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farquharson wants to control the pace but Al Dariush is squirming around nicely.
Farquharson avoids the attempt from Al Dariush to control.
Farquharson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Farquharson controlling from mount.
Farquharson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Farquharson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Farquharson looking to control but Al Dariush is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Farquharson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Duncan Farquharson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Al Dariush throws the left hand but Farquharson avoids the punch easily.
Farquharson with the counter takedown but Al Dariush avoids it easily.
Farquharson drops his hands momentarily and Al Dariush takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Al Dariush connects with a solid leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Al Dariush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farquharson moves out of range as Al Dariush strikes.
Farquharson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Al Dariush throws a leg kick that is checked

so Farquharson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Al Dariush seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farquharson trying to control but Al Dariush is working from the bottom.
Farquharson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Al Dariush works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Farquharson chips away with some ground and pound.
Farquharson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Farquharson with a nice head shot there.
Al Dariush keeping moving, preventing Farquharson from controlling successfully.
Farquharson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farquharson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Farquharson tries to free his leg and advance position but Al Dariush is retaining full guard.
Farquharson wants to control from the top but Al Dariush keeps moving.

Al Dariush is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Farquharson frees his head nicely. Oh but Al Dariush has switched to an armbar! Farquharson is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Edgars Al Dariush!
Edgars Al Dariush retains his light heavyweight title!
Edgars Al Dariush seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.