PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tony Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Darmody (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jaa comes to the cage accompanied by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RihHQ7XKTA. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Jaa
vs
Darmody

168 cm
25
136 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
27
141 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tony Jaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Darmody!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darmody cracks a nice hook into Jaa's ribs.
Jaa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Jaa checks the leg kick.
It looked like Jaa was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Darmody scores with a nice right hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Darmody.
Jaa gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jaa attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body punch from Darmody.
Jaa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Jaa is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Darmody looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jaa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
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!
Nice takedown defense from Darmody. No joy for Jaa on that attempt.
A punch combination from Darmody misses.
Darmody uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Darmody throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darmody stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Darmody wants it to stay on the feet.
Jaa throws a leg kick
and Darmody cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jaa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jab, jab by Darmody - just one landing.
Darmody wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Darmody is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Jaa darts in and clinches Darmody up against the cage.
Darmody tries to circle away but Jaa has him pinned against the cage.
Darmody has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Darmody tries to circle away but Jaa has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Darmody's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Darmody manages to break the clinch.
Darmody connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Darmody.
Jaa dives in and grabs Darmody's left leg, looking for a takedown. Darmody pushes down on Jaa's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Jaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Darmody throws a leg kick which misses Jaa's front leg but catches the back leg as Jaa tries to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darmody cracks Jaa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jaa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Darmody manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Darmody swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jaa counters with a one-two to the body.
Darmody scores with a shot to the body.
Darmody throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Darmody pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Jaa back to the cage. Darmody follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Darmody throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Jaa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Darmody is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Jaa had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Jaa takes one to the side of the head.
Jaa slips a jab and a cross from Darmody.
Darmody misses with a body shot.
Darmody misses with a few strikes there.
Jaa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Darmody but Darmody pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darmody throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jaa is looking to slow Darmody down with leg kicks.
Darmody lands a nice hook to Jaa's body. Jaa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jaa moves out of range of the leg kick from Darmody.
Jaa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Darmody misses the shot to the body.
Jaa went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Darmody fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jaa manages to avoid it.
Darmody jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Darmody. Jaa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Darmody with a nice cross.
Darmody lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa is looking to clinch.
Darmody throws a head kick but Jaa moves out of range.
Darmody scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jaa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Darmody.
James Darmody seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jaa doesn't manage to clinch there - Darmody circles away.
Darmody throws a combination that misses
and Jaa counters with a three punch combo that has Darmody backing up. Darmody nods at Jaa to acknowledge the strikes.
Jaa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Darmody misses with a head kick.
Darmody looks winded!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jaa moves into range and clinches up with Darmody.

Darmody breaks from the clinch.
Darmody swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Darmody dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Darmody fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jaa, pushing him back against the cage.
Darmody is trying to push Jaa away but Jaa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Darmody tries to score a body lock takedown but Jaa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Darmody on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Jaa.

Darmody escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jaa wants to clinch.
Darmody has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Darmody is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darmody looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jaa appears to be looking for a big counter.
A looping hook to the body misses from Darmody. Jaa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Darmody is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Darmody changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Darmody plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Darmody throws a head kick that Jaa semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa moves away from the strike by Darmody.
It looked like Jaa was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The fighters circle momentarily. Darmody darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Darmody misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jaa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Darmody motions for Jaa to come forward. Darmody throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jaa avoids the body shot from Darmody.
James Darmody seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jaa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Jaa takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A low kick from Darmody misses
and Jaa counters with a three punch combo that has Darmody backing up. Darmody nods at Jaa to acknowledge the strikes.
Jaa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Darmody works Jaa's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darmody swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Darmody is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darmody throws a combination that misses
and Jaa counters with a series of strikes. Darmody will be more careful next time no doubt.
Darmody throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jaa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Darmody looks to score with a jab to the body but Jaa is just out of range.
As Darmody looks to move away, Jaa throws a big counter combo but Darmody just gets out of the way.
Darmody thumps Jaa with a low kick.
Darmody throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Jaa has Darmody up against the cage in a clinch.
Darmody wants to get back to striking at distance but Jaa won't allow it.
Darmody is trying to push Jaa away but Jaa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Darmody blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jaa misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Darmody avoids it.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Darmody avoids it.
Darmody wants to break free but Jaa has control.

Jaa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Darmody misses with a straight left.
As Darmody looks to move away, Jaa throws a big counter combo but Darmody just gets out of the way.
A slapping body kick lands there for Darmody.
Jaa takes one to the chin there.
Darmody connects with a high kick.
Darmody will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
It looked like Jaa was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Darmody waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jaa.
A low kick from Darmody is predictable there
and Jaa counters with a three punch combo that has Darmody backing up. Darmody nods at Jaa to acknowledge the strikes.
Darmody scores with a one two! Jaa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Darmody thumps Jaa with a low kick.
Darmody feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jaa's calf.
Darmody rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jaa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Darmody swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Darmody is looking for the big counter here.
Darmody fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jaa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Darmody sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Darmody scores with a leg kick.
No joy there for Darmody, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Darmody loads up on a big right hand but Jaa slips the punch.
Darmody throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jaa counters with a one-two to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Jaa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Darmody showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Darmody throws a good cross that connects.
Jaa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Darmody misses with a series of wild punches.
Darmody looks to score with a jab to the body but Jaa is just out of range.
Darmody falls off balance throwing a combination

and Jaa moves into the clinch.
Jaa with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Darmody breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jaa with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Darmody to score with a decent uppercut.
Darmody lands a nice hook to Jaa's body. Jaa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Jaa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Jaa throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jaa manages to break the clinch.
Darmody avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Darmody lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jaa circles away quickly and effectively.
Jaa is looking to counter the offense by Darmody and move into the clinch.
Darmody throws a right and a left that both miss.
Darmody takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An inside leg kick from Darmody misses.
Darmody swats away the attempt to clinch by Jaa.
Jaa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jaa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Darmody. Darmody obviously looking to wear him down.
Darmody connects with a right hand. Jaa shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darmody throws a nice inside leg kick.
Darmody connects with an inside leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Jaa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Jaa checks a leg kick.
James Darmody is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jaa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Darmody.
Jaa blocks a head kick by Darmody.
Jaa throws a big counter combination but Darmody scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Jaa takes one to the side of the head.
Darmody looks to score with a jab to the body but Jaa is just out of range.
A low kick from Darmody is predictable there
and Jaa counters with a one-two to the body.

Darmody is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Jaa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Darmody is still on wobbly legs! Can Jaa finish him?
Darmody on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Darmody seems to have recovered his senses.

Jaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Darmody fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jaa to the ground. Darmody is now in Jaa's guard.

Jaa scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jaa is defended easily by Darmody.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Jaa. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Darmody tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jaa was well out of range. Poor timing from Darmody.
Darmody misses with a low kick.
Tony Jaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Darmody lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jaa's sensitive parts.
An inside leg kick from Darmody misses.
Darmody just misses with a punch to the body.
Jaa is looking to counter the offense by Darmody and move into the clinch.
Darmody showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jaa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jaa tries to sprawl but Darmody drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Jaa kicks Darmody off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darmody lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jaa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Darmody.

Jaa closes the distance and clinches.
Jaa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Darmody is defending well for now.
Darmody tries to break the clinch but Jaa is controlling the position.
Jaa looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A hook to the body from Jaa.
Jaa lands a good knee to the midsection. Darmody won't want to take too many of those.

Jaa breaks from the clinch.
Tony Jaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darmody lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Darmody.
I've got Darmody winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Darmody!
James Darmody decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.