PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erick Darko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leroy Johnstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darko comes to the cage accompanied by S.C.O.S.A - Flatbush Zombies. Johnstone has chosen Can't be touched as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Darko
vs
Johnstone

179 cm
21
183 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

177 cm
21
179 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Erick Darko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leroy Johnstone!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnstone connects with a high kick.
Darko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johnstone tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Darko throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnstone.
Johnstone scores with a head kick.
Johnstone scores with a body shot.
Darko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnstone scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Johnstone lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Darko at a distance.
Johnstone connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Darko's hands.
Darko lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Leroy Johnstone has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnstone keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Darko.
Darko misses with a straight right.
Darko connects with the punch.
Johnstone throws a head kick that misses.
Johnstone throws a head kick that Darko semi-blocks.
Good exchange - Johnstone coming out on top.
Darko tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Johnstone staying out of range there.
Darko seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
A head kick from Johnstone lands but Darko takes it in his stride.
Johnstone throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Darko counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Johnstone!

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Darko crashes against the mat.
Darko scores with punches from side control.
Darko throws an elbow but Johnstone slips to the side and avoids it well.
Darko in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Johnstone wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Darko is putting a hurting on Johnstone here, landing some big shots from side control.
Darko is staying tight to Johnstone's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Darko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Johnstone is pushing Darko's head away, looking to escape. Darko manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darko tries to score with some ground and pound. Johnstone controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Johnstone taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sloppy strikes there by Darko.

Darko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Darko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Darko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnstone keeps working.
Darko grinds an elbow into Johnstone's temple.
Johnstone is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Darko is controlling him well.
Darko is staying tight to Johnstone's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Darko lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnstone is working to avoid the ground and pound but Darko connects with a decent elbow.
Johnstone takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Darko 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 Johnstone's shoulder. That is not cool.
Darko looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Johnstone is avoiding damage well.
Johnstone avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Darko.
The ground and pound from Darko seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Johnstone dodges the ground and pound from Darko.
Johnstone takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That has opened up Leroy Johnstone's cut even more.
We've been informed that Johnstone has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Darko throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Darko misses with the ground and pound.
Johnstone parries the strikes from Darko easily there. Darko is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Johnstone to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darko throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Johnstone works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Johnstone is staying active underneath Darko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Darko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johnstone keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Darko content to control rather than advance.
Darko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Darko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

The cut above Leroy Johnstone's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Darko seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Darko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leroy Johnstone's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Darko tries to move into range but Johnstone moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johnstone.
Johnstone throws a body kick that misses.
Darko takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Johnstone ducks under a wild hook from Darko.
Johnstone ducks under a wild hook from Darko.
Johnstone lands a leg kick that knocks Darko off balance momentarily.
The fighters circling - Darko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice takedown defense from Johnstone. No joy for Darko on that attempt.
Darko sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Johnstone throws a looping overhand right but Darko ducks down to avoid it.
Darko moves out of range as Johnstone strikes.
Darko gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Johnstone swings for the body but Darko moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Darko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnstone throws a head kick that misses.
Darko tries for a takedown but Johnstone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Darko shoots for a takedown but Johnstone saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erick Darko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Darko throws a hook but Johnstone avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Johnstone.

Darko has managed to clinch.
A short right from Darko.

Leroy Johnstone's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Darko.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Leroy Johnstone's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Erick Darko!
During a confident post fight interview, Erick Darko thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.