PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erick Darko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Carlos Luciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darko's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, S.C.O.S.A - Flatbush Zombies. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Darko
vs
Carlos Luciano

179 cm
21
183 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Arcticus University: London

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 6 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Carlos Luciano!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luciano misses with a body punch
and Darko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Luciano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darko manages to avoid it.
Darko looks to land a left hand but Luciano moved out of range nicely.
Darko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Luciano.
A jab from Darko finds it's way through Luciano's defenses.
Darko slips a jab and a cross from Luciano.
Darko seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Luciano connects with a body shot that sends Darko's belly button to the back.
Darko misses with a takedown
and Luciano counters with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko connects with a body shot that sends Luciano's belly button to the back.
Darko takes a kick to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Darko looks for a takedown but Luciano sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Darko darts in trying to clinch
and Luciano counters with a nice body shot.
Luciano scores with a leg kick.
Darko scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice uppercut there from Darko.
Luciano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Luciano connects with a solid leg kick.
Darko misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darko misses with a right hand
and Luciano counters with a nice low kick that buckles Darko's knee momentarily.
Darko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Luciano pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A jab from Luciano misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Darko shoots in looking for a takedown. Luciano tries to sprawl out of it but Darko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Luciano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Luciano steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erick Darko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luciano tries a head kick but it misses.

Luciano gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Darko landing with the ground and pound.
Darko tries to free his leg and advance position but Luciano is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano wants to sweep but no luck.
Luciano is trying to keep Darko in close.
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.
Darko wants to control from the top but Luciano keeps moving.
Luciano is trying to control the position but Darko postures up.
Luciano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Luciano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Darko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Darko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Darko pulls Luciano in to control the position.
Darko wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Luciano is now in half guard.
Darko is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Luciano is working away from the top position though.
Luciano seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Darko is controlling Luciano's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Darko trying to control but Luciano postures up.
Darko gets full guard.
Darko looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jose Carlos Luciano will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Luciano moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Luciano gets caught napping as Darko dives in and scores a takedown. Luciano manages to retain guard.
Luciano managing to control the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Darko postures up.
Darko lands a couple of digs.
Luciano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Luciano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Darko.
Luciano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Darko is one step ahead there.
Darko tries to free his leg and advance position but Luciano is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano is trying to control the position but Darko postures up.
Darko trying to control but Luciano is working from the bottom.
Luciano is trying to control the position but Darko postures up.
Darko throws a big elbow that misses.
Darko trying to control the position from guard on top but Luciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Darko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Darko is pushing down on Luciano's leg trying to pass to half guard. Luciano is fighting to maintain full guard but Darko has managed to sneak the leg through.

Darko seems to be working for a kimura but Luciano defends the submission attempt.
Darko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano is not content to let Darko control the position.
Luciano taking some punishment here, with Darko in his half guard.
Darko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Luciano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Darko is working away from the top position though.
Luciano tries to get to full guard but Darko has control of the leg.
Luciano felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Darko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Luciano taking some punishment here, with Darko in his half guard.

Luciano is rocked!
Darko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Luciano is still in real trouble! Can Darko finish him?
Darko working the head and body with strikes.
Darko controlling the position here and throwing strikes from the top. Nice elbow lands there... and another... and another... oh, Luciano is out! Darko gets to his feet and admires his work - nice finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Erick Darko!
Erick Darko seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.