PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Pablos (ranked 2234 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darragh Kelly (ranked 3220 p4p, 0 weight class). Pablo Pablos had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Pablos
vs
Kelly

175 cm
43
146 lbs
34 - 46 - 0

168 cm
33
154 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 46 - 0, fighting out of London, Pablo Pablos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Darragh Kelly!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice takedown defense from Kelly. No joy for Pablos on that attempt.
Pablos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kelly pinned against the cage. Kelly gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kelly connects with a body shot that sends Pablos's belly button to the back.
Kelly looks for a takedown but Pablos sprawls well.
Kelly cracks the inside of Pablos's front leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pablos shoots and misses

and Kelly counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Pablos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pablos wants to take the fight to the mat but Kelly manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Pablos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kelly avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Kelly gets control of Pablos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kelly will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Pablos is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Pablos avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly has an active guard here but Pablos has managed to pass into half guard.
Kelly regains full guard. Nicely done.

Kelly has his foot on Pablos's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pablos works his way back into a safe position though.

Kelly is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kelly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pablos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kelly looking for a sweep. Not yet Kelly, not yet.
Pablos looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Kelly is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Kelly escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pablos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pablos looking to pass the guard.
Kelly keeping moving, preventing Pablos from controlling successfully.
Pablos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kelly swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kelly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pablos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kelly keeping full guard, as Pablos tries to pass.
Kelly has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Pablo's Boxing Academy. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablos wants to stand but Kelly has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Pablos trying to control the position from guard on top but Kelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pablos advances to half guard.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kelly looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kelly actively working from the bottom here.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back.

Pablos escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pablos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pablos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kelly sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pablos somewhat.
Kelly throws a sloppy head kick and Pablos moves out of range easily.
Kelly misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pablos.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kelly.
Kelly lands a right hook to the body.
Darragh Kelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kelly lands a two punch combo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kelly throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kelly is looking to score with low kicks.
Pablos looks for a takedown but Kelly sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pablos shoots and misses
and Pablos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Kelly moves into the clinch.
Pablos tries to score a body lock takedown but Kelly shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pablos is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kelly is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Pablos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kelly has hold of one of Pablos's legs. Pablos is fighting the takedown attempt but Kelly gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kelly has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kelly pushing down on Pablos's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kelly is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pablos actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pablos tries to roll over but Kelly keeps him under control.
Kelly thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pablos's head.
Pablos is trying to maintain the position but Kelly is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pablos is defending against the submission attempts here by Kelly.
Kelly is pressing down on Pablos's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pablos is holding on for now.
Kelly uses his free foot to push down on Pablos's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Pablos.
Pablos is squirming around, avoiding Kelly's attempts to control the action.
Pablos is trying to escape the mount.

Kelly is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Pablos can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Pablos really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pablos regains half guard.
Kelly trying to mount his opponent but Pablos defends it.
Kelly works his foot free and advances to mount.

Kelly is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Pablos to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Pablos shrugs it off.
Pablos tries to hold on but Kelly pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablos working to try and regain half guard.
Pablos tries to hold on but Kelly postures up.

Kelly looking for a guillotine from mount but Pablos is having none of it.
Pablos bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Pablos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kelly is keeping the position for now.
Kelly keeping moving, preventing Pablos from controlling successfully.

Pablos is posturing up here but Kelly has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Pablos tries to roll out but it's too tight and Pablos has to tap! Slick submission there by Kelly!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Darragh Kelly!
Pablo Pablos spoke after the fight, saying 'thanks my sponsors and fans!!!'.