PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lauris Darzins (ranked 2823 p4p, 310 weight class) and Eddie Curtis (ranked 6119 p4p, 536 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Darzins
vs
Curtis

199 cm
25
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
147 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lauris Darzins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eddie Curtis!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darzins shoots in but Curtis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Curtis is looking to clinch.
Darzins swats away the attempt to clinch by Curtis.

Darzins closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Darzins lands in his opponent's guard.
Darzins tries to stand but Curtis is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darzins wants to control from the top but Curtis keeps moving.
Darzins controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curtis wants to stand but Darzins is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Darzins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Darzins wants to get up but he can't break Curtis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Curtis wants to stand and escape but Darzins is having none of it.
Curtis keeping full guard, as Darzins tries to pass.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A head kick misses from Darzins.
Curtis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Darzins is fending him off so far but Curtis persists. Nope, Darzins circles away and we're back to standing.
Curtis takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Darzins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Curtis as he jumps to the side.
A little jabbing left from Curtis on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Curtis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darzins has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Curtis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lauris Darzins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Curtis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Darzins has him pressed against the cage.
Darzins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Curtis after a bit of a struggle.
Curtis gets underhooks to prevent Darzins's takedown attempt.
Darzins tries to pull guard but Curtis holds him up against the cage and eventually Darzins drops back down to his feet.
Curtis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Darzins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Darzins looking to slow down the pace here.
Darzins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Curtis has picked Darzins up - he's going for a ride! Curtis dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Darzins has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Curtis is on him like a limpet, forcing Darzins back against the cage.
Darzins stalling in the clinch but Curtis improves position.
Darzins lands an elbow that stopped Curtis in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Eddie Curtis has been cut.
Curtis has Darzins pressed against the cage, preventing Darzins from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Curtis.
Darzins tries to pull guard but Curtis holds him up against the cage and eventually Darzins drops back down to his feet.
Darzins is trying to break the clinch but Curtis is controlling him.
Curtis tries to stall but Darzins uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curtis tries to circle away but Darzins has him pinned against the cage.
Darzins is trying to break the clinch but Curtis is controlling him.
Darzins is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Darzins is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Curtis is keeping busy.
Darzins is trying to drag Curtis to the mat but Curtis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Darzins effectively controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Darzins wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauris Darzins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eddie Curtis's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Curtis fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Darzins sprawls well initially but Curtis persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Curtis.
Curtis is nestled in close to Darzins, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Curtis connects with a nice short shot to Darzins's temple.
Darzins wants to control but Curtis is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Darzins is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Curtis looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Darzins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Darzins is looking to control Curtis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Darzins avoid being mounted?
Curtis lands with a punch from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Curtis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Darzins defends it well.
Curtis lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darzins holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Curtis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Curtis is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Curtis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Darzins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nice strikes from Curtis there.
Curtis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Curtis wants to take a breather but Darzins is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Darzins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Curtis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Curtis lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Curtis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Curtis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curtis throws an elbow that misses. Darzins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Curtis's guard. Nice move by Darzins!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curtis wants to get back to his feet but Darzins is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Curtis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Curtis has Darzins pulled in close to control his posture.
Curtis keeping moving, preventing Darzins from controlling successfully.
Curtis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Darzins is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtis keeping moving, preventing Darzins from controlling successfully.
Curtis keeping full guard, as Darzins tries to pass.
Darzins trying to control the position from guard on top but Curtis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Curtis closes the distance and clinches up with Darzins, looking for a takedown. Curtis pushes Darzins against the cage but Darzins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Curtis tries to clinch but Darzins is having none of it.
Darzins tries to counter by clinching up but Curtis breaks away and moves out of range.
Curtis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Darzins paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Darzins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Curtis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Curtis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Curtis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Darzins paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Curtis tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Darzins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Darzins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Curtis goes for a double leg but Darzins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Darzins continues to drive forward.
Curtis takes one on the button.
Curtis is looking to clinch but Darzins is avoiding it.
Curtis shoots for a takedown but Darzins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lauris Darzins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eddie Curtis.

Curtis tries to keep at a distance but Darzins has taken the fight into the clinch.
Darzins throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Darzins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Darzins changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Curtis tries to avoid it but Darzins manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Curtis to the ground. Curtis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lauris Darzins will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eddie Curtis's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Darzins tries to clinch there but Curtis circles away.
Darzins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Curtis but Curtis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Darzins tries to clinch up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Darzins stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Curtis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darzins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Darzins is looking to break free of the clinch but Curtis has double underhooks.
Darzins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Curtis has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Darzins lands a takedown into guard.

Curtis pushes Darzins off and gets back to his feet.

Curtis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Curtis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Darzins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Darzins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Curtis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Darzins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Darzins looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Darzins shoots and misses
and Curtis counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lauris Darzins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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!
Curtis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Darzins's waist but Darzins gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Curtis off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Curtis moves into the clinch.
Darzins can't break the clinch.

Curtis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Curtis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Darzins explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Darzins tries to clinch there but Curtis circles away.
Curtis lands a jab to Darzins's midsection.
Darzins lands a front kick.
Curtis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Darzins.

Curtis forces Darzins back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darzins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Curtis walks away with a smile on his face. Darzins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Darzins tries for a takedown but Curtis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Curtis smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Darzins misses with a body kick.
Curtis looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Curtis is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Darzins's half guard.
Darzins wants to get back to full guard but Curtis has mounted him!
Curtis looking to control but Darzins is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Darzins is bucking up trying to escape but Curtis cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Curtis lands with some strikes.
Curtis with good strikes from the mount here!
Darzins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Curtis is landing with some decent strikes but Darzins is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Darzins is rocked!
Curtis lands a nice shot to the head.
Oh Darzins is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Curtis working Darzins over with strikes here.

Curtis has control of Darzins's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Darzins regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Eddie Curtis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Curtis putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Darzins gets back to half guard.
Darzins seems to have got his legs back now.
Ground and pound from Curtis.
Eddie Curtis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darzins is trying to maintain the position but Curtis is very close to passing his half guard.
Curtis scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lauris Darzins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Curtis lands strikes from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Curtis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Darzins has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lauris Darzins!