PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Beach Boy (ranked 1412 p4p, 1226 weight class) and Darken Rahl (ranked 85 p4p, 69 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Beach Boy
vs
Rahl

161 cm
25
148
10 - 10 - 0

168 cm
31
146
12 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conquer

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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anderson Beach Boy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Darken Rahl!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beach Boy slips under a jab.
Beach Boy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rahl misses with a few strikes there.
Rahl tries to land a leg kick but Beach Boy saw it coming and moves away.
Rahl waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Beach Boy.
Beach Boy tries to counter with a takedown but Rahl is quick to defend against it.

Beach Boy closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rahl's guard.
Beach Boy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rahl is pulling down on Beach Boy's head to control his posture.
Rahl is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Beach Boy postures up in Rahl's guard and throws a big left but Rahl blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahl is trying to control the position but Beach Boy postures up.
Rahl has momentary wrist control but Beach Boy slips an elbow through the middle.
Beach Boy stopping the sweep attempt from Rahl.
Beach Boy is in close to Rahl's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rahl working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Beach Boy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Beach Boy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Beach Boy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Beach Boy 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.
Rahl utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Beach Boy is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
We've been hearing that Beach Boy has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Beach Boy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rahl is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Beach Boy throwing strikes but missing.
Beach Boy working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Beach Boy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rahl works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Beach Boy throws a strike but Rahl rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Beach Boy has his foot on Rahl's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rahl works his way back into a safe position though.
Rahl stays in close to Beach Boy's body and controls the position.
Beach Boy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rahl is one step ahead there.

Rahl avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rahl controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rahl postures up and lands a big shot to Beach Boy's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beach Boy working a defensive guard here.
Rahl is looking to work some ground and pound but Beach Boy has wrist control.
Rahl is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rahl connects with a couple of short punches.
Rahl trying to control the position from guard on top but Beach Boy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rahl controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rahl is working Beach Boy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rahl landing some decent shots from guard.
Rahl with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Beach Boy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Beach Boy is on top in guard.

Beach Boy is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Beach Boy passes Rahl's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rahl is refusing to be controlled, as Beach Boy sits in half guard.
Rahl wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rahl looking for submissions off his back.

Beach Boy wants to work for an arm triangle but Rahl is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anderson Beach Boy will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Beach Boy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rahl!
Rahl is trying to control Beach Boy's posture but Beach Boy avoids it.
Beach Boy is working Rahl over with some ground and pound from side control.
Beach Boy throwing strikes but Rahl manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Beach Boy takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Beach Boy is looking to reverse the position.
Beach Boy is working hard here to advance position.
Beach Boy manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Rahl is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beach Boy wants to get back to full guard but Rahl has mounted him!
Beach Boy is squirming around, avoiding Rahl's attempts to control the action.
Beach Boy tries to reverse the position but Rahl maintains control.
Rahl wants to control the pace but Beach Boy is squirming around nicely.
Rahl lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rahl connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Beach Boy tries to reverse the position but Rahl maintains control.
Darken Rahl has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rahl cracks Beach Boy with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beach Boy manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Beach Boy wants to get back to full guard.
Beach Boy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Beach Boy.
Beach Boy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rahl sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Beach Boy keeping moving, preventing Rahl from controlling successfully.
Beach Boy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rahl with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl with a nice head shot there.
Rahl working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rahl trying to control the position from guard on top but Beach Boy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Beach Boy lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rahl keeping full guard, as Beach Boy tries to pass.
Beach Boy is looking to work some ground and pound but Rahl has wrist control.
Rahl trying to control the position.
Beach Boy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Rahl is looking for a triangle but Beach Boy pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beach Boy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rahl is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rahl is trying to keep Beach Boy in close.
Rahl preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Beach Boy looking to pass the guard.
Rahl working a defensive guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rahl manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Beach Boy manages to get himself to full guard.

Rahl throws a big elbow that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darken Rahl showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Beach Boy scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Rahl gets tackled into the cage by Beach Boy. Beach Boy maintains the clinch.

Rahl is fighting off a takedown attempt but Beach Boy is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rahl to the mat. Rahl regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rahl wants to sweep but no luck.

Rahl looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Beach Boy lands a couple of digs.
Beach Boy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rahl's guard.
Beach Boy trying to control from half guard but Rahl is working away.
Beach Boy is nestled in close to Rahl, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beach Boy working Rahl over with strikes.
Beach Boy winds up and cracks Rahl with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rahl is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beach Boy misses with a head shot. Rahl uses the momentum to regain guard.

Rahl had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Beach Boy defends it easily.
Beach Boy lands a couple of digs.
Beach Boy throws a strike but Rahl rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rahl accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Beach Boy is looking for a triangle but Rahl pushes his legs off easily.
Beach Boy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beach Boy trying to keep a closed guard but Rahl is proving a slippery customer.
Beach Boy is trying to hold Rahl in close to prevent damage but Rahl has managed to pass into half guard.
Beach Boy is looking for a sweep. Rahl is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rahl moves nicely into side control.
Rahl lands a few punches from side control.
Rahl wants to control but Beach Boy is keeping him busy.
Beach Boy gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beach Boy is looking for a sweep. Rahl is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rahl lands with a punch from half guard.
Beach Boy is not content to let Rahl control the position.
Beach Boy wants to improve his position but Rahl is controlling well.
Rahl performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Beach Boy tries to get to full guard but Rahl has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rahl trying to mount his opponent but Beach Boy defends it.
Beach Boy is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rahl scores with a couple of nice shots.
Beach Boy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rahl throws a big elbow that misses.

Beach Boy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rahl can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rahl wants to control from the top but Beach Boy keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rahl controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anderson Beach Boy.
I think Beach Boy 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Beach Boy!
Anderson Beach Boy tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.