PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darby Dabanks (ranked 4556 p4p, 4418 weight class) and Ben Miata (ranked 0 p4p, 434 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dabanks
vs
Miata

220 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Darby Dabanks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Miata!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miata tries a head kick but it misses.
Dabanks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Miata.

Dabanks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dabanks lands a nice short elbow.
Dabanks not doing much here.
It looks like Dabanks is going to stand back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dabanks is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Miata is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miata is looking to control Dabanks's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Miata avoid being mounted?
Dabanks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dabanks content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Miata holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Dabanks lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dabanks slows the pace down in half guard.
Dabanks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dabanks seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Miata for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Miata shoots for a double leg takedown but Dabanks sprawls well. He's pushed Miata's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dabanks takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Miata is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dabanks's half guard.
Dabanks is trying to stand back up but Miata is controlling him
Miata missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabanks controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Dabanks is trying to get back to full guard.
Dabanks regains full guard. Nicely done.
Miata postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Miata trying to control the position from guard on top but Dabanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dabanks scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Dabanks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Miata pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dabanks is keeping the position for now.

Dabanks has his foot on Miata's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miata works his way back into a safe position though.
Miata preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Miata accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Dabanks throws a body punch but Miata moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dabanks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Miata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darby Dabanks dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Miata gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Miata is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Dabanks presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Miata looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Dabanks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dabanks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Miata napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Miata throws Dabanks to one side and escapes!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dabanks misses with a left hand
and Miata counters with a right hand to the body.

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

Dabanks breaks the clinch.
Miata tries to clinch but Dabanks is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dabanks throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Dabanks shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Miata won't allow Dabanks to pass to mount.
Miata is trying to maintain the position but Dabanks is very close to passing his half guard.
Miata pushes Dabanks off looking to stand but Dabanks dives back in and keeps control.
Dabanks not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Miata has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dabanks is working away from the top position though.
Dabanks seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dabanks takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dabanks is thwarting Miata's attempts to control the position.

Dabanks is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Darby Dabanks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Well, if Dabanks is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dabanks moves into the clinch successfully.
Miata drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Miata is fighting off a takedown attempt but Dabanks is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Miata to the mat. Miata regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Miata controls Dabanks momentarily but Dabanks frees himself.
Miata tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabanks controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Dabanks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Miata is breathing heavily.

Dabanks drops back, looking for a kneebar! Miata looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Miata looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Miata!

Miata trying to control the action but Dabanks is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ben Miata will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Miata shoots and misses

and Dabanks counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dabanks.

Dabanks has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Miata uses from the top position.
Dabanks controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miata preventing the sweep.
Miata wants to control from the top but Dabanks keeps moving.
Dabanks throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miata wants to get up but he can't break Dabanks's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dabanks trying to control the position here.
Dabanks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Miata is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dabanks shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dabanks controlling the action here.
Dabanks has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dabanks blocks the strikes from Miata.
Miata is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabanks throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Miata shoots in and drives through. Dabanks sprawls well.
Dabanks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Miata will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Darby Dabanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Miata.

Dabanks drives through with a takedown into Miata's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Miata manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Dabanks misses.

Dabanks has closed the distance and engaged Miata in a clinch.

Dabanks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Miata fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dabanks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dabanks throws a head kick but Miata moves out of range.
Dabanks looks for the body kick but Miata saw that one coming.
Miata shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dabanks is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Miata.
Dabanks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Miata looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Dabanks moves into the clinch.

Dabanks turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Dabanks manages to end up in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miata misses with an elbow from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Miata's face as Dabanks controls the position.
Ben Miata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darby Dabanks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Miata throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darby Dabanks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dabanks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for Darby Dabanks!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Darby Dabanks!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Darby Dabanks!

Darby Dabanks wins by unanimous decision!