PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Darsin Bleak (ranked 227 p4p, 211 weight class) and Anthony Epolito (ranked 37 p4p, 36 weight class). Bleak's entrance music is Enter Sandman. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Epolito's choice of entrance music: Rowdy/ Bandits. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bleak
vs
Epolito

180 cm
29
160
22 - 5 - 0

172 cm
33
154
21 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Phoenix
New Standard

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

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 22 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darsin Bleak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Epolito!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Epolito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bleak manages to avoid it.
A good leg kick by Epolito.
Epolito throws a lazy uppercut

and Bleak counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Epolito!
Bleak lands a decent elbow from side control.
Epolito is looking to regain half guard here but Bleak keeps moving and retains side control.
Bleak trying to control the action but Epolito is working from the bottom.

Bleak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Epolito is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've been hearing that Bleak has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Epolito is still trying to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bleak has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Bleak is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Bleak lands a nice shot to the head.
Bleak content just to control the position here.
Bleak is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Bleak landing strikes from the mount.
Bleak landing punches.
Bleak tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bleak lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bleak cracks Epolito with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The referee warns Epolito that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bleak with the ground and pound from mount.
Bleak punishing his opponent with strikes.
Epolito is trying desperately to improve position.
Bleak looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Bleak lands a couple of good shots and Epolito has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Epolito rolls, trying to escape but Bleak keeps control of the position.
Bleak is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Epolito. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
I really don't envy Epolito right now.
Bleak scores with strikes from the back.

Bleak is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Epolito knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Epolito for a finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bleak lands shots from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is taking a good look at Epolito as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Bleak!
Epolito is trying to remain composed but Bleak is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Epolito rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Epolito has one foot on Bleak's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Epolito clobbers Bleak with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Epolito looks to throw the jab but Bleak is out of range.
Epolito throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bleak.
The fighters circling - Epolito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Epolito looks to score with a jab to the body but Bleak is just out of range.
Bleak appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Epolito misses with an uppercut

and Bleak counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Epolito trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bleak distracts Epolito with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bleak is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bleak trying to control but Epolito is working from the bottom.
Bleak postures up and lands a big shot to Epolito's brow.

Epolito working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bleak doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bleak manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bleak stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Epolito swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bleak is working Epolito over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bleak trying to move into half guard but instead Epolito has managed to sweep!

Bleak 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.

Bleak is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Epolito defends well.

Bleak looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Epolito passes into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darsin Bleak dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A low kick lands for Epolito.
Epolito thows a leg kick but Bleak checks it

and Bleak counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Epolito has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Bleak is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Bleak tries to pull guard but Epolito won't allow it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Epolito.

Bleak has picked Epolito up - he's going for a ride! Bleak dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice strikes from Bleak there.
Epolito is looking to improve his position.
Epolito is looking to control Bleak's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Epolito avoid being mounted?
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. Bleak connects with a nice short shot to Epolito's temple.
Bleak slips a nice elbow through Epolito's hands, connecting with Epolito's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bleak looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Epolito with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Epolito regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bleak is working Epolito over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Epolito looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bleak is one step ahead there.
Bleak tries to free his leg and advance position but Epolito is retaining full guard.
Bleak postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bleak lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bleak slips nicely into half guard.
Epolito manages to get to full guard.
Bleak lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bleak pushes down on Epolito's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nice strikes from Bleak there.
Bleak tries to pass to full mount but Epolito defends it.
Bleak working over Epolito with some ground and pound. Epolito looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bleak lands a nice short elbow.
Bleak scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Epolito is trying to maintain the position but Bleak is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Epolito manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Epolito bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bleak's guard.

Bleak wants to sweep here but Epolito controlling him for the moment.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epolito wants to control from the top but Bleak keeps moving.
Epolito throws a big elbow that misses.
Epolito advances to half guard.
Bleak manages to get to full guard.
Bleak is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Epolito taking some punishment here, with Bleak in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bleak lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bleak scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Epolito has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bleak is working away from the top position though.
Epolito wants to improve his position but Bleak is controlling well.
Bleak is thwarting Epolito's attempts to control the position.
Bleak working Epolito over with strikes.
Bleak passes to full mount!
Bleak in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Bleak prevents Epolito from getting the reversal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Epolito is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bleak landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darsin Bleak dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

A big left from Epolito misses.
Bleak attempts a counter takedown but Epolito avoids it well and moves away.
Epolito bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bleak's head.
Anthony Epolito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Epolito with a nice cross.
Epolito throws a series of punches but Bleak moves out of range.
Epolito throws a lazy right hand but Bleak sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bleak changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bleak takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bleak on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bleak staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Epolito is predictable there

and Bleak counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bleak.
Bleak working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bleak lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bleak is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bleak passes Epolito's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epolito on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bleak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Epolito can do to turn this around?
Bleak looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Epolito with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bleak lands a nice short elbow.
Bleak is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Bleak.
Epolito is not content to let Bleak control the position.
Bleak prevents Epolito from improving his position.
Epolito regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bleak with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Epolito controls Bleak momentarily but Bleak frees himself.
Bleak landing some decent shots from guard.
Darsin Bleak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bleak preventing the sweep.
Bleak is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Epolito is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Epolito takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Epolito wants to sweep here but Bleak controlling him for the moment.
Bleak slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bleak wants to pass the guard but Epolito is keeping the position.
Bleak seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bleak has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bleak ducks right into an uppercut from Epolito.
A telegraphed right hand from Epolito misses the target.

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.
Epolito throws a poor cross that misses
and Bleak counters with a straight right hand.
Epolito catches Bleak with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Epolito throws a poor cross that misses

and Bleak counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Epolito tries to kick Bleak off in order to stand up. Bleak Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Bleak in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Anthony Epolito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bleak's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darsin Bleak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bleak, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darsin Bleak!
Darsin Bleak seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.