PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Daryl Darcey (ranked 4473 p4p, 4663 weight class) and Phenom Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Darcey
vs
Smith

170 cm
20
140
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
134
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Daryl Darcey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Phenom Smith!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Chris Dean and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Darcey closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent Darcey getting side control.
Smith is looking to control Darcey's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Darcey scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Darcey looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Darcey not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Darcey in particular looking to stall.

Darcey is working for a submission of some sort.
Darcey landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to control Darcey's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Smith is trying to control but Darcey passes into side control!
Darcey in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Darcey tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith looking for a sweep but Darcey has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darcey controlling the pace for now.
Smith wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Smith tries to hold on but Darcey pushes him away.
Darcey takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darcey connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Darcey content just to control the position here.
Darcey manages to capitalize on a mistake by Smith to take his back!
Darcey just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Smith fending off the submission attempt from Darcey.
Smith trying to control the hands but Darcey breaks the grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Darcey looking to break Smith's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Smith remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Darcey will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Darcey is hanging on to Smith's back as he tries to escape.

Darcey looking for the RNC.

Darcey is looking for the choke from the back position but Smith is controlling his hands well.
Smith breaks Darcey's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Darcey is controlling Smith's posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daryl Darcey dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Darcey throws a head kick that misses.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Darcey manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smith just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromDarcey.

Darcey throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Darcey finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Darcey controlling him for the moment.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darcey working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Darcey postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smith is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Darcey, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darcey 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.
Darcey has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Darcey trying to control the position.

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.
Smith passes Darcey's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Darcey moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith wants to get up but he can't break Darcey'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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Darcey is on top in guard.

Smith keeping full guard, as Darcey tries to pass.
Darcey trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.
Daryl Darcey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Darcey from controlling successfully.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Darcey is proving a slippery customer.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Darcey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Darcey from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Darcey might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

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.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Darcey is trying to escape back to his feet but Smith uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Smith working away.
Smith cracks Darcey with a big elbow.
Darcey is trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Daryl Darcey will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Darcey sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Darcey rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Darcey's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Darcey throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Darcey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Darcey scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darcey thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Smith wants to improve his position but Darcey is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darcey performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Darcey wants to stand up but Smith manages to regain full guard.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Darcey is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Darcey tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Smith looking to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Darcey keeping hold of Smith's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darcey is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Darcey is not content to let Smith control the position.
Darcey is controlling Smith's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Darcey is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smith wants to take a breather but Darcey is having none of it.
Smith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Smith lands a head kick. Darcey smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Darcey as he avoids it easily.
Darcey looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Smith tries to sprawl but Darcey drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Darcey is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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 Daryl Darcey.
Well Darcey 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 Ben Watson scores the fight for Daryl Darcey!
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight for Daryl Darcey!
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight for Daryl Darcey!

Daryl Darcey wins by unanimous decision!