PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Len Denton (ranked 4007 p4p, 24871 weight class) and Mariusz Tarkowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Denton
vs
Tarkowski

178 cm
25
190
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
189
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Len Denton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mariusz Tarkowski!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarkowski shoots in for a takedown but Denton shows good takedown defense.
Tarkowski misses with a kick to the body.
Mariusz Tarkowski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tarkowski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Denton has closed the distance and engaged Tarkowski in a clinch.

Tarkowski gets control of Denton's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tarkowski will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Denton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Denton'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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Further stalling from Denton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarkowski is looking to sweep but instead, Denton has passed into half guard.
Denton stalling.
Tarkowski blocking the ground and pound attempt from Denton.
Still in half guard, Denton seems content to control.
Tarkowski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tarkowski is still trying to improve position.

That's two 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.
Tarkowski is refusing to be controlled, as Denton sits in half guard.
Denton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Denton sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tarkowski is trying to stand.
Denton sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Denton seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tarkowski for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Tarkowski enables Denton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Tarkowski manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Tarkowski is looking to sweep but instead, Denton has passed into half guard.
Tarkowski tries to kick Denton off but Denton keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Denton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tarkowski keeps working.
Denton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Denton not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denton is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Denton continues to stall.
Denton thows a huge punch but Tarkowski dodges it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Denton prevents Tarkowski from standing back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Tarkowski tries to sprawl but Denton drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Denton performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Len Denton dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tarkowski shoots in for a takedown but Denton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Denton changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Tarkowski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Denton is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Denton stalls.
Tarkowski blocks an uppercut.
Tarkowski is trying to break the clinch but Denton is controlling him.
Denton prevents Tarkowski from breaking the clinch.
Denton lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denton misses with some punches.
Denton will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tarkowski up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Denton - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarkowski is trying to break the clinch but Denton has him pressed against the cage.
Tarkowski has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Denton after a bit of a struggle.
Denton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tarkowski fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tarkowski throws a sloppy head kick

and Denton counters by clinching up.
Denton stalling the fight.
Tarkowski tries to break free but Denton pushes him back against the cage.
Denton keeps control of Tarkowski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tarkowski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Denton to keep the fight standing.
Len Denton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mariusz Tarkowski.
Denton drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tarkowski is pressed up against the cage. Denton has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tarkowski down to the mat. Tarkowski avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tarkowski looks to land a combination but Denton avoids it well.
As Tarkowski looks to move away, Denton throws a big counter combo but Tarkowski just gets out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarkowski tries to bum rush Denton with a series of wild strikes but Denton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Denton tries to clinch up but Tarkowski circles away and keeps his distance.

Tarkowski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Denton prevents Tarkowski from breaking the clinch.
Denton misses with a punch on the inside.
Denton taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tarkowski has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Denton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tarkowski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tarkowski is trying to pull guard but Denton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Denton holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tarkowski tries to pull guard but Denton forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tarkowski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Denton to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarkowski jumps guard but Denton turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tarkowski is breathing heavily.

Tarkowski jumps guard and drags Denton to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tarkowski being controlled here, momentarily.
Denton trying to control but Tarkowski is working from the bottom.
Denton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tarkowski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four 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.
Denton sitting in guard here, content to control.
Denton throws a big elbow that misses.
Tarkowski keeping moving, preventing Denton from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tarkowski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Denton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tarkowski moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Denton gets tackled into the cage by Tarkowski. Tarkowski maintains the clinch.
Denton tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tarkowski's elbow.
Tarkowski blocks an uppercut.
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 Len Denton will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tarkowski throws a push kick but Denton slaps the foot to one side.

Denton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tarkowski gets underhooks to prevent Denton's takedown attempt.
Denton working aggressively here.
Len Denton has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A frustrated look appears on Tarkowski's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Denton prevents a body shot from Tarkowski.
Denton throws a punch but it's blocked by Tarkowski.
A bit of stalling here from Denton.
Tarkowski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tarkowski jumps guard but Denton stands there with Tarkowski around his waist. Tarkowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Come on Denton - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tarkowski prevents a body shot from Denton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denton leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tarkowski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Denton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tarkowski can do to turn this around?
Tarkowski fails to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Tarkowski tries to pull guard but Denton forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Len Denton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mariusz Tarkowski.
Denton drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tarkowski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Len Denton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tarkowski is trying to break the clinch but Denton has him pressed against the cage.
Tarkowski is trying to pull guard but Denton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Denton stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A head punch on the inside from Denton fails to land.
Tarkowski working hard to break the clinch.
Tarkowski is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Stalling in the clinch from Denton.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Denton is pressed up against the cage. Tarkowski has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Denton down to the mat. Denton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Denton closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tarkowski tries for a takedown but Denton circles away easily

and Denton counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarkowski jumps guard but Denton turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Denton content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Denton leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Denton for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Denton misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tarkowski wants to break free but Denton has control.
Tarkowski is trying to pull guard but Denton has him pressed against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Denton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tarkowski gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Denton trying to stall but Tarkowski improves his position.
Denton swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tarkowski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Denton throws a punch but it's blocked by Tarkowski.
Tarkowski tries to pull guard but Denton won't allow it.
Denton just leaning against Tarkowski, taking a breather.
Denton has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tarkowski after a bit of a struggle.
Denton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Denton has Tarkowski pressed against the cage, preventing Tarkowski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tarkowski is trying to pull guard but Denton has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tarkowski wants to get back to striking at distance but Denton won't allow it.
Tarkowski tries to break the clinch but Denton is controlling the position.
Mariusz Tarkowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tarkowski trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Len Denton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Denton, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Len Denton!