PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lars Araya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Araya
vs
Davis

176 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
22
186 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lars Araya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jeff Davis!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Araya decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Davis wants to get back to full guard.
Davis trying to control here.
Davis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Araya's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Araya's back!
Davis lands a shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Araya rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Araya has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Davis is working away from the top position though.
Davis wants to free his trapped foot but Araya is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Araya could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Davis prevents Araya from improving his position.

Araya looking for submissions off his back.
Araya might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Davis is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Davis throws a right and a left that Araya avoids nicely.
Davis with a lazy takedown attempt

and Araya counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Araya.
Araya is breathing heavily.
Davis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Araya's guard.
Davis trying to control but Araya is working from the bottom.
Araya tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Davis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Davis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Araya preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Araya lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Davis!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araya controlling his opponent.
Davis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Araya trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis has given up his back here. Will Araya look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Good control from Araya.
Araya doesn't have the hooks in and Davis manages to turn into his guard.
Araya trying to control the position here.
Davis stands up over Araya, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Araya keeping moving, preventing Davis from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Davis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis trying to control but Araya is working from the bottom.
Davis throws and elbow that misses. Araya uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Davis's guard. Nice move by Araya!
Davis keeping moving, preventing Araya from controlling successfully.
Araya controls from within his opponent's guard.
Davis looking for a sweep. Not yet Davis, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Davis shoots in and drives through. Araya sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Araya looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Davis throws a right hand that Araya ducks under and follows up with a left that Araya also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Araya dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Araya fails to land the takedown.

Araya darts in and clinches Davis up against the cage.
Araya wants to get back to striking at distance but Davis won't allow it.

Araya breaks the clinch.
Araya misses with a takedown
and Davis counters with a good, hard body kick but Araya shrugs it off.
Araya doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Davis counters with a series of strikes. Araya will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lars Araya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Davis misses with a wild combination.
Davis is breathing heavily.
Araya shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Davis counters with a thumping low kick.
Araya tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Davis swivels and escapes.

Araya looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Davis!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis is trying to reverse the position but instead Araya has taken his back - oops!
Araya connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Davis to escape the position.
Araya has good solid back control here.
Araya has the hooks in. Davis is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Davis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Araya slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Araya is trying to stick to Davis's back but Davis is turning into Araya. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Araya's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Davis.
Davis trying to control the position from guard on top but Araya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Araya wants to sweep here but Davis controlling him for the moment.

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.
Davis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Davis postures up and lands a big shot to Araya's brow.
Davis tries to free his leg and advance position but Araya is retaining full guard.
Araya utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Davis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Araya is keeping the position for now.
Davis trying to control but Araya is working from the bottom.
Davis is pushing down on Araya's leg trying to pass to half guard. Araya is fighting to maintain full guard but Davis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Davis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Araya keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Davis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Araya defends it well.
Araya is looking to control Davis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Araya avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Araya drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Araya looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Davis is looking for a sweep.
Araya staying calm.
Davis is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Araya off and has taken his back!
Araya wants to control his opponent's hands but Davis gets his hands free.

Davis tightening his grip on Araya, looking for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis is hanging on to Araya's back as he tries to escape.
Davis connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Araya to escape the position.

Araya is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Davis gets his way!
Davis has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Araya.

Araya is rocked!
Davis scores with strikes from the back.
Oh Araya is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Davis controlling from the back.
Davis is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Araya up.
I would not like to be Araya right now.
Davis has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Araya.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Davis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A left and a right from Araya both land. Nice combination.
Araya tries for a takedown but Davis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Araya has Davis up against the cage in a clinch.
Davis misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Davis dodges an elbow strike from Araya.
Araya drops down looking for an ankle pick but Davis pulls his leg out and moves away.
Araya seems to have got his legs back now.
Davis stuffs the takedown attempt from Araya. Araya gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lars Araya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Davis misses with a combination

so Araya counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Davis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Araya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Davis is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis looking for a sweep. Not yet Davis, not yet.
Araya controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Davis wants to sweep here but Araya controlling him for the moment.
Araya sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Davis's guard.
Araya prevents Davis from improving his position.
Araya wants to lay and pray for a moment but Davis keeps working.
Araya wants to pass to mount but Davis is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Araya prevents Davis from improving his position.
Araya is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Davis is looking to control Araya's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Davis avoid being mounted?
Araya stops Davis from getting back to his feet.
Davis is trying to control but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Araya feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Araya is stalling in the full guard.
Araya looking to pass the guard.
Lars Araya overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Davis working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Araya has passed into half guard!
Davis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Araya's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Araya's back!
Araya rolls, trying to escape but Davis keeps control of the position.
Araya is working hard here to advance position.
Araya is trapped and Davis is scoring with shots to the head and body.

It looks like Lars Araya has been cut.
Davis scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Davis lands shots from the back.
Davis is working the ground and pound. Can Araya escape?

Lars Araya's cut is getting worse.
Davis biding his time, controlling Araya.
Araya rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis working Araya over with strikes.
Davis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Araya's head.
Davis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Davis is thwarting Araya's attempts to control the position.
Davis wants to control but Araya is keeping him busy.
Davis drops an elbow to the side of Araya's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Davis is looking to advance position but Araya won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Araya slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Araya working for a triangle but Davis defends it easily.

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 Lars Araya.
I think Araya 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Araya!