PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darken Rahl (ranked 1810 p4p, 1914 weight class) and Jay Calico (ranked 199 p4p, 211 weight class). Calico has chosen The Real American Anthem as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jay Calico was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Rahl
vs
Calico

168 cm
28
150
9 - 4 - 0

178 cm
23
158
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Conquer
Brooklyn Apothecary

The Dirty Needle Project
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darken Rahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Calico!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calico lands a right hook to the body.
Rahl has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Heart of the BloodBath in the buildup to the fight.
Rahl looks to land a left hand but Calico moved out of range nicely.
A low kick lands for Calico.
Rahl throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Calico throws out a loose jab but Rahl uses good head movement to avoid it.
Calico defending well as Rahl loads up on a big left hand.
Calico connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rahl momentarily.

Rahl 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.
Calico working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rahl.
Calico keeping moving, preventing Rahl from controlling successfully.
Rahl forces his way into half guard.
Calico is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rahl scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Calico is trying to get back to full guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl is trying to control the action in half guard but Calico is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rahl tries to pass the half guard into mount. Calico knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Calico on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rahl working Calico over with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rahl lands a nice short elbow.

Calico looking for submissions off his back.
Calico is looking to control Rahl's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Calico avoid being mounted?
Rahl wants to free his trapped foot but Calico is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rahl misses with a head shot. Calico uses the momentum to regain guard.
Calico punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calico preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Rahl got a little sloppy there for a moment and Calico has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rahl has managed to get both his arms back between Calico's legs - danger averted.
Calico wants to improve his position but instead Rahl has moved into half guard.
Rahl throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Calico is looking for a sweep. Rahl is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Calico gets full guard.
Rahl stopping the sweep attempt from Calico.
Rahl scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Calico is on top in guard.

Rahl keeping full guard, as Calico tries to pass.
Calico wants to control from the top but Rahl keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calico controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Calico won't allow Rahl to sweep him here.
Calico looking to sit in guard and control but Rahl gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rahl pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Calico is keeping the position for now.
Rahl landing with the ground and pound.

Rahl avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calico keeping full guard, as Rahl tries to pass.
Rahl distracts Calico with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Calico looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Calico has momentary wrist control but Rahl slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rahl throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rahl wants to control from the top but Calico keeps moving.

Calico is looking for a triangle but Rahl pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rahl working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Calico's head.
Rahl looking to sit in guard and control but Calico gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rahl keeping moving, preventing Calico from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darken Rahl 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.

Rahl tries to clinch up.
It seemed like Calico was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice straight punches there by Rahl. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rahl.
Nice jab there from Rahl.
Rahl throws an overhand right that lands on Calico's shoulder, as Calico tries to avoid the shot.
Calico fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rahl manages to avoid it.
Rahl throws a good cross that connects.
Rahl paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Calico's corner calls for a 1-2. Calico obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Rahl as he connects with a hook.
Rahl bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Calico's head.
Calico throws a front kick aimed at Rahl's knee but Rahl avoids it well.
Rahl stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Calico tests Rahl's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Calico just misses with a punch to the body.
Rahl half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Calico avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Calico lands a nice shot that snaps Rahl's head back.
Rahl misses with an uppercut. Calico saw that one coming.
A jab from Rahl misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calico ducks under a wild hook from Rahl.
Rahl shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Calico defends it nicely.
Rahl misses with a hook.
Calico keeps the fight on the outside.
Jay Calico is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A swing and a miss from Rahl.
Rahl is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Calico can do to turn this around?
Calico throws the left hand but Rahl avoids the punch easily.
Calico pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Calico takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rahl is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rahl swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rahl misses with a takedown attempt
and Calico counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Calico sizes up Rahl with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Darken Rahl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Calico wants to land a leg kick but Rahl is out of range.
Rahl uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rahl misses with a looping left.
Calico leaves Rahl with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darken Rahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Calico.
Rahl attempts a counter takedown but Calico avoids it well and moves away.
Calico bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calico uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rahl.
Rahl steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Calico.
Rahl jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rahl thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rahl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Calico paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rahl takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Rahl shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rahl lands with a punch from half guard.
Calico tries to roll over but Rahl keeps him under control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rahl lands a nice short elbow.
Calico is looking for a sweep. Rahl is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calico has his hands clasped together around Rahl's back. He's all about the action.
Calico punching from the bottom.
Calico blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rahl.
Rahl seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Calico does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Calico felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Rahl missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Calico works his way to full guard. Good work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Calico is on top in guard.

Calico wants to pass the guard but Rahl is keeping the position.
Calico working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calico throws a strike but Rahl rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rahl working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Calico's head.
Rahl loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rahl throws a big elbow that misses.
Rahl is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rahl wants to control from the top but Calico keeps moving.
Rahl lands a couple of elbows.
Rahl throwing strikes but missing.
Rahl wants to control from the top but Calico keeps moving.
Calico trying to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darken Rahl 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!

Rahl keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Calico.
Rahl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd cheers as Calico lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rahl doesn't seem phased though.
Rahl slips a straight right by Calico.
Calico has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Calico swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rahl.
Calico misses with a looping right.
Rahl uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Calico.
Rahl throws a jab but it's blocked by Calico.
Calico moves away from the strike by Rahl.
Rahl blocks a jab.
Rahl throws a hook but Calico blocks it.
Rahl tries to clinch up.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Calico! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rahl bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rahl wants to control but Calico is keeping him busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Calico is trying to improve his position.
Calico is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rahl off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl trying to get back to his feet but Calico is in full control for now.

Rahl preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Calico.
Calico thows a strike but Rahl uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Rahl as he ends up in Calico 's guard!
Rahl chips away with some ground and pound.
Rahl is looking to work some ground and pound but Calico has wrist control.
Rahl stands up over Calico, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rahl postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rahl passes Calico's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Calico tries to roll over but Rahl keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rahl lands a nice short elbow.
Calico wants to improve his position but Rahl is controlling well.
Rahl content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rahl takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rahl trying to control the action but Calico is working from the bottom.
Calico keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rahl prevents Calico from improving his position.
Rahl wants to control but Calico is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calico avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rahl.
Calico wants to get back to full guard.
Rahl performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Calico is trying to get back to full guard.
Jay Calico has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Calico actively working from the bottom here.
Calico is staying active underneath Rahl, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Calico looking for submissions off his back.
Calico is looking for a sweep. Rahl is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Calico looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rahl drops an elbow to the side of Calico's head.
Rahl is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rahl with shots to the head and body - Calico looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rahl fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Darken Rahl overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rahl dominating with strikes here.
Calico is bucking up trying to escape but Rahl cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Calico keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rahl breaks from Calico's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rahl connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Calico is rocked!
Rahl fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Calico is still in real trouble! Can Rahl finish him?
Calico takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Rahl's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Darken Rahl!
Darken Rahl took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Conquer for their support in the buildup to the fight.