PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Darko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umbabarauma Smith II (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Darko
vs
Smith II

186 cm
23
218 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Tokyo Defiance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Darko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Umbabarauma Smith II!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Darko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Darko tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith II is retaining full guard.

Smith II is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Darko tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith II is retaining full guard.

Smith II is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Darko wants to control from the top but Smith II keeps moving.
Darko passes into half guard.

Darko is trying to work for a kimura but Smith II is defending well.
Smith II tries to get to full guard but Darko has control of the leg.

Darko seems to be working for a kimura but Smith II defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smith II is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith II is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Darko pulls his head out easily.

Darko is trying to work for a kimura but Smith II is defending well.
Darko wants to free his trapped foot but Smith II is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Darko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Smith II is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Darko pulls his head out easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A punch combination from Smith II misses.

That's two 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.

Darko scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko wants to take Smith II's back but he can't do it this time.

Darko looking to secure an arm triangle but Smith II defends it well.
Darko prevents Smith II from getting the reversal.

Darko jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Smith II manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Darko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith II, who protects the arm well.
Smith II tries to bench press Darko off him but Darko keeps the position.
Darko wants to control but Smith II is keeping him busy.
Smith II tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Darko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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.

Darko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith II has escaped the position, nice work there.

Darko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Darko is breathing heavily.

Darko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Darko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith II, who protects the arm well.
Smith II regains half guard.

Darko is working for a submission of some sort.
Smith II moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Darko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith II as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko tries for a takedown but Smith II sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Darko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith II fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Darko.
Smith II throws a nice looking combination but Darko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Umbabarauma Smith II is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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.
Smith II misses with a few strikes there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Darko shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umbabarauma Smith II showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Darko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smith II tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Darko was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith II.
Smith II fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith II defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Darko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith II lands a body shot.

Darko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith II does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Darko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Smith II is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Darko pulls his head out easily.
Smith II is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Darko is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Darko works his way into side control.
Smith II is looking to reverse the position.

Darko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith II has escaped the position, nice work there.

Darko is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith II is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith II is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Darko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Smith II looking for submissions off his back.
Darko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Smith II!
Darko prevents Smith II from getting the reversal.

Darko is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith II can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Darko is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Smith II is in real trouble.
Darko has the hooks in. Smith II is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Smith II manages to reverse the position and now he's in Darko's guard. Nice work there by Smith II.
Darko looking for a sweep. Not yet Darko, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith II drops back looking for a leg! Darko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Darko manages to kick Smith II off! Smith II jumps back into Darko's guard.

Smith II drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith II jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Darko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Darko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Smith II is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Smith II postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Darko is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Smith II, into his guard.
Darko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smith II's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Darko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Darko 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Darko!