PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eoin Andershannon O Darby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivor Smallun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Darby comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Shipping up to Boston by Dropkick Murphys. 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.

Andershannon O Darby
vs
Smallun

170 cm
27
154 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
144 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Eoin Andershannon O Darby!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivor Smallun!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smallun tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
O Darby keeps the fight on the outside.
Smallun fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smallun tries to clinch up but O Darby circles away and keeps his distance.
Smallun is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smallun tries to clinch but O Darby is having none of it.
Smallun tries to clinch up.
O Darby shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smallun pinned against the cage. Smallun gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smallun looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Darby swats away the attempt to clinch by Smallun.
Ivor Smallun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smallun moves in looking to clinch but O Darby pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smallun is looking to clinch.
Smallun is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ivor Smallun is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smallun keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
O Darby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smallun leaves O Darby 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 Eoin Andershannon O Darby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Darby keeps the fight on the outside.
O Darby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smallun tries to clinch but O Darby moves out of range.
Smallun is looking to clinch.

Smallun instigates a clinch.
O Darby's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smallun misses with a punch on the inside.
O Darby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
O Darby wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smallun swings wildly with an uppercut but O Darby uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short left from Smallun.
Smallun fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smallun softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Smallun misses with some punches.
O Darby is looking to break free of the clinch but Smallun has double underhooks.
Smallun misses with the head strike.
O Darby has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smallun tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Smallun fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by O Darby.
Smallun misses with a hook from the clinch.

O Darby breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
O Darby circles away from the clinch attempt.
O Darby fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Darby shoots in for a takedown but Smallun shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smallun tries to close the distance and clinch up but O Darby swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smallun tries to clinch but O Darby is having none of it.
Smallun is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smallun moves into the clinch.
Smallun makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smallun throws a head punch that misses.
O Darby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smallun has a couple of punches blocked by O Darby.
O Darby blocking some punches.
Smallun working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smallun makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
O Darby wants to get back to striking at distance but Smallun won't allow it.
Smallun working aggressively here.
O Darby blocking some punches.

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.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smallun.
Smallun misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smallun misses with the head strike.
Smallun makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smallun lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smallun misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smallun.
Smallun doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smallun throws a punch but it's blocked by O Darby.
O Darby blocking some punches.
O Darby blocking some punches.
O Darby takes a shot to the head.
Smallun swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smallun misses with a short punch on the inside.
O Darby wants to break free but Smallun has control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smallun doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
O Darby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
O Darby blocking some punches.
Smallun misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivor Smallun dominated that round.
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.

O Darby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smallun tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but O Darby paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smallun tries to clinch but O Darby is having none of it.
Smallun tries to clinch there but O Darby circles away.
O Darby circles away from the clinch attempt.
O Darby shoots in for a double leg but Smallun sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smallun is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smallun doesn't manage to clinch there - O Darby circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smallun tries to close the distance and clinch up but O Darby swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ivor Smallun is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
O Darby shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smallun sprawls well. Smallun wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. O Darby gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - O Darby looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smallun walks into a straight right hand from O Darby.
Smallun clinches but O Darby breaks the clinch

and O Darby counters by moving into the clinch.
Smallun pushes O Darby back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
O Darby blocking some punches.
Smallun lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smallun fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smallun has a couple of punches blocked by O Darby.
Smallun lands with a light punch inside.
Smallun throws a head punch that misses.
Smallun swings wildly with an uppercut but O Darby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smallun misses with the head strike.
Smallun doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Smallun on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by O Darby.
Smallun fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
O Darby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smallun doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short left from Smallun.
Smallun prevents O Darby from breaking the clinch.
Smallun swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smallun has a couple of punches blocked by O Darby.
O Darby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smallun misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Smallun.
Smallun lands with a short punch from the clinch.
O Darby has had enough of the clinch but Smallun keeps him there for the moment.
Smallun throws a punch but it's blocked by O Darby.
O Darby is looking to break free of the clinch but Smallun has double underhooks.
O Darby tries to circle away but Smallun has him pinned against the cage.
Smallun working aggressively here.
Smallun misses with a punch on the inside.
O Darby is looking to break free of the clinch but Smallun has double underhooks.
Smallun throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smallun.
Smallun misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smallun throws a punch but it's blocked by O Darby.
O Darby has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
O Darby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smallun lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of O Darby backwards.
Smallun tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smallun swings wildly with an uppercut but O Darby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smallun working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smallun fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
O Darby wants to break free but Smallun has control.

O Darby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smallun tries to clinch but fails miserably

so O Darby counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
O Darby won't allow Smallun to get back to his feet.

O Darby 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

O Darby 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smallun is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst O Darby is controlling him.

O Darby 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.
O Darby prevents Smallun from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Smallun drives through and clinches with O Darby against the cage.
Smallun scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eoin Andershannon O Darby dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smallun closes the distance and clinches.
Smallun has O Darby pressed against the cage, preventing O Darby from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch on the inside from Smallun fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Smallun fails to land.
Smallun scores with a nice hook to the head.
Smallun misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smallun misses with some punches.
Smallun lands with a short head shot on the inside.
O Darby looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smallun makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smallun misses with some punches.
O Darby tries to circle away but Smallun has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smallun.
Smallun scores with a shoulder strike.
Smallun misses with the head strike.
Smallun swings away with an uppercut that misses.
O Darby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
O Darby is trying to break the clinch but Smallun is controlling him.
Smallun misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smallun misses with a punch on the inside.
Smallun lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Smallun throws a head punch that misses.
Smallun throws a punch but it's blocked by O Darby.
Smallun doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smallun misses with some punches.
O Darby is trying to break the clinch but Smallun has him pressed against the cage.
Smallun softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Smallun swings wildly with an uppercut but O Darby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smallun has a couple of punches blocked by O Darby.
O Darby is trying to break the clinch but Smallun has him pressed against the cage.
Smallun misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by O Darby.
Smallun lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of O Darby backwards.
Smallun keeps the fight in the clinch, despite O Darby's efforts to push away.
Smallun lands with a left to the head.

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.
A frustrated look appears on O Darby's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smallun swings away with an uppercut that misses.
O Darby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smallun throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Smallun fails to land.
Smallun has a couple of punches blocked by O Darby.
Smallun pushes O Darby back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
O Darby blocking some punches.

O Darby breaks from the clinch.
Smallun tries to clinch
and O Darby counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smallun tries to clinch but O Darby moves away
and O Darby counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
O Darby is looking to clinch.
O Darby circles away from the clinch attempt

so O Darby counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smallun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

O Darby drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Smallun dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smallun is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Smallun got a little sloppy there for a moment and O Darby has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smallun has managed to get both his arms back between O Darby's legs - danger averted.
Smallun controls from within his opponent's guard.

O Darby throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smallun not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Smallun gets to his feet. O Darby looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smallun looks to clinch

and O Darby counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Smallun is trying to stand back up but O Darby is controlling him
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

O Darby is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smallun defends it well.
O Darby wants to pass to mount but Smallun is defending the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smallun wants to clinch
and O Darby counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eoin Andershannon O Darby clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smallun gets a clinch.
O Darby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
O Darby blocking some punches.
Smallun misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by O Darby.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smallun.
Smallun misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smallun lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of O Darby backwards.
A short left from Smallun.
Smallun fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smallun working aggressively here.
O Darby blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smallun tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smallun fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
O Darby blocks an uppercut.
Smallun tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smallun misses with the head strike.
Smallun is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Smallun lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Darby wants to break the clinch but can't.
O Darby blocks an uppercut.
O Darby tries to break free but Smallun pushes him back against the cage.
Smallun misses with the head strike.
Smallun keeps control of O Darby as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smallun working aggressively here.
Smallun softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

O Darby breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
O Darby will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smallun tries to close the distance and clinch up but O Darby swats him away and circles back towards the center.
O Darby missing with a left hand there. Smallun was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smallun tries to clinch but O Darby moves out of range.
Smallun is looking to clinch but O Darby is avoiding it.
Smallun tries to close the distance and clinch but O Darby swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smallun wants to clinch up but O Darby keeps it at a distance.
Smallun keeps the fight on the outside.
Smallun clinches but O Darby breaks the clinch

and O Darby counters with a shoot takedown. Smallun fights it but they end up in guard.
Smallun wants to stand up but O Darby is controlling him.
Smallun is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

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

O Darby thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Darby thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
O Darby wants to pass the guard but Smallun is keeping the position.

O Darby thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smallun closes the distance looking to clinch

and O Darby counters with a shoot takedown. Smallun fights it but they end up in guard.
O Darby looking to pass the guard.

Smallun pushes O Darby off and scrambles back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smallun looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smallun tries to clinch there but O Darby circles away.
Smallun tries to close the distance and clinch up but O Darby swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smallun doesn't manage to clinch there - O Darby circles away.
Smallun is looking to clinch.
Smallun tries to clinch but O Darby moves away

and O Darby counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

O Darby is looking for a kimura here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smallun can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smallun tries to kick O Darby off but O Darby keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eoin Andershannon O Darby had his way with Ivor Smallun in that round.
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. This is the final round!

O Darby shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. O Darby showed some decent athleticism there.

Smallun manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Smallun tries to clinch
and O Darby connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
O Darby circles away from the clinch attempt
and O Darby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smallun wants to clinch but O Darby slips to the side
and O Darby counters with a straight right hand.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Smallun gets a clinch.
Smallun swings wildly with an uppercut but O Darby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smallun lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smallun creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smallun throws a punch but it's blocked by O Darby.
Smallun misses with a punch on the inside.
Smallun fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
O Darby has had enough of the clinch but Smallun keeps him there for the moment.
Smallun has O Darby pressed against the cage, preventing O Darby from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smallun scores with a nice hook to the head.

O Darby breaks from the clinch.
Smallun tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and O Darby counters with a takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from O Darby are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

O Darby thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smallun is trying to buck O Darby off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

O Darby is trying to get an arm triangle but Smallun is defending well.
Smallun wants to get back to his feet.

O Darby is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smallun knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smallun wants to get back to his feet.
Eoin Andershannon O Darby overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

O Darby is trying to get an arm triangle but Smallun is defending well.
Smallun is pushing O Darby's head away, looking to escape. O Darby manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Darby goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Smallun has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for O Darby but great work by Smallun.
Smallun is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
O Darby tries to bench press Smallun off him but Smallun keeps the position.
O Darby wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Smallun just content to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smallun trying to control the action but O Darby is working from the bottom.

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.
O Darby is looking for a sweep.
Ivor Smallun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smallun trying to control the position but O Darby is working away.
Smallun really doesn't want to stay on the ground with O Darby. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smallun is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down O Darby's shoulder. That is not cool.
The strikes coming from Smallun are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Smallun is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. O Darby knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
O Darby throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eoin Andershannon O Darby showed his dominance in that final round.
I think O Darby 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 49:46
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 49:46
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eoin Andershannon O Darby!
Eoin Andershannon O Darby retains his featherweight title!