PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Darsley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Sarai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Darsley
vs
Sarai

178 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thomas Darsley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephen Sarai!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Darsley bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Darsley are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sarai sneaks back into half guard.

Sarai with the active half guard here but Darsley passes nicely into side control.
Sarai is trying to improve his position.
Darsley tries to advance to mount but can't.
Sarai is looking to reverse the position.
Sarai throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Sarai is looking for a sweep.
Sarai is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Sarai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sarai tries to get to full guard but Darsley has control of the leg.
Darsley drops an elbow to the side of Sarai's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarai tries to get to full guard but Darsley has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Darsley connects with a nice short shot to Sarai's temple.
Darsley wants to pass the guard but Sarai is defending well.
Darsley scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Darsley is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sarai sees it coming and defends easily.
Darsley knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sarai on the ground.

Sarai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Sarai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sarai looks gassed!
Darsley controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darsley is looking to take a break and control but Sarai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Darsley lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Sarai actively working from the bottom here.

Sarai is defending against the submission attempts here by Darsley.

Sarai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Darsley winds up and cracks Sarai with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darsley is pressing down on Sarai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sarai is holding on for now.
Darsley is looking to take a break and control but Sarai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Darsley is thwarting Sarai's attempts to control the position.
Darsley working the head and body with strikes.
Sarai is looking to improve his position.
Darsley is nestled in close to Sarai, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Darsley slows the pace down in half guard.
Darsley frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Darsley raining down hammerfists from mount.
Darsley is landing with some decent strikes but Sarai is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sarai is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Darsley putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Darsley is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Darsley is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sarai can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Darsley raining down shots from the mount!
Darsley connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sarai is squirming around, avoiding Darsley's attempts to control the action.
BOOM! Darsley connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sarai is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Darsley prevents Sarai from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Darsley instigates a clinch.
Darsley is trying to drag Sarai to the mat but Sarai just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Darsley pulls guard.
Darsley is trying to hold Sarai in close to prevent damage but Sarai has managed to pass into half guard.
Darsley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sarai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sarai throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sarai is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Darsley has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sarai is breathing heavily.
Sarai prevents Darsley from standing back up.

Sarai is working for a kimura but Darsley is defending it quite comfortably.
Darsley won't allow Sarai to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Darsley is controlling Sarai's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Sarai is working for a submission of some sort.

Sarai 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.
Darsley might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Darsley is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darsley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Darsley keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Sarai is trying to work for a kimura but Darsley is defending well.
Darsley is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Darsley avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sarai.
Sarai prevents Darsley from standing back up.
Sarai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sarai wants to pass to mount but Darsley is defending the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sarai lands a nice short elbow.

Sarai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Darsley is pressing down on Sarai's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Darsley on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Darsley tries to get out of the position.
Darsley controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stephen Sarai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sarai with a lazy takedown attempt

and Darsley decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sarai's guard.
Darsley advances position into side control!
Sarai can't do much from the bottom here.
Darsley trying to control the action but Sarai is working from the bottom.
Darsley happy to just control the position for now.
Darsley working the head with strikes.
Darsley working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sarai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Darsley in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sarai wants to control but Darsley postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darsley tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Sarai is trying to improve his position.
Darsley scores with punches from side control.
Sarai looking for a sweep but Darsley has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Darsley landing strikes, looking to finish!
Darsley landing shots from mount.
Thomas Darsley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sarai tries to lock up and control but Darsley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Darsley postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sarai looks a forlorn figure.
Darsley content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarai taking shots to the head.
Sarai tries to hold on but Darsley postures up.
Darsley landing strikes, looking to finish!
Darsley tries to control but Sarai wriggling away.
Sarai is desperately trying to improve his position but Darsley has a good base and remains in mount.
Darsley dominating with strikes here.
Darsley content just to control the position here.
Darsley prevents Sarai from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darsley trying to control but Sarai is having none of it.
Darsley looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sarai working to try and regain half guard.
Darsley putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Darsley working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Darsley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Darsley sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Darsley trying to control but Sarai is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darsley connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sarai keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Darsley avoids the attempt from Sarai to control.
Darsley trying to control but Sarai is having none of it.
Darsley scoring with strikes but Sarai is staying in there.
Sarai keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Darsley is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sarai can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Darsley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Darsley has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Darsley!