PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ritchie Blacklands (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Areli Durga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blacklands comes to the cage accompanied by The Wicker Man, by Iron Maiden. The crowd seem to be enjoying Durga's choice of entrance music: Godsmack - Voodoo. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Areli Durga enters the cage!

Blacklands
vs
Durga

191 cm
22
218 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
215 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ritchie Blacklands!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Areli Durga!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durga tries to land a body kick

and Blacklands counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blacklands.

Blacklands drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Durga manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Blacklands has Durga in his guard.
Durga preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Durga wanted to stand there but Blacklands had control of the position.
Blacklands manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Durga manages to get himself to full guard.

Blacklands drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Durga manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Blacklands has Durga in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durga controls from within his opponent's guard.
Durga is fighting to break Blacklands's control of his arms but Blacklands is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Blacklands lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Durga!

Blacklands goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Durga turns into him and now he's in Blacklands's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durga won't allow Blacklands to sweep him here.

Durga stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Durga misses with a double jab

so Blacklands counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Blacklands drops back, looking for a kneebar! Durga looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Durga looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Durga!
Blacklands manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blacklands is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Durga defends it well.

Blacklands is looking for a kimura here.
Blacklands trying to advance position but Durga counters by regaining guard.
Blacklands trying to control but Durga is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Blacklands is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Blacklands is looking for a triangle but Durga pushes his legs off easily.
Blacklands lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Durga!

Blacklands goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Durga turns into him and now he's in Blacklands's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritchie Blacklands dominated that round.
That's time! Blacklands's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Durga just misses with a punch to the body.
Durga leaves Blacklands with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Durga throws a leg kick

and Blacklands counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Durga's guard now.
Blacklands preventing the sweep.
Blacklands trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Durga manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Durga really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blacklands. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Blacklands looking for a sweep. Not yet Blacklands, not yet.
Durga must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blacklands has his foot on Durga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Durga works his way back into a safe position though.
Durga wants to get up but he can't break Blacklands's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Durga controlling from the top position.
Durga trying to control but Blacklands is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Blacklands is trying to keep Durga in close.
Ritchie Blacklands overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Durga wanted to stand there but Blacklands had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Areli Durga wasn't active enough on the ground.
A slapping leg kick lands for Durga.
Durga scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Blacklands doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Durga counters with a nice leg kick.
Blacklands avoids the body shot from Durga.
Blacklands shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Durga as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ritchie Blacklands. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durga throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blacklands avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Areli Durga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Durga displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blacklands.
Durga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blacklands swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Durga defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Blacklands.
Blacklands tries for a takedown but Durga circles away easily
and Durga counters with a solid body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Durga fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Durga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blacklands manages to avoid it.
Durga attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A solid leg kick lands there for Durga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durga tries a head kick but it misses.
Durga throws a sloppy body shot

and Blacklands decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Durga's guard.

Blacklands postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Durga is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Blacklands, into his guard.
Blacklands has a closed guard, preventing Durga from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blacklands tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Areli Durga 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!

Durga fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Durga lands a jab to the nose.
Blacklands shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No luck for Blacklands with that takedown attempt.
Durga throws a wild body kick that Blacklands sees coming a mile off.
Durga fails with an attempt to clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Durga.
Durga misses the jab.
Durga throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Durga is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Blacklands rather than just go for the knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blacklands swats away the attempt to clinch by Durga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durga pushes Blacklands away with a front kick.
Durga connects with a solid leg kick.
Durga thumps Blacklands with a low kick.
Durga connects with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blacklands avoids the head kick by Durga.
Blacklands blocks a head kick by Durga.
Blacklands moves out of range of the body kick from Durga.
Blacklands tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Durga bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Durga cracks a nice hook into Blacklands's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durga looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Areli Durga seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blacklands fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ritchie Blacklands. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durga tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Blacklands manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Durga has managed to clinch.
Durga unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Durga scores a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Durga obliges.
Durga scores with a knee to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Blacklands takes a knee right on the jaw!
Durga with a knee to the head.
Durga lands a knee to the head.
Durga scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durga lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Durga scores with a knee to the head.
Blacklands is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Knees in the clinch landing for Durga.
Well,Blacklands is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Durga lands a nice knee to the body.
Durga putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Blacklands in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Blacklands tries for a takedown but Durga manages to get underhooks.
Durga using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Durga scores with a knee to the head.
Durga tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blacklands avoids it.
Durga is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Blacklands is keeping busy.
Blacklands goes for a takedown attempt but Durga pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Durga pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Durga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Durga - that will leave a mark!
A slow jab from Durga misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blacklands misses with a takedown

and Durga counters by clinching up.
Durga working Blacklands over with knees to the body.
Ritchie Blacklands has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Durga putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Blacklands in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Blacklands is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Durga pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Durga throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Durga lands a body punch.
The referee calls for Durga to work.
Durga scores with a knee to the head.
Blacklands wants a takedown but no success here.
Durga lands a knee to the head.
Durga landing knees to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Durga avoiding damage.
Durga using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Durga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Areli Durga is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A knee to the head by Durga.
Durga is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Blacklands is defending well for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Areli Durga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Durga has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 for Areli Durga!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Areli Durga!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Areli Durga!

Areli Durga wins by unanimous decision!