PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Reeves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Darnelczyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Reeves
vs
Darnelczyk

170 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Reeves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daniel Darnelczyk!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reeves closes the distance and clinches.
Reeves is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Darnelczyk has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Reeves regains guard immediately.
Darnelczyk tries to stand but Reeves is controlling from the bottom.
Darnelczyk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Darnelczyk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Darnelczyk wants to get up but he can't break Reeves's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Darnelczyk wants to control from the top but Reeves keeps moving.
Darnelczyk trying to move into half guard but instead Reeves has managed to sweep!

Darnelczyk has his foot on Reeves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Reeves works his way back into a safe position though.
Darnelczyk can't keep his opponent in guard - Reeves advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Reeves wants to stand up but Darnelczyk is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reeves is tying to control. Darnelczyk wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Darnelczyk has a hand on Reeves's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Reeves takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Darnelczyk is working to get back to half guard.
Reeves punishing his opponent with strikes.
Reeves looking to finish Darnelczyk with some ground and pound. This is bad for Darnelczyk!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reeves with shots to the head and body - Darnelczyk looks very uncomfortable down there.
Darnelczyk tries to hold on but Reeves postures up.
Darnelczyk can't escape the position.
Reeves has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Darnelczyk's face.
Darnelczyk is squirming around, avoiding Reeves's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Darnelczyk tries to reverse the position but Reeves maintains control.
Darnelczyk looks gassed!
Reeves trying to control but Darnelczyk is having none of it.
Darnelczyk is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Reeves landing punches.
Darnelczyk tries to lock up and control but Reeves gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Darnelczyk is squirming around, avoiding Reeves's attempts to control the action.
Darnelczyk in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Reeves putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Reeves content just to control the position here.
Reeves prevents Darnelczyk from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darnelczyk wants to control but Reeves is having none of it.
Reeves tries to control but Darnelczyk wriggling away.
Reeves is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Darnelczyk is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Reeves landing shots from mount.
Reeves sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Darnelczyk bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Reeves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Darnelczyk looking to pass the guard.
Reeves manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Darnelczyk manages to get himself to full guard.
Reeves trying to control but Darnelczyk is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Darnelczyk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Reeves throws a one two combo.

Darnelczyk is rocked!
Darnelczyk avoids the head kick by Reeves.
Darnelczyk is still on wobbly legs! Can Reeves finish him?
Reeves shoots for a double leg takedown but Darnelczyk sprawls well. He's pushed Reeves's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Reeves dodges the punch combination from Darnelczyk.
Darnelczyk seems to have recovered his senses.

Reeves closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Darnelczyk is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Reeves jumps into side control!
Reeves tries to move into full mount but can't pass Darnelczyk's legs.
Darnelczyk is looking to regain half guard here but Reeves keeps moving and retains side control.
Darnelczyk is trying to control Reeves's posture but Reeves avoids it.
Darnelczyk is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Reeves has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Reeves advances nicely into full mount.
Reeves controlling the position easily from mount.
Darnelczyk working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darnelczyk in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Reeves avoids the attempt from Darnelczyk to control.
Darnelczyk really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Darnelczyk tries to hold on but Reeves pushes him away.
Darnelczyk is in all sorts of trouble here.
Reeves controlling the pace for now.
Darnelczyk is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darnelczyk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Darnelczyk wants to hold on but Reeves pushes him away.
Reeves trying to control but Darnelczyk is having none of it.
Darnelczyk gets back to half guard.
Reeves is taking a breather. Darnelczyk says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Reeves prevents Darnelczyk from improving his position.

Darnelczyk has one foot on Reeves's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Darnelczyk has taken the fight to the clinch.
Darnelczyk prevents the takedown attempt.

Darnelczyk has hold of one of Reeves's legs. Reeves is fighting the takedown attempt but Darnelczyk gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Darnelczyk slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Darnelczyk tries for a kimura but Reeves is defending well.
Reeves is looking for a sweep.

Darnelczyk is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Reeves knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Reeves can't do much from the bottom here.

Darnelczyk goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Reeves has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Darnelczyk but great work by Reeves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Steve Reeves will probably get the nod.
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!

Reeves shoots for a takedown but Darnelczyk saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reeves moves in looking to clinch but Darnelczyk pushes him off.
Reeves fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Darnelczyk closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Darnelczyk is stalling here. Reeves is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Darnelczyk seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Reeves has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Darnelczyk is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Reeves is controlling him well.
Darnelczyk gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Reeves wants to free his trapped foot but Darnelczyk is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Reeves controlling the pace.
Darnelczyk is trying to control but can't.
Darnelczyk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reeves trying to control the action but Darnelczyk is working from the bottom.
Reeves takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

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

Reeves closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Darnelczyk to the mat! Darnelczyk manages to get full guard.
Reeves working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Darnelczyk is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Reeves is defending against the submission attempts here by Darnelczyk.
Darnelczyk is looking to pass Reeves's guard but actually Reeves recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reeves utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Darnelczyk tries to free his leg and advance position but Reeves is retaining full guard.
Reeves keeping moving, preventing Darnelczyk from controlling successfully.
Reeves pulls Darnelczyk in close to his closed guard and prevents Darnelczyk from doing any damage or advancing position.
Darnelczyk controls from within his opponent's guard.
Reeves can't keep his opponent in guard - Darnelczyk advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reeves is looking to improve his position.
Reeves is doing well to control the position and prevent Darnelczyk from advancing to side control.
Reeves is trying to get back to full guard.
Steve Reeves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Darnelczyk is pressing down on Reeves's thigh, looking to free his foot. Reeves is holding on for now.
Darnelczyk throwing shots but Reeves is blocking nicely.
Darnelczyk works his way into full mount!

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Reeves controlling from the top position.

Darnelczyk is looking for a triangle but Reeves pushes his legs off easily.
Darnelczyk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Reeves's guard.
Darnelczyk trying to control the position from guard on top but Reeves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Daniel Darnelczyk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darnelczyk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reeves works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Daniel Darnelczyk.
I think Reeves 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!