PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Monday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Areli Durga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Durga has chosen Godsmack - Voodoo as his entrance music. 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.

Monday
vs
Durga

180 cm
30
199 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

190 cm
27
200 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenny Monday!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Areli Durga!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durga buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Durga bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Durga is looking to slow Monday down with leg kicks.
Monday misses with an uppercut.
Durga chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Monday fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kenny Monday seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Durga lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Durga stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Monday.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Durga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Monday keeps the fight on the outside.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Durga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monday is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Durga.
Monday has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Durga.
Monday throws out a loose jab but Durga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Monday misses with a two punch combination.
A slapping leg kick lands for Durga.
Durga takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Monday checks a leg kick.
Durga jabs at Monday's body.
Monday throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Durga turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Monday is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Durga has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Durga there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durga throws a head kick but Monday moves out of range.
Monday thows a leg kick but Durga checks it
and Durga makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Durga darts in and clinches Monday up against the cage.
Durga looking to stall.
Durga lands a knee to the body.
Monday misses with a short punch on the inside.
Monday tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Durga comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Monday misses with the head strike.
Monday tries to work over Durga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durga effectively controlling the action here.
Durga misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Monday.
Durga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch on the inside from Monday fails to land.
Durga scores with a knee to the head.
Durga misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Monday.
Durga tries to land a knee to the head but Monday blocks with his arms.
Durga is trying to stall.
Durga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durga comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Monday working aggressively here.
Durga using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Monday has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Durga misses with a knee to the head.
Durga lands a good knee to the midsection. Monday won't want to take too many of those.
Monday blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short right from Monday.
Monday stalling against the cage.
Durga cracks Monday with a nice body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durga throws an elbow but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Areli Durga dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Durga connects with a solid leg kick.
Monday throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Monday throws a right and a left that Durga avoids nicely.
Monday misses with a kick to the body
and Durga makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Monday really felt that one!
Areli Durga seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Monday scores with a shot to the body.
Durga is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Monday.
Monday thuds his right hand into Durga's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Monday moves out of range of the body kick.
Monday throws a hook to the side of Durga's head but Durga sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slapping leg kick lands for Durga.
Monday takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durga checks a leg kick.
Monday ducks under a wild hook from Durga.
Durga throws a nice outside leg kick.
Good shot there by Monday.
Crunch! Durga slams his shin into Monday's torso.
Durga tries to clinch up.
Durga lands a nice leg kick that just misses Monday's sensitive parts.
Monday lands a front kick.
Durga fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Monday.
A good leg kick by Durga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A low kick from Durga is predictable there
and Monday counters with a nice uppercut.
Monday just misses with a punch to the body.
Monday checks a low kick from Durga.
Monday misses with a lunging right hand
and Durga counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Monday throws a poor cross that misses
and Durga counters with a solid body kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Durga.
Durga throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Monday.
Durga tries to land a front kick but Monday steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Durga connects with a leg kick. Monday looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Monday scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Durga misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durga misses with a low kick as Monday jumps back.
Durga walks into a jab.
Durga throws a front kick aimed at Monday's knee but Monday avoids it well.
Durga throws a head kick but Monday moves out of range.
Monday scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Durga doesn't seem bothered though.
Durga slaps away a takedown attempt from Monday, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A big right from Monday misses.
Durga takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Monday decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Monday thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Durga is not content to let Monday control the position.

Monday is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Durga defends it well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Monday trying to control the action but Durga is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Areli Durga will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Monday closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Monday is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Durga is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Monday creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Durga sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Monday moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Monday working away.
Durga is working to avoid the ground and pound but Monday connects with a decent elbow.
Monday throws a strike aimed at the side of Durga's head but Durga avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durga parries the strikes from Monday easily there. Monday is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Durga to escape.
Durga is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Monday is looking to take a break and control but Durga is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Durga stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Monday is trying to ground and pound but Durga uses the momentary lack of control by Monday to regain half guard.
Monday has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durga keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Monday not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Durga tries to roll over but Monday keeps him under control.
Durga wants to get back to full guard but Monday has passed into side control.
Monday working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durga avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Monday.
Monday working the body and head with strikes.
Monday creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Monday lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Monday trying to control the action but Durga is working from the bottom.

Monday looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Monday is trying to get an arm triangle but Durga is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monday goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Durga rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Monday's guard! Nice work there by Durga!
Durga must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Durga is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Monday had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Durga defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Monday clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Monday misses with an uppercut.
Durga is looking to clinch.
Durga changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Monday ducks under a wild hook from Durga.
Durga looks to land a body kick but Monday moved away.
Durga lands with a kick to the ribs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Durga.
Durga throws a low kick, looking for Monday's leg but Monday calmly moves out of range.
Durga takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monday is looking to land body kicks.
Monday takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Durga steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Monday.
Durga throws a jab but it's blocked by Monday.
Durga looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Durga throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Monday connects with a jab.
Durga looks for the body kick but Monday saw that one coming.
Durga cracks Monday with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Durga looks to clinch
and Monday connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durga connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Durga bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Durga bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Monday throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Durga was covering up waiting for the punch and Monday finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Durga keeping moving, preventing Monday from controlling successfully.
Monday postures up in Durga's guard and throws a big left but Durga blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monday postures up and lands a big shot to Durga's brow.
Monday trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Monday drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Durga dives on top into guard.
Monday is trying to hold Durga in close to prevent damage but Durga has managed to pass into half guard.

Monday actively working from the bottom here.
Durga prevents Monday from improving his position.
Monday is trying to maintain the position but Durga is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monday looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Durga prevents Monday from improving his position.
Durga really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Monday. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Monday is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Areli Durga will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Monday tests Durga's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Durga ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Durga throws a leg kick
letting Monday counter with a right hand.
Monday gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Durga counters with a nice leg kick.
Durga throws a solid leg kick but Monday takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Durga.
Monday thows a left - swing and a miss!
Monday throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Monday misses with a looping right.
Monday looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Durga is fending him off so far but Monday persists. Nope, Durga circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durga moves out of range of the leg kick from Monday.
Durga connects with an inside leg kick.
Areli Durga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Monday. Durga does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick from Durga misses.
Durga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Durga lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Durga waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Monday.
A big left from Monday misses.
Monday will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Durga tries to clinch but Monday moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Durga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durga takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Durga throws a sloppy head kick
and Monday counters with a solid body kick.
Durga uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Monday.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Durga, right into the meat.
Monday on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Monday misses with an uppercut
letting Durga counter with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Durga throws a hook but Monday blocks it.
Durga throws a head kick but Monday moves out of range.
Durga lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Durga is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Monday.
Durga throws a quick inside leg kick.
Durga takes one to the side of the head.
Kenny Monday has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Monday fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Durga sprawls well initially but Monday persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Monday working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Monday not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Monday trying to control the action but Durga is working from the bottom.
Durga taking some punishment here, with Monday in his half guard.
Monday not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monday sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Durga defending well though.
Monday throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Monday sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Durga blocking the ground and pound attempt from Monday.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durga avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Monday.
Durga avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Monday.
Monday sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Durga defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Monday showed his dominance in that final round.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 47:48
Judge William Peck scores the fight 49:48
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Areli Durga!
Areli Durga is the new middleweight champion!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Areli Durga made sure he mentioned KINGDOM, along with how happy he was to win his fight.