PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darin Blood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Safo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Safo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Up Your Speed by Sway DaSafo kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Blood
vs
Safo

183 cm
31
184 lbs
20 - 13 - 1

186 cm
30
179 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Darin Blood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derek Safo!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Safo moves out of range of the body kick from Blood.
Blood throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Safo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Safo. Blood does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blood throws a head kick that misses.
Safo scores with a hook to the body. Blood takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Safo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blood circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice cross by Safo.
Blood will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Blood shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Safo as he jumps to the side.
An inside leg kick from Blood misses.
Safo misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Safo. Blood does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blood looks for a takedown but Safo sprawls well.
Blood tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Safo was well out of range. Poor timing from Blood.
Safo slips under a jab.
Safo throws a shot from downtown. Blood moves away and avoids it.
Blood ducks under a wild hook from Safo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safo misses with a body shot.
Blood throws a shot to the body.
Blood scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Blood shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Blood was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Blood trying to control the position but Safo is working away.
Safo struggling a bit here.
Safo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Blood.
Blood controls the position.
Safo struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blood slows the pace down.
Safo can't do much from the bottom here.
Blood in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blood tries to advance to mount but Safo denies him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Safo thows a body shot but no joy.
Blood misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blood avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Safo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Safo stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darin Blood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Safo throws a big shot that misses.
Safo leaves Blood with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Blood throws a body punch but Safo moves out of range.
Safo throws a big shot that misses.
Blood throws a hook but Safo blocks it.
Safo blocks a leg kick.
Blood lands a nice shot that snaps Safo's head back.
Safo checks a leg kick.
Blood slips a jab and a cross from Safo.
Blood keeps the fight on the outside.
Blood takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Blood throws a sloppy head kick and Safo moves out of range easily.
A jab from Safo finds it's way through Blood's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Safo misses with a looping left.

Safo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blood lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Safo backwards.
Safo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Safo working aggressively here.
A right handed body shot lands from Blood.
Still in the clinch, Blood scores with a nice short uppercut.
Blood lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Safo.
Blood lands with a short shot to the head.
Blood using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Safo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Safo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Blood breaks the clinch.
Derek Safo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blood is looking to chop away at Safo's legs.
Blood's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Blood duly obliges.
Good standup being displayed there by Safo as he connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Safo sizes up Blood with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Safo jabs at Blood's body.
Safo moves out of range of the leg kick from Blood.
A head kick misses from Blood.
Safo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Safo dips to his left and cracks Blood with an uppercut!
Safo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Safo tries to clinch up.
Blood is looking to wear down Safo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Safo misses with a wild combination.
Safo cracks Blood with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Safo with a hook.
Blood lands with a cross.
Safo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blood throws a lazy body kick
letting Safo counter with a right hand.
Blood slips under a jab from Safo.
Blood wants to slow Safo down by chopping away at his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blood tries to score with a low kick but Safo moves his leg out of the way.
Blood moves out of range of the strikes.
Blood pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blood. Safo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Derek Safo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blood has a takedown stuffed.
Safo misses with a few strikes there.
Danga de danga de dang - Safo scores with a four punch combination!
Blood lands the left hand.
Blood misses with a body shot.
Blood throws a solid leg kick but Safo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Blood.
Safo lands a jab to Blood's midsection.
Safo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Safo drops his hands momentarily and Blood takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Blood.
Safo misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blood misses with a wild body shot.
Blood attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
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!
Safo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Blood on the side of the head.
Blood throws a low kick but it's checked well by Safo.
Safo swings for the body but Blood moves out of range.
Blood keeps the fight on the outside.
Safo misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Blood to counter with a crisp jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Safo. That's going to slow Blood down.
Safo misses with the combination.
Safo throws a shot to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Blood checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Blood walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Blood.
Safo prevents Blood from improving position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Blood stalls from top position.
Blood trying to control the position but Safo is working away.
Blood remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Blood creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Safo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
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.
A lull in the action here.
Safo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Blood is controlling him well.
Blood tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Safo can't do much from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Safo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Blood.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Derek Safo 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!

Safo scores with a body shot.
Safo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blood moves away.
Safo misses with a wild combination.
Safo scores with a sloppy right hand. Blood should have avoided that one.
Blood displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Blood checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Derek Safo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good work by Blood as he checks the leg kick.
Safo throws out a loose jab but Blood uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blood lands with a good body shot.
Blood just misses with a punch to the body.
Blood shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Safo blocks a head kick by Blood.
Safo works over Blood's head and body with a nice combination.
Safo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed right hand from Safo misses the target.
Safo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Safo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Safo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Safo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Blood manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Safo slips under a jab from Blood.
Blood smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Blood tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Safo is able to avoid easily.
Safo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Safo looks to land a left hand but Blood moved out of range nicely.
A head kick misses from Blood.
Safo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Blood uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Safo.
Safo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Blood.
Safo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Blood moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Safo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Blood manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Safo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Safo connects with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blood avoids a punch combination nicely.
Safo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Safo takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Blood closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Safo to the mat! Safo manages to get full guard.
Safo can't keep his opponent in guard - Blood advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Blood is trying to control. Safo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Blood keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Safo wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blood performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Darin Blood.
Safo misses with a wild body shot.
Safo slips under a jab.
Blood showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Safo.
Safo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blood.
Blood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Safo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Safo moves out of range of the body kick.
Blood throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Safo throws a looping overhand right but Blood ducks down to avoid it.
Blood is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Safo.
Safo connects with a body shot that sends Blood's belly button to the back.
Nice takedown defense from Safo. No joy for Blood on that attempt.
Blood tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Safo was well out of range. Poor timing from Blood.
Blood cracks a nice hook into Safo's ribs.
Safo throws out a loose jab but Blood uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blood throws a sloppy head kick and Safo moves out of range easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blood tries to land a leg kick but Safo saw it coming and moves away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Blood fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darin Blood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blood wants to slow Safo down by chopping away at his legs.
Blood takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Darin Blood.
I think Blood 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darin Blood!