PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mikey Darker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ion Standfaff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Darker
vs
Standfaff

160 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

162 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikey Darker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ion Standfaff!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darker is looking to land body kicks.
Standfaff fails to land the takedown.
Darker tries to close the distance and clinch but Standfaff swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Darker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Darker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Standfaff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice takedown defense from Darker. No joy for Standfaff on that attempt.
Darker moves in looking to clinch but Standfaff pushes him off.
Standfaff shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mikey Darker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ion Standfaff.
Standfaff fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Darker avoids it really well and circles away.
Standfaff tries to clinch but Darker is having none of it.
Standfaff shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Darker as he avoids it easily.

Standfaff gets tackled into the cage by Darker. Darker maintains the clinch.

Darker breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Standfaff gets caught napping as Darker dives in and scores a takedown. Standfaff manages to retain guard.
Darker wants to control from the top but Standfaff keeps moving.
Standfaff looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Darker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Darker postures up.
Darker slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Darker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Standfaff swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mikey Darker.

Darker looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Standfaff is looking to control Darker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Standfaff avoid being mounted?
Darker trying to control the action but Standfaff is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Standfaff trying to control but Darker postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Standfaff keeps working.

Darker is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Standfaff sees it coming and defends easily.
Standfaff tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Standfaff tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Standfaff tries to roll over but Darker keeps him under control.

Darker is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darker is thwarting Standfaff's attempts to control the position.
Standfaff is staying active underneath Darker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Darker is thwarting Standfaff's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Standfaff is looking for a sweep. Darker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Darker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Standfaff on the ground.
Standfaff avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Darker.
Standfaff is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Standfaff is trying to control but can't.
Darker is taking a breather. Standfaff 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.

Ion Standfaff has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Darker throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Standfaff was covering up waiting for the punch and Darker finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Darker slips nicely into half guard.
Darker is breathing heavily.
Darker wants to pass the guard but Standfaff is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Darker is trying to control. Standfaff wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikey Darker dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Standfaff will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Standfaff shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Darker sprawls well. Darker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Standfaff gets slowly back to his feet.
Standfaff throws a nice looking combination but Darker bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Standfaff misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mikey Darker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ion Standfaff.
Standfaff shoots in for a takedown but Darker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Darker misses the shot to the body.
Standfaff fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Darker avoids it really well and circles away.
Ion Standfaff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Darker shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Standfaff's guard.
Standfaff tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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.
Darker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Standfaff is keeping the position for now.
Darker looking to sit in guard and control but Standfaff gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Standfaff slips nicely into half guard.
Darker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Darker looks like he's trying to stand up.
Standfaff looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Standfaff is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Darker is just riding it out for now. Standfaff eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darker is trying to get back to full guard.
Darker is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Darker wants to sweep but Standfaff has passed to side control!
Standfaff looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Darker is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Standfaff is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Darker is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Darker is looking to reverse the position.
Check out the look on Standfaff's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Standfaff cracks Darker with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Standfaff decides to stand up, so the ref orders Darker to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Standfaff.
Standfaff fails with a takedown attempt.
Standfaff throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Darker's waist but Darker gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Standfaff off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darker stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Darker wants it to stay on the feet.

Darker forces Standfaff back against the cage and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Darker jumps into guard, dragging Standfaff to the mat.
Darker pulls Standfaff in to control the position.
Darker wants to sweep here but Standfaff controlling him for the moment.
Standfaff tries to free his leg and advance position but Darker is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Standfaff passes into half guard.
Standfaff is pressing down on Darker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Darker is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ion Standfaff will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Standfaff shoots for a takedown but Darker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Darker rushes Standfaff and presses him up against the cage.
Standfaff tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Darker just stands there and leans against the cage.

Darker manages to break the clinch.
Standfaff keeps the fight on the outside.
Standfaff fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mikey Darker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ion Standfaff.

Darker bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Standfaff is being controlled here.
Darker trying to control the position but Standfaff is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Standfaff is trying to improve his position.
Standfaff manages to work his way to half guard, despite Darker's best efforts.

Darker is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Standfaff manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Darker won't allow Standfaff to sweep him here.
Standfaff keeping moving, preventing Darker from controlling successfully.
Standfaff wants to stand up but Darker is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darker throws a strike but Standfaff rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Standfaff trying to control but Darker is working from the bottom.
Standfaff is pushing down on Darker's leg trying to pass to half guard. Darker is fighting to maintain full guard but Standfaff has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mikey Darker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Standfaff is trying to control the action in half guard but Darker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Standfaff wants to pass the guard but Darker is defending well.

Standfaff is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Darker sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Standfaff is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Standfaff is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Standfaff 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.
Darker is not content to let Standfaff control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darker is trying to maintain the position but Standfaff is very close to passing his half guard.

Standfaff is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Darker wants to improve his position but Standfaff is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ion Standfaff.
I think Standfaff 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ion Standfaff!