PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Will West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Durham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Durham comes into a darkened arena with his song building. F**kin Problems kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

West
vs
Durham

180 cm
31
194 lbs
15 - 14 - 0

170 cm
33
160 lbs
23 - 13 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Will West!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Durham!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
West slips a jab from Durham.
Durham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
West swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Durham's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Durham duly obliges.
Durham is looking to clinch but West is avoiding it.
A jab from West misses.
Durham cracks West with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Durham's coach down at Soul Supremacy - UK was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Durham's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
West throws a head kick but Durham moves out of range.
Durham connects with a body shot.
West cracks the inside of Durham's front leg.

Durham takes the fight into the clinch.
Durham tried to land a shot to the body but connects with West's elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as West takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Durham breaks the clinch.
Durham blocks a leg kick.
A combination from Durham does no damage.
Durham keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
West throws a nice looking combination but Durham bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Durham scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham cracks West with a good jab.
West is looking to slow Durham down with leg kicks.

Durham moves into the clinch successfully.
Durham prevents the takedown attempt.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
West connects with a knee to the head.
Durham working hard to break the clinch.
Durham tries a body shot but West blocks it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from West.
Durham wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Durham struggles to land a body shot inside as West controls his hands.
West looking to throw knees to the head but Durham is blocking nicely.

West has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Durham regains guard immediately.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
West wants to control from the top but Durham keeps moving.
West won't allow Durham to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Durham looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Durham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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.
Durham wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and West manages to pass to side control.

West is working for a submission of some sort.
West trying to pass the guard but Durham defending well.
Durham wants to get back to his feet.

West 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.
Durham is looking to control West's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Durham avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West trying to control from half guard but Durham is working away.
Durham is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of West's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take West's back!
West tries to escape but Durham has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Will Durham go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
West is taking damage to the body and head.

West is having to fend off submission attempts from Durham, who is looking to sink in the choke. Durham doesn't have the hooks in though and West manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
West is stalling in the full guard.
West passes Durham's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West works his foot free and advances to mount.

West with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

West is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Durham is surviving well by controlling West's body position as best he can.
West looking to control but Durham is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Durham keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Durham will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Durham tries to clinch there but West circles away.
West takes one to the chin there.
West lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by West.
West throws a chopping leg kick but Durham manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Durham misses with a straight left.
Durham scores with a hook to the body. West takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Durham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with West, pushing him back against the cage.
Durham lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt West or not.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Durham tries a body shot but West blocks it.
West dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Durham wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but West has him pressed against the cage.
West keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Durham's efforts to push away.
Durham wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Durham tries to throw a body punch but West avoids it by throwing Durham back against the cage.
Durham prevents a takedown attempt there.
West can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham misses with a hook to the ribs.

West has Durham pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. West pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Durham tumbling to the mat - West dives into Durham's guard.
West not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Durham looking to hit a scissor sweep but West is one step ahead there.
Durham can't keep his opponent in guard - West advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

West 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.

Durham is defending against the submission attempts here by West.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durham tries to kick West off but West keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Durham trying to control here.
West trying to mount his opponent but Durham defends it.
West is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
West trying to control the action but Durham is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham works his way to full guard. Good work.
Durham is pulling down on West's head to control his posture.
Durham not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Durham looking for a sweep. Not yet Durham, not yet.
Durham controls West momentarily but West frees himself.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mike Durham wasn't active enough on the ground.
West wants to slow Durham down by chopping away at his legs.
West waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Durham.
West takes a jab right on the kisser.
West shoots in looking for a takedown. Durham tries to sprawl out of it but West keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Durham manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Will West. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durham throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Durham throws a series of punches but West moves out of range.
West has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Durham lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
West takes a swing at Durham's ribcage but misses.
Mike Durham seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West shoots for a double leg takedown but Durham sprawls well. He's pushed West's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
West misses with a takedown attempt - Durham sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Durham jabs West to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Durham looks to score with a jab to the body but West is just out of range.
West displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Durham throws out the jab.
West throws a right and a left that Durham avoids nicely.
Durham looks to land a right hand but West moved out of range.
West is looking to slow Durham down with leg kicks.
Durham tries to close the distance and clinch but West swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
West has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
West throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Durham stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
West looks for a takedown but Durham sprawls well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Durham jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Durham misses the shot to the body.
West slips under a jab from Durham.
West shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Durham eats them both and turns towards West to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Durham will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Durham throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Left hook, right uppercut from Durham.
Durham swinging wildly here.
West keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Durham.
Durham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Durham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but West was well out of range. Poor timing from Durham.
West with a hook.
Durham is looking to clinch but West is avoiding it.
West slips under a jab.
West ducks under a wild hook from Durham.

West shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Durham napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Durham is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
West wants to control for a moment but Durham uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Durham is looking to control West's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Durham avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durham makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
West cracks the inside of Durham's front leg.

West decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Durham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Durham gets back to full guard.
West pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Durham is keeping the position for now.
West is working hard here to advance position.
West trying to control but Durham is working from the bottom.
Durham is trying to keep West in close.
West pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Durham is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durham is trying to control the position but West postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mike Durham hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
West goes for a double leg but Durham avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Durham continues to drive forward.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Durham tries to circle away but West has him pinned against the cage.
Durham working hard to break the clinch.
Durham gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from West.
Durham goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Durham dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
West has Durham pressed against the cage, preventing Durham from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
West tries to score a body lock takedown but Durham shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Will West. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durham can't find room to land a body shot as West controls the action.
West landing knees to the body.
West lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Durham backwards.
Durham tries to break free but West pushes him back against the cage.
Durham working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham wants to break free but West has control.
Durham wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but West has him pressed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as West takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Durham is defending well against a takedown attempt.
West wants a takedown.
Mike Durham seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
West goes for a takedown attempt but Durham pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
West takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Durham misses the shot to the body.
Jab by Durham.
West shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Durham as he avoids it easily.
Durham waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract West.
Durham throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Durham scores with a jab to the body.
Mike Durham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
West takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from West misses.
West displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Durham throws out the jab.
Durham misses with a hook

and West counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
West passes easily into side control. Nice work.

West tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no West has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
West working away.

West is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Durham knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

West is trying to get an arm triangle but Durham is defending well.
Will West has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
West misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

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 Will West.
I think Durham 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Will West!