PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ali Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darwingh Aquino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darwingh Aquino looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Powers
vs
Aquino

165 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 New York, Ali Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darwingh Aquino!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Columbo Gatti and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aquino has managed to clinch.
Powers working aggressively here.

Aquino wants the takedown. Powers is fighting it off but Aquino persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Powers's guard against the cage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Aquino pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Powers is keeping the position for now.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Aquino from controlling successfully.
Aquino is looking to stand up but Powers won't let him.
Aquino is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Aquino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aquino trying to control but Powers is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Darwingh Aquino wasn't active enough on the ground.

Aquino is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Powers's half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aquino is thwarting Powers's attempts to control the position.
Aquino sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Powers defending well though.
Powers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers is trying to get back to full guard.
Aquino throwing shots but Powers is blocking nicely.

Aquino escapes and gets back to his feet.
Powers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aquino avoids it really well and circles away.
Aquino fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aquino looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aquino closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Powers's guard.
Powers is pulling down on Aquino's head. It's preventing any offense from Aquino, at least for the moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Aquino tries to free his leg and advance position but Powers is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Aquino closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Aquino lands in his opponent's guard.
Aquino loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Aquino decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Powers, up you get!
Darwingh Aquino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Aquino decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Aquino content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darwingh Aquino dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Powers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aquino is fending him off so far but Powers persists. Nope, Aquino circles away and we're back to standing.

Aquino looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Powers!
Aquino slows the pace down.
Aquino trying to control the position but Powers is working away.
Aquino is breathing heavily.
Powers avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Aquino.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aquino is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Powers has escaped the position, nice work there.
Aquino working away.
Aquino wants to stand but Powers is controlling his arm.
Powers is trying to control Aquino's posture but Aquino avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aquino tries to advance to mount but Powers denies him.
Powers can't do much from the bottom here.
Aquino wants to lay and pray for a moment but Powers keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Powers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Ali Powers wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Aquino drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Powers struggling a bit here.
Aquino misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Powers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ali Powers wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Aquino manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Powers on his heels. He'll look to pass Powers's guard now, I'm sure.
Aquino trying to control but Powers is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darwingh Aquino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Powers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aquino bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Powers tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Aquino controlling the position easily from mount.
Powers wants to control but Aquino is having none of it.
Aquino takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aquino stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
No luck for Powers with that takedown attempt.

Aquino rushes Powers and presses him up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Powers's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Aquino breaks the clinch.

Aquino looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Powers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers regains half guard there - taking advantage of Aquino's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Aquino trying to control from Powers's half guard. Powers has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Aquino stopping the sweep attempt from Powers.
Aquino throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Powers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aquino content to stall in guard here.

Powers is looking for a triangle but Aquino pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aquino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Powers swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Aquino got a little sloppy there for a moment and Powers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aquino has managed to get both his arms back between Powers's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aquino's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Powers working a defensive guard but Aquino manages to pass into side control anyway.
Aquino is looking to take a break and control but Powers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ali Powers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darwingh Aquino is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Aquino controls the position from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darwingh Aquino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Aquino has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darwingh Aquino!
Darwingh Aquino took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.