PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Pogi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alucard Darkim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darkim is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by I'm new in da city. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pogi
vs
Darkim

185 cm
32
192 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

178 cm
31
203 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arthur Pogi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alucard Darkim!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darkim loads up on a big right hand but Pogi slips the punch.

Pogi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Darkim was covering up waiting for the punch and Pogi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Darkim is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Darkim has his foot on Pogi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pogi works his way back into a safe position though.

Darkim is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pogi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Darkim manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Darkim throws a big right hand that misses.
Darkim trying to control but Pogi is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Darkim is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Pogi is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Pogi has escaped and now he's on top!
Pogi preventing the sweep.
Pogi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pogi slips nicely into half guard.

Pogi is looking for a kimura but Darkim is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pogi to get the leverage.

Darkim actively working from the bottom here.
Darkim wants to get back to full guard.

Pogi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Darkim sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Darkim looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Darkim looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Pogi 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.

Pogi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Darkim defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pogi tries to pass to full mount but Darkim defends it.
Darkim moves into full guard.

Pogi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pogi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pogi throws a big right hand that misses.
Darkim keeping full guard, as Pogi tries to pass.

Darkim escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pogi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Our spies down at at Wax on Wax off 'Dojo inform us that Darkim has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Pogi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Darkim looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pogi passes into side control.
Darkim struggling a bit here.

Pogi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Darkim is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pogi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Darkim has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Arthur Pogi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Darkim drives through with a takedown into Pogi's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Pogi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Darkim doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Darkim manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Darkim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pogi trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Darkim's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Alucard Darkim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Darkim is looking to work some ground and pound but Pogi has wrist control.
Darkim throws a big right hand that misses.
Darkim tries to free his leg and advance position but Pogi is retaining full guard.
Pogi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pogi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Darkim doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Darkim manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pogi seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Pogi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Darkim.
Darkim working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pogi's head.
Darkim content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Darkim slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Pogi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Darkim defends it easily.
Pogi has momentary wrist control but Darkim slips an elbow through the middle.
Pogi is trying to control the position but Darkim postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darkim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Darkim is in close to Pogi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Darkim postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Darkim pushes down on Pogi's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Darkim seems to be working for a kimura but Pogi defends the submission attempt.
Pogi is refusing to be controlled, as Darkim sits in half guard.
Pogi trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Darkim manages to pass to mount!
Darkim landing strikes from the mount and Pogi is in trouble!
Darkim landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Darkim goes for an armbar but Pogi turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Pogi.
Pogi stopping the sweep attempt from Darkim.

Darkim working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pogi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pogi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Darkim escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pogi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pogi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Darkim swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Darkim looking for subs off his back but Pogi has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pogi seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are battling for position here. Darkim manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Darkim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pogi is one step ahead there.

Darkim has an active guard here but Pogi has managed to pass into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Darkim is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pogi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pogi's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alucard Darkim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pogi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pogi showed some decent athleticism there.

Pogi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Darkim trying to control here.

Pogi is trying to work for a kimura but Darkim is defending well.

Darkim looking for a kimura from the bottom but Pogi passes into side control!
Pogi scoring with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darkim sneaks back into half guard.

Darkim looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Darkim wants to control but Pogi is keeping busy.
Darkim works his way to full guard. Good work.

Pogi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Darkim has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pogi has managed to get both his arms back between Darkim's legs - danger averted.
Pogi tries to free his leg and advance position but Darkim is retaining full guard.
Pogi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Darkim is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pogi off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darkim connects with a big shot to the side of Pogi's head.
Darkim misses with punches from the back.
Darkim is landing with strikes. Pogi can't take much more of this.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pogi trying to control the hands but Darkim breaks the grip.
You can see the frustration on Pogi's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Darkim scores with punches from the back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Darkim scores with punches and elbows.
Darkim avoiding Pogi 's attempts to control his hands.
Darkim lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darkim lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Pogi.
Darkim has the hooks in. Pogi is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Pogi is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Darkim gets his way!
Pogi trying to control the action but Darkim just sinks the hooks in.
Darkim is landing with strikes from the back.
Pogi rolls, trying to escape but Darkim keeps control of the position.

Darkim looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Pogi taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Alucard Darkim!
Alucard Darkim took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Russian Top Magazin for their support in the buildup to the fight.