PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Inazama Izaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Durant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Durant is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Izaya
vs
Durant

180 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Inazama Izaya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Richard Durant!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Izaya misses the target.
Izaya is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Durant is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Durant bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Durant lands an elbow.
The ground and pound from Durant seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Durant lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Izaya down.
Durant lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Izaya is letting Durant control him for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durant scores with punches from side control.
Durant has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Durant controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durant postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Durant throws an elbow but Izaya slips to the side and avoids it well.
Durant creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Izaya sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Durant lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Izaya down.
Izaya is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Durant misses with the ground and pound.
Durant tries to score with some ground and pound. Izaya controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Durant fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Durant working the ground and pound.

It looks like Inazama Izaya has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durant landing a few strikes.
Izaya dodges the ground and pound from Durant.
Izaya avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Durant.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Durant is putting a hurting on Izaya here, landing some big shots from side control.
Durant controlling the position from side mount.
Durant in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Durant closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Durant perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izaya regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Durant.
Durant with a flurry of punches that miss.
Durant missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Izaya preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Durant with a flurry of punches that miss.
Durant is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Durant cracks Izaya with a solid left hand.
My spies in London MMA Club inform me that Durant has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Durant is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Durant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Izaya is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Durant circles away from the clinch attempt

and Durant counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Durant.
Durant throws a big right hand that misses.
Durant landing some decent shots from guard.
Durant is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Durant distracts Izaya with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Durant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Inazama Izaya's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Izaya fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Durant manages to avoid it.
Durant takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Durant closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Izaya quickly recovers to half guard.
Durant thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Izaya's head.
Durant working the head and body with strikes.

Inazama Izaya's cut is getting worse.
Durant sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Izaya has hold of Durant's hands but Durant slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izaya keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Durant throws a strike but Izaya avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Izaya trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durant throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Durant controls from within his opponent's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Durant works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Durant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Durant looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Richard Durant has got the better of the ground game so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Durant in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Durant fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Izaya avoids it really well and circles away.
Izaya is looking to counter punch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Izaya enables Durant to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Izaya manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Durant lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Inazama Izaya's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Inazama Izaya's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Richard Durant!