PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Balfour Darrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yong Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wright is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Neon Indian - Slumlord. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Darrow
vs
Wright

166 cm
23
138 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

165 cm
31
143 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Fast

Machiavelli Boutique
Arcticus University: London

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Balfour Darrow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Yong Wright!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Wright.
Wright throws a right hand that misses
and Darrow counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Darrow throws a sloppy head kick and Wright moves out of range easily.
Wright misses with an uppercut.
As Wright backs away, Darrow returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Darrow throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wright sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wright misses with an uppercut. Darrow saw that one coming.
Darrow doesn't manage to clinch there - Wright circles away.
Wright works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Darrow moves out of range of the strikes.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Wright has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Darrow keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Wright throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Darrow counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wright scores with an uppercut up the middle.

It looks like Balfour Darrow has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Darrow.
I was talking to Darrow's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Wright breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Darrow has taken the fight to the clinch.
Darrow lands a left hand.
Wright blocking some punches.
Wright fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wright blocks an uppercut.
Darrow scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Darrow.
Darrow tries a knee to the head but Wright blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darrow swings wildly with an uppercut but Wright uses good head movement to avoid it.
Darrow pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Darrow lands an uppercut.

Wright breaks from the clinch.
Wright throws a lazy right hand but Darrow sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yong Wright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Darrow slips a jab from Wright.
A nice leg kick lands there from Darrow.
Wright missing with a left hand there. Darrow was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slow jab from Wright misses its intended target.
Darrow misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wright.
Wright misses with a hook
and Darrow counters with a nice low kick that buckles Wright's knee momentarily.
Darrow lands a slapping body shot.
Balfour Darrow is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Darrow tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wright fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Darrow on the side of the head.
Darrow fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wright manages to avoid it.
Darrow misses with a leg kick.
Wright jabs Darrow right on the nose. Darrow blinks but takes it well.
Darrow ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wright moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wright scores with a hook.
Darrow takes a swing at Wright's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright misses with a takedown attempt - Darrow sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A lazy left from Wright finds it's target.
The fighters circling - Wright throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Darrow throwing a counter right hand but Wright manages to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Darrow.
Darrow is looking to clinch but Wright is avoiding it.
Darrow ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wright moves away.
Darrow moves away from the strike by Wright.
Darrow looks to throw the jab but Wright is out of range.

Wright gets a takedown into half guard.
Darrow wants to get back to full guard.
Wright trying to control the action but Darrow is working from the bottom.
Wright is taking a breather. Darrow 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darrow trying to control here.
Wright takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Wright wants to lay and pray for a moment but Darrow keeps working.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Wright in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Darrow tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wright manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It seemed like Wright was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Darrow connects with a body shot.
Wright listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Wright might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darrow will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wright scores with a nice right hand.
Wright connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Darrow's hands.
Wright is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Darrow had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Wright shoots in looking for a takedown. Darrow tries to sprawl out of it but Wright keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Darrow manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Darrow appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Darrow uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wright.
Wright pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Darrow shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Darrow throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wright misses with an uppercut.
Wright throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Darrow sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Darrow tries to clinch there but Wright circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darrow swings for the body but Wright moves out of range.
Darrow moves away from the strike by Wright.
Darrow throws a big shot that misses.
Wright uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Darrow.
Good standup being displayed there by Wright as he connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yong Wright will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Balfour Darrow's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Wright avoids the body shot from Darrow.
Wright bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Darrow's head backwards.
Wright throws a poor cross that misses
and Darrow counters with a left to the body.
Wright chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Darrow can pounce on him.
Nice takedown defense from Darrow. No joy for Wright on that attempt.
Darrow throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Wright misses with a looping right.
Wright shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Darrow defends it nicely.
Darrow avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wright throws a right hand that misses
and Darrow counters with a nice body shot.
Yong Wright seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wright throws the left hand but Darrow avoids the punch easily.
Darrow throws a right and a left that Wright avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Darrow. Wright does a little dance to reset his feet.
Darrow comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wright checks a leg kick nicely.
Wright defending well as Darrow loads up on a big left hand.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Darrow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Darrow clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darrow misses with an elbow over the top.
Wright swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wright misses with a punch on the inside.
Darrow goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Darrow tries to work over Wright's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Wright tries to circle away but Darrow has him pinned against the cage.
Wright working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wright avoiding damage as Darrow throws knees to the body.
Darrow lands a hook to the side of the head.
Darrow lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Wright backwards.
Wright lands a left hand.
Darrow lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Wright dodges an elbow strike from Darrow.

Wright's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Darrow takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Wright is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wright lands a jab to the nose.
Darrow takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Darrow tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wright was well out of range. Poor timing from Darrow.
Darrow throws a hook but Wright avoids it easily.
A big right from Wright misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Darrow ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wright moves away.

Wright changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Darrow looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wright moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Darrow can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wright throws a strike aimed at the side of Darrow's head but Darrow avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Wright has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Darrow!
Wright wants to control but instead Darrow manages to regain half guard.
Darrow works his way to full guard. Good work.
Darrow is controlling Wright's posture.
Wright not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright wants to control from the top but Darrow keeps moving.
Wright stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Darrow swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wright keeps trying to improve his position.
Wright with a nice head shot there.
Wright stopping the sweep attempt from Darrow.
Wright controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wright shoots for a takedown but Darrow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Balfour Darrow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yong Wright.
A looping hook to the body misses from Darrow. Wright does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yong Wright will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Balfour Darrow's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

The crowd cheers as Darrow lands an impressive looking overhand right. Wright doesn't seem phased though.
Darrow just misses with a punch to the body.
Wright looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wright throws the left hand but Darrow avoids the punch easily.
Darrow is looking to wear down Wright with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Wright checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Darrow fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wright looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Darrow misses with a body shot.
Darrow changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Darrow pivots, looking for a leg kick but Wright is out of range and Darrow settles back down.
Wright darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Wright tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Darrow defends well and Wright ends up having to push Darrow into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Wright shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Darrow's guard.
Wright wants to control from the top but Darrow keeps moving.
Wright stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Darrow swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wright postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darrow keeping moving, preventing Wright from controlling successfully.
Wright controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Wright trying to control but Darrow is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wright misses with an uppercut. Darrow saw that one coming.
Darrow has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Darrow there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wright misses with an uppercut. Darrow saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Wright shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wright looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wright wants to control from the top but Darrow keeps moving.
Darrow wants to sweep but no luck.
Darrow wants to improve his position but instead Wright has moved into half guard.
Wright frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright controlling the position easily from mount.
Yong Wright has got the better of the ground game so far.
Darrow tries to hold on but Wright pushes him away.
Wright throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Darrow because Wright loaded up on that one.
Darrow is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wright takes Darrow's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Darrow is in trouble.
Wright is riding his opponent, not letting Darrow buck him off.
Balfour Darrow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright trying to control.
Wright is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Wright has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yong Wright comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wright winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yong Wright!
In his post fight interview, Yong Wright started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.