PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Iain Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Balfour Darrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balfour Darrow acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Donovan
vs
Darrow

172 cm
25
140 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

166 cm
24
138 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Iain Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Balfour Darrow!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donovan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Donovan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Donovan misses with a few strikes there.
Darrow pushes Donovan away with a front kick.

Darrow moves into the clinch successfully.
Darrow trying to land knees to the body.
Donovan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Darrow fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've been hearing reports that Donovan has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Donovan tests Darrow's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Darrow fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Donovan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Darrow gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Darrow.
Darrow lands a body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Darrow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darrow lands a right hand.
Darrow prevents a takedown attempt there.
Donovan tries to pull guard but Darrow forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iain Donovan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donovan is working for takedown but Darrow is calmly controlling the position for now.
Darrow missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darrow digs a right hand into Donovan's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Donovan's gas tank.
Darrow lands an uppercut.
Darrow utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Donovan is breathing heavily.
Darrow prevents the takedown attempt.
Donovan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Darrow avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Darrow.
Darrow prevents the takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from Darrow.
Darrow working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Darrow lands with a light punch inside.
Darrow lands a right hand that snaps the head of Donovan backwards.
Donovan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Darrow pulls his leg out and moves away.

Darrow moves into range and clinches up with Donovan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short right from Darrow on the inside.
Darrow scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Donovan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Darrow prevents it.
A hook to the body from Darrow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darrow lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Darrow lands a left hand.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Darrow.
Darrow gets through Donovan's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Donovan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Darrow softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Darrow looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Darrow gets underhooks to prevent Donovan's takedown attempt.
A nice right hand lands inside from Darrow.
Darrow lands a right hand.
Darrow lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Darrow working Donovan over with knees to the body.
Darrow scores with a nice hook to the head.
Darrow lands a nice uppercut.
Darrow lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Darrow obliges.
Darrow unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Donovan managing to block the knees to the body from Darrow.
Darrow tries to land knees in the clinch but Donovan avoids the damage to the body.
Darrow lands with a short shot to the head.
Darrow lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Darrow is pressed up against the cage. Donovan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Darrow down to the mat. Darrow avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Darrow there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Darrow instigates a clinch.
A short uppercut from Darrow.
Darrow missing with knees to the body.
Darrow lands a nice uppercut.
Darrow lands a hook to the side of the head.
Darrow lands with a short shot to the head.

Donovan is rocked!
Donovan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Darrow just stands there and leans against the cage.
Oh Donovan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Darrow working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Darrow lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Donovan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Darrow lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Donovan or not.
Darrow working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donovan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Darrow working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Darrow creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Donovan with a big uppercut! Donovan tries to clinch up but Darrow pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Donovan to the mat! Donovan covers up and Darrow unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Balfour Darrow!