PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaladin Darkeyes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aziz Shavershian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shavershian is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by John O'callaghan - Zyzz Version V2, - Find Yourself feat. Sarah Howells (Re. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Darkeyes
vs
Shavershian

188 cm
34
250 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

188 cm
33
287 lbs
22 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kaladin Darkeyes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Aziz Shavershian!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darkeyes throws a lazy right hand but Shavershian sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Darkeyes scores with a one two! Shavershian had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Shavershian misses with the combination.
Shavershian thumps Darkeyes with a low kick.
Darkeyes's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Darkeyes duly obliges.

Shavershian has Darkeyes up against the cage in a clinch.
Shavershian dodges an elbow strike from Darkeyes.
Shavershian cracks Darkeyes with a nice body shot.
I was talking to Darkeyes's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Shavershian breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shavershian misses with a body kick.
An inside leg kick from Darkeyes misses.
Shavershian wants to counter the offense by Darkeyes and move into the clinch position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shavershian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shavershian doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darkeyes misses with a left hand
and Shavershian counters with a three punch combo that has Darkeyes backing up. Darkeyes nods at Shavershian to acknowledge the strikes.
Kaladin Darkeyes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Darkeyes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Darkeyes works the jab nicely.
Darkeyes dips to his left and cracks Shavershian with an uppercut!
Darkeyes blocks a head kick by Shavershian.
Shavershian walks into a left hand.
Shavershian lands a jab to the nose.
Darkeyes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Darkeyes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Shavershian under the eye.
Darkeyes throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shavershian throws a head kick that misses.
Shavershian throws a wild body kick that Darkeyes sees coming a mile off.
Shavershian misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Darkeyes clinches up against the cage.

Shavershian breaks the clinch.
Darkeyes throws a body punch but Shavershian moves out of range.
Shavershian swinging wildly here.
Shavershian jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Darkeyes misses with a combination
and Shavershian makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Shavershian moves into range and clinches up with Darkeyes.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Darkeyes.
Darkeyes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shavershian tries to stall but Darkeyes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Darkeyes misses with a body punch.
Darkeyes misses with the head strike.
Shavershian stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Darkeyes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darkeyes takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Kaladin Darkeyes has been cut.
Darkeyes misses with the head strike.

Shavershian escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A jab from Shavershian finds it's way through Darkeyes's defenses.
Shavershian avoids a punch combination nicely.
Darkeyes wants to clinch up but Shavershian keeps it at a distance.
Darkeyes stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Shavershian.
Darkeyes dodges the punch combination from Shavershian.
Darkeyes misses with an uppercut.
Shavershian looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Darkeyes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Darkeyes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Darkeyes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shavershian blocks an elbow strike from Darkeyes.
Darkeyes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Shavershian escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Darkeyes tries to bum rush Shavershian with a series of wild strikes but Shavershian uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shavershian pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Darkeyes misses with a double jab.
Darkeyes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shavershian.

Shavershian moves into range and clinches up with Darkeyes.
Darkeyes throws an elbow but it misses.
Darkeyes misses with a hook to the ribs.

Shavershian breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Darkeyes moves into the clinch.
Darkeyes throws a punch but it's blocked by Shavershian.
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 Kaladin Darkeyes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kaladin Darkeyes's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shavershian misses with a kick to the body.
An inside leg kick from Shavershian misses.
Shavershian avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Darkeyes looks to score with a jab to the body but Shavershian is just out of range.
Shavershian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shavershian throws a right hand that Darkeyes ducks under and follows up with a left that Darkeyes also avoids with ease.
Darkeyes throws a head kick but Shavershian moves out of range.
As Darkeyes backs off Shavershian throws a huge counter combo but Darkeyes manages to avoid it all.
Darkeyes lands a nice shot that snaps Shavershian's head back.
Darkeyes throws a leg kick that misses.
Shavershian unleashes a big counter combination but Darkeyes bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Darkeyes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shavershian at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darkeyes misses with a wild body shot.
Darkeyes throws a right and a left that Shavershian avoids nicely.
Darkeyes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shavershian.
Nice sprawl there from Shavershian as Darkeyes shoots in.
Aziz Shavershian is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darkeyes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Darkeyes misses with a series of wild punches.
Shavershian lands a jab.
Shavershian with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Darkeyes to score with a decent uppercut.
Darkeyes slips a jab from Shavershian.
Shavershian keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Darkeyes.
Shavershian tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Darkeyes feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Darkeyes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch combination from Shavershian misses.
Darkeyes misses with a hook. Shavershian ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shavershian takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shavershian checks the leg kick.
Shavershian tries a quick counter leg kick but Darkeyes is wise to it.
Shavershian rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Darkeyes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Darkeyes misses the shot to the body.
Shavershian misses with a head kick.
Shavershian tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big left from Shavershian misses.
Shavershian throws a low kick but Darkeyes moves out of range easily.
Shavershian throws a hook but Darkeyes blocks it.
Darkeyes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Darkeyes checks the leg kick nicely there.
Darkeyes throws a right hand that misses
and Shavershian counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darkeyes scores with a nice right hand.
Shavershian throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Darkeyes fails to land with a series of punches.
Shavershian misses the shot to the body.
Darkeyes misses with a series of wild punches.
Shavershian looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shavershian takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Darkeyes is looking to clinch.
Darkeyes looks to land a combination but Shavershian avoids it well.
Darkeyes throws a low kick but Shavershian moves out of range easily.
Shavershian misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Shavershian.
Darkeyes swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darkeyes scores with a jab. Shavershian acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Darkeyes misses with a hook.
Darkeyes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shavershian moves away.
Darkeyes wants to clinch up but Shavershian keeps it at a distance.
It seemed like Shavershian was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Darkeyes drives through and clinches with Shavershian against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Shavershian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shavershian uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Darkeyes.
A slow jab from Darkeyes misses its intended target.
As Darkeyes backs off Shavershian throws a huge counter combo but Darkeyes manages to avoid it all.
Darkeyes looks to land a right hand but Shavershian moved out of range.
Shavershian moves out of range of the strikes.
A punch combination from Shavershian misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaladin Darkeyes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kaladin Darkeyes's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Shavershian just misses with a punch to the body.
Shavershian checks a leg kick nicely.

Darkeyes shoots in and gets a takedown into Shavershian's guard.
Shavershian is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Shavershian looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shavershian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Darkeyes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shavershian has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Darkeyes has managed to get both his arms back between Shavershian's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darkeyes with a nice head shot there.
Shavershian wants to get back to his feet but Darkeyes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darkeyes trying to control the position from guard on top but Shavershian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shavershian has his foot on Darkeyes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Darkeyes works his way back into a safe position though.
Shavershian wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Darkeyes is now in half guard.

Darkeyes postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Shavershian to stand up.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Darkeyes here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Shavershian tries to bum rush Darkeyes with a series of wild strikes but Darkeyes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Darkeyes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Darkeyes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kaladin Darkeyes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darkeyes is looking to clinch.
Darkeyes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Darkeyes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Shavershian throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Darkeyes to counter with a crisp jab.
Shavershian throws a body punch but Darkeyes moves out of range.
Darkeyes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shavershian will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Darkeyes lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A left and a right from Darkeyes both land. Nice combination.
Darkeyes moves in looking to clinch but Shavershian pushes him off.
Darkeyes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shavershian can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darkeyes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shavershian.
Jab, jab by Darkeyes - just one landing.
Shavershian throws a sloppy head kick
and Darkeyes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Darkeyes slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Shavershian throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Darkeyes's corner calls for a 1-2. Darkeyes obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Darkeyes misses with a looping right.
Darkeyes connects with a single shot there.
Darkeyes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Shavershian missing with a left hand there. Darkeyes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Darkeyes checks a leg kick.
Darkeyes tries to close the distance and clinch but Shavershian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shavershian avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shavershian will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shavershian has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shavershian connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Darkeyes's hands.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shavershian.
Darkeyes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shavershian cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice straight punches there by Darkeyes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Darkeyes.
Shavershian misses with a wild combination.
Aziz Shavershian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darkeyes fails to land with a series of punches.
Shavershian keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kaladin Darkeyes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Darkeyes misses with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaladin Darkeyes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Darkeyes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaladin Darkeyes!
After the fight, Kaladin Darkeyes was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.