PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Burrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khagatai Darmala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Burrell
vs
Darmala

170 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Burrell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Khagatai Darmala!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Darmala has closed the distance and engaged Burrell in a clinch.
Burrell is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Darmala to keep the fight standing.

Darmala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Darmala misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Burrell.

Burrell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Darmala!
Burrell laying and praying for a moment but Darmala takes advantage and regains half guard.
Burrell thows a huge punch but Darmala dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darmala pushes Burrell off but Burrell dives into side control.
Darmala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burrell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Burrell wants to control but Darmala is keeping him busy.
Darmala struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darmala might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Burrell haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Burrell stands up and beckons Darmala to his feet.
Burrell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burrell is defended easily by Darmala.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Burrell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burrell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Darmala sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Burrell somewhat.
Burrell fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burrell is defended easily by Darmala.

Darmala pushes Burrell up against the cage in a clinch.

Darmala manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Darmala manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Burrell manages to get himself to full guard.

Darmala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Darmala postures up in Burrell's guard and throws a big left but Burrell blocks it.
Burrell is trying to control the position but Darmala postures up.
Darmala is stalling in the full guard.
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.
Darmala tries to free his leg and advance position but Burrell is retaining full guard.

Burrell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Burrell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Darmala defends it easily.
Darmala slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Burrell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burrell throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Darmala trying to stand up but can't free himself from Burrell's guard.
Darmala won't allow Burrell to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Darmala engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Darmala won't allow Burrell to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khagatai Darmala dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Darmala misses with a takedown attempt - Burrell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Darmala or perhaps it was just good defense by Burrell, which made it look bad.
Darmala fails with a takedown attempt.
James Burrell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khagatai Darmala.
Darmala tries to clinch up.
Darmala defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Burrell.
Burrell shoots in for a double leg but Darmala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Darmala throws a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burrell tries to clinch up.

Darmala shoots in and gets a takedown into Burrell's guard.
Darmala controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrell tries to strike from the bottom.
Burrell trying to strike off his back.
Darmala won't allow Burrell to sweep him here.
Darmala wanted to stand there but Burrell had control of the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Burrell trying to keep a closed guard but Darmala is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
No joy there for Burrell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Burrell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Darmala was covering up waiting for the punch and Burrell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Darmala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Darmala wants to stand up but Burrell is controlling him.
Burrell wants to pass the guard but Darmala is keeping the position.
Burrell trying to control but Darmala is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Darmala can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darmala is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Darmala seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Darmala wants to sweep here but Burrell controlling him for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Burrell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Burrell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Burrell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burrell throws a body kick that misses

and Darmala decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Burrell's guard.
Darmala content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Darmala wants to control from the top but Burrell keeps moving.
Darmala working some strikes from top position.
Darmala is in close to Burrell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burrell keeping full guard, as Darmala tries to pass.
Darmala stands up over Burrell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khagatai Darmala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Burrell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Darmala to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Burrell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Darmala manages to get himself to full guard.

Burrell trying to control but Darmala is working from the bottom.
Burrell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Darmala swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burrell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burrell wants to control from the top but Darmala keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrell is fighting to break Darmala's control of his arms but Darmala is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Burrell stays in close to Darmala's body and controls the position.
Burrell won't allow Darmala to sweep him here.
Darmala can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Burrell controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Darmala is looking to sweep but instead, Burrell has passed into half guard.
Darmala tries to roll over but Burrell keeps him under control.
Burrell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Darmala is defending against the submission attempts here by Burrell.
Darmala is trying to control but can't.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrell throws a series of punches but Darmala moves out of range.
Darmala swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Burrell takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Darmala closes the distance and clinches.
Darmala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Burrell.
Burrell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Darmala is defending well.

Darmala manages to break the clinch.
Burrell moves out of range of the strikes.
Burrell tries to counter with a takedown but Darmala is quick to defend against it.

Darmala fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burrell, pushing him back against the cage.

Darmala lands a takedown into guard.
Darmala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Darmala forces his way into half guard.
Burrell regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Darmala is one step ahead there.
Darmala wants to control from the top but Burrell keeps moving.
Darmala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Darmala looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Burrell wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khagatai Darmala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Darmala has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Khagatai Darmala!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Khagatai Darmala!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Khagatai Darmala!

Khagatai Darmala wins by unanimous decision!