PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Auston Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khagatai Darmala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khagatai Darmala has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matthews
vs
Darmala

198 cm
25
269 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Auston Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Khagatai Darmala!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Darmala avoids it really well and circles away.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Darmala sprawls well. Darmala wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matthews gets slowly back to his feet.
Darmala moves in looking to clinch but Matthews pushes him off.

Darmala shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Matthews manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Darmala passes Matthews's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Darmala is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Matthews is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matthews looking for submissions off his back.

Matthews actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews tries to get to full guard but Darmala has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Darmala content to control rather than advance.

Matthews has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Darmala escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Darmala!
Matthews is looking for a sweep.
Darmala tries to stand but Matthews is controlling his head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews tries to buck Darmala off but Darmala is having none of it.
Darmala wants to stand but Matthews has his arm trapped.
Matthews is being controlled here.
Darmala tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Matthews tries to buck Darmala off but Darmala is having none of it.
Darmala is staying tight to Matthews's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Matthews tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
Darmala is working Matthews over with some ground and pound from side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Matthews tries to buck Darmala off but Darmala is having none of it.
Darmala wants to stand but Matthews has his arm trapped.
Darmala working the body and head with strikes.

It looks like Auston Matthews has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews looking for a sweep but Darmala has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Matthews is working to get back to half guard.
Matthews is squirming around, avoiding Darmala's attempts to control the action.
Darmala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matthews. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Darmala is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Matthews has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Darmala breaks from Matthews's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Darmala controlling from the full mount.
Darmala cracks Matthews with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Auston Matthews's cut is getting worse.
Matthews stops Darmala from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Darmala wants to control the pace but Matthews is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darmala wants to take his opponent's back but Matthews doesn't allow it.
Darmala looking to control and managing it successfully.
Darmala prevents Matthews from getting the reversal.
Darmala sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Darmala jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Matthews manages to avoid the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khagatai Darmala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Auston Matthews'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.

Matthews looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Darmala is fending him off so far but Matthews persists. Nope, Darmala circles away and we're back to standing.

Darmala manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Matthews on his heels. He'll look to pass Matthews's guard now, I'm sure.
Darmala works over Matthews with some ground and pound from guard.
Darmala sitting in guard here, content to control.

Matthews working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Darmala doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Matthews is tightening it up a little... Darmala has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Darmala reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Darmala taps out! Nice BJJ there by Matthews!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Auston Matthews!