PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Darmody (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Kairuz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Kairuz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Darmody
vs
Kairuz

190 cm
29
141 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

154 cm
27
135 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Darmody!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Kairuz!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darmody connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Darmody lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kairuz shoots for a double leg takedown but Darmody sprawls well. He's pushed Kairuz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Darmody!
Darmody definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kairuz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Darmody to score with a decent uppercut.
James Darmody seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Darmody fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kairuz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Darmody throws a looping overhand right but Kairuz ducks down to avoid it.
Kairuz throws a fast counter high kick but Darmody manages to duck under it in time.
Darmody lands a glancing blow to the side of Kairuz's head.
A low kick from Darmody misses

and Kairuz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kairuz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kairuz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kairuz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Darmody working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kairuz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kairuz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Darmody will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kairuz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Darmody avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kairuz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Darmody connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Darmody throws a body shot but no joy.
Kairuz avoids the head kick by Darmody.
Darmody moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kairuz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Darmody circles away quickly and effectively.
Darmody throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darmody tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kairuz was well out of range. Poor timing from Darmody.
Darmody is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kairuz goes for a double leg but Darmody avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Darmody continues to drive forward.

Darmody has Kairuz up against the cage in a clinch.

Darmody breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Darmody thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kairuz goes for a double leg but Darmody avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Darmody continues to drive forward.
James Darmody has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Kairuz.

Kairuz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kairuz cracks Darmody with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kairuz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kairuz is working Darmody over with some ground and pound from side control.
Darmody seems a little lost for a moment, as Kairuz dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kairuz tries to advance to mount but Darmody denies him.
Kairuz in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kairuz landing a few strikes.
Kairuz controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Let's hope that Kairuz 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.
Kairuz misses with an attempted head punch 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.
Kairuz working the head and body with strikes.
Kairuz remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Kairuz works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Darmody dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A swing and a miss from Darmody.
Darmody digs a good body shot into Kairuz's ribs.
Darmody connects with a leg kick. Kairuz looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kairuz misses with an uppercut.
It looked like Darmody was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kairuz.
Kairuz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kairuz ducks under a wild hook from Darmody.
Kairuz throws a fast counter high kick but Darmody manages to duck under it in time.
Kairuz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Darmody.
Darmody connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Darmody clobbers Kairuz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darmody lands with a shot to the body.
Good shot there by Darmody.
Darmody is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kairuz can do to turn this around?
Darmody throws a body punch but Kairuz moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darmody throws a leg kick

and Kairuz counters with a single leg into guard. Darmody didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kairuz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kairuz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Michael Kairuz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Darmody avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kairuz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Darmody really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kairuz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Darmody cracks Kairuz with an open hand slap.
Darmody scores with a jab to the body.
Darmody misses with a wild body shot.
Kairuz goes for a double leg but Darmody avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Darmody continues to drive forward.
Nice defenses there by Kairuz.
Darmody misses with a two punch combination.
A bone on bone clash there as Kairuz blocks the leg kick.

Kairuz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kairuz in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darmody is trying to stand up here but Kairuz is controlling him well.
Kairuz seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kairuz throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Darmody to regain full guard.
Kairuz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kairuz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kairuz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kairuz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kairuz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kairuz throws a strike but Darmody rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kairuz pulls Darmody in close to his closed guard and prevents Darmody from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Darmody dominated that second round.
That's time! Darmody's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Darmody throws a big shot that misses.
Kairuz raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Kairuz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kairuz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kairuz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Darmody throws out a loose jab but Kairuz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kairuz tries to counter with a clinch but Darmody shakes him off and moves away.
Darmody ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kairuz moves away.
Kairuz goes for a double leg but Darmody avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Darmody continues to drive forward.
Darmody scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kairuz in his tracks.
Kairuz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Darmody.
Darmody scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darmody misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kairuz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Darmody misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darmody tries to bum rush Kairuz with a series of wild strikes but Kairuz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice jab there from Darmody.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A shot to the body from Darmody misses

and Kairuz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kairuz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kairuz working Darmody over with strikes.
Kairuz is taking a breather. Darmody 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.
Darmody keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Darmody on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Darmody tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kairuz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
James Darmody is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kairuz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kairuz working over Darmody with some ground and pound. Darmody looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kairuz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Darmody blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kairuz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kairuz controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Darmody misses the target.
Kairuz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Darmody throws out the jab.
Kairuz changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Darmody closes the distance but Kairuz moves to the side

and Kairuz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Darmody won't be happy with that.
Kairuz fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Darmody is letting Kairuz control him for a moment.
Kairuz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Kairuz.
Kairuz working the ground and pound.
Kairuz in side control, throwing shots but Darmody defends.
Kairuz cracks Darmody with a big right hand but Darmody just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kairuz is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Darmody's shoulder. That is not cool.
Kairuz works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kairuz is working Darmody over with some ground and pound from side control.
Darmody pushes Kairuz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kairuz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The referee asks Kairuz politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kairuz prefers to stall for the moment though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Kairuz.
I think Darmody has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Darmody!
A very excited looking James Darmody rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.