PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Phil Arcuri (ranked 863 p4p, 102 weight class) and Darren Lamb (ranked 1210 p4p, 148 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Arcuri
vs
Lamb

176 cm
34
168 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

175 cm
38
160 lbs
30 - 19 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phil Arcuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darren Lamb!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arcuri staying out of range there.
Lamb has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Darren Lamb seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arcuri. Lamb does a little dance to reset his feet.
Arcuri throws an overhand right that lands on Lamb's shoulder, as Lamb tries to avoid the shot.
Lamb misses with a wild body shot.
Lamb scores with a decent looking hook.
Lamb throws a shot from downtown. Arcuri moves away and avoids it.
Lamb scores with a body shot.
Arcuri connects with a solid leg kick.
Good exchange - Lamb coming out on top.
Lamb cracks Arcuri with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Lamb fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arcuri manages to avoid it.
Lamb misses the shot to the body.
Arcuri is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Darren Lamb has been cut.
Arcuri uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lamb.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lamb misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Lamb throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Arcuri appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Lamb uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Arcuri.
Lamb uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Arcuri.
Arcuri moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromLamb.
Arcuri lands with a nice body punch.
Lamb dips to his left and cracks Arcuri with an uppercut!
Lamb throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A quick step to the side and Arcuri tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lamb dives in for a single leg takedown but Arcuri sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Arcuri moves away from the strike by Lamb.
Arcuri is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Arcuri tries to land a leg kick but Lamb saw it coming and moves away.
Arcuri misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lamb drops his hands momentarily and Arcuri takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Arcuri looks to score with a jab to the body but Lamb is just out of range.
Arcuri catches Lamb with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lamb keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Arcuri lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lamb throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arcuri connects with a leg kick. Lamb looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Lamb throws a body punch but Arcuri moves out of range.
Lamb looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Arcuri closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Arcuri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lamb lands a jab to Arcuri's midsection.
Nice body punch from Lamb.
Lamb throws a body punch but Arcuri moves out of range.
Arcuri lands a nice looking body shot.
Arcuri's jab looks to have found its range, popping Lamb under the eye.
Arcuri punishes Lamb's body with a nice straight punch.
Lamb misses with a looping right.
Arcuri with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lamb.
Arcuri looks to throw the jab but Lamb is out of range.
And Lamb tries to counter it with a takedown but Arcuri pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lamb thuds his shin into the meat of Arcuri's side.

Arcuri is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lamb's half guard.
Arcuri frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lamb is looking to get to half guard.
BOOM! Arcuri connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Arcuri raining down hammerfists from mount.
Arcuri sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lamb is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
We've been hearing good reports from Arcuri's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Lamb is trying desperately to improve position.
Arcuri wants to control the pace but Lamb is squirming around nicely.
Arcuri lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lamb hang on?
Arcuri with a couple of short strikes.
Lamb can't escape the position.
Arcuri breaks from Lamb's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Lamb is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Arcuri dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Darren Lamb's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lamb fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arcuri manages to avoid it.
Arcuri moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Phil Arcuri is winning the standup battle so far.
Arcuri throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lamb! But no joy.
Arcuri lands a nice looking body kick.

Lamb gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Arcuri scoring with punches to the head and body.
Arcuri passes into half guard.
Arcuri is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arcuri prevents Lamb from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arcuri is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arcuri throwing shots but Lamb is blocking nicely.
Arcuri with the ground and pound but Lamb uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Arcuri tries to free his leg and advance position but Lamb is retaining full guard.
Lamb controls Arcuri momentarily but Arcuri frees himself.
Arcuri pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lamb is keeping the position for now.
Arcuri missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lamb bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Arcuri's guard.

Arcuri is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lamb is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arcuri looking for subs off his back but Lamb has passed one foot through into half guard.
Arcuri controlling the position well.
Lamb working over Arcuri with some ground and pound. Arcuri looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Arcuri is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Lamb looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Arcuri taking some punishment here, with Lamb in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri trying to hold on to Lamb's head to control him but Lamb postures up.
Lamb is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Arcuri gets full guard.

Arcuri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lamb preventing the sweep.
Arcuri trying to keep a closed guard but Lamb is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Arcuri escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lamb gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lamb is looking to work some ground and pound but Arcuri has wrist control.
Lamb with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Arcuri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lamb lands a couple of elbows.

Arcuri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lamb looking to pass the guard.
Arcuri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Arcuri dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Darren Lamb's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Arcuri jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lamb takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Arcuri moves out of range of the strikes.
Lamb scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Lamb walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Lamb shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Arcuri blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lamb.
Arcuri tries to roll over but Lamb keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Arcuri manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lamb passes into half guard.

Lamb is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Arcuri doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lamb.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamb thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Arcuri's head.
Lamb slips a nice elbow through Arcuri's hands, connecting with Arcuri's forehead.
Lamb lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Arcuri works his way to full guard. Good work.
Arcuri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Arcuri is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lamb is aware though and is defending well.
Lamb lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Arcuri working for a triangle but Lamb defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamb lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Darren Lamb has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lamb postures up and lands a big shot to Arcuri's brow.
Lamb trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lamb throwing strikes but missing.
Lamb being controlled here momentarily.
Lamb with a flurry of punches that miss.
Arcuri not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamb makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Arcuri looking to control.
Lamb must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Arcuri working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lamb.

Arcuri had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lamb defends it easily.
Lamb throws a big elbow that misses.
Lamb is looking to advance position but Arcuri has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Arcuri trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lamb is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Phil Arcuri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lamb is squirming around, avoiding Arcuri's attempts to control the action.
Arcuri connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Arcuri breaks from Lamb's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Lamb is desperately trying to improve his position but Arcuri has a good base and remains in mount.
Arcuri postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lamb looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arcuri with good strikes from the mount here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arcuri looking to control but Lamb is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Phil Arcuri.
Well Arcuri 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Arcuri!
Phil Arcuri decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
The defeated Darren Lamb had this to say: 'Baaaaaa... Baaaaaa... Baaaaa... Shit, someone backstage put acid in my drink. I thought I was a lamb.'.