PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tracey Stannis (ranked 3175 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Darnold (ranked 6709 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stannis
vs
Darnold

187 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
184 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

One stop shop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tracey Stannis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Will Darnold!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Lou da Vinci and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darnold walks into a straight right hand from Stannis.
Darnold looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Stannis throws a sloppy head kick and Darnold moves out of range easily.

Stannis manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Darnold on his heels. He'll look to pass Darnold's guard now, I'm sure.

Stannis gets to his feet. Darnold looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Darnold avoids the head kick by Stannis.

Stannis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Darnold is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Stannis tries to move into full mount but can't pass Darnold's legs.
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!
Stannis 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.

Stannis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Darnold is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stannis scoring with punches and elbows.

Stannis decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Stannis tries to clinch but Darnold moves out of range.
Darnold with the counter takedown but Stannis avoids it easily.

Stannis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Stannis gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Stannis.
Stannis backing away here, and Darnold unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Darnold.

Stannis looking to score a takedown here. Darnold is defending well but Stannis drives through and ends up in Darnold's guard.
Stannis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stannis is pushing down on Darnold's leg trying to pass to half guard. Darnold is fighting to maintain full guard but Stannis has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stannis is trying to work for a kimura but Darnold is defending well.
Stannis is controlling the pace.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Darnold trying to control from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Stannis seems content to control.

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.

Stannis is working for a submission of some sort.
Still in half guard, Stannis seems content to control.

Stannis is looking for a kimura here.
Stannis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tracey Stannis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stannis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stannis is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tracey Stannis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stannis seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Darnold for as long as he can get away with.
Darnold is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darnold tries to kick Stannis off but Stannis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Stannis looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stannis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Stannis is working for a kimura but Darnold is defending it quite comfortably.
Stannis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Darnold can do to turn this around?
Stannis slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two 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.
Stannis continues to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stannis fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Darnold sprawls well initially but Stannis persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Darnold trying to control here.
Stannis trying to mount his opponent but Darnold defends it.
Stannis controlling the pace.
Stannis is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Stannis keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stannis working Darnold over with strikes.
Stannis takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Darnold is looking to improve his position.
Darnold tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Stannis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stannis working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tracey Stannis dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stannis closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stannis lands in his opponent's guard.
Stannis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stannis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Darnold is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darnold can't keep his opponent in guard - Stannis advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Stannis stands up and beckons Darnold to join him on the feet.
Darnold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stannis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stannis moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Darnold tries to improve position but can't.
Darnold taking a bit of punishment here - Stannis scoring with strikes.

Stannis stands up.

Stannis shoots in and bounces Darnold off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Darnold is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stannis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Darnold is still in real trouble! Can Stannis finish him?
Stannis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stannis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stannis is working Darnold over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stannis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Darnold on the ground.

Stannis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Darnold is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stannis stands and throws Darnold's legs to the side, diving into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Stannis has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Stannis lands with a right and another and another! Darnold is in big trouble! Stannis lands again and this time it's lights out for Darnold! A quality knockout there for Stannis.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Tracey Stannis!