PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Balink Tarlah (ranked 681 p4p, 1535 weight class) and Darken Rahl (ranked 93 p4p, 178 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Darken Rahl was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tarlah
vs
Rahl

179 cm
27
159
6 - 2 - 0

168 cm
26
150
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Brooklyn Apothecary
HNC 160Q ($100)

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Balink Tarlah!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darken Rahl!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tarlah shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rahl is on top in guard.

Rahl postures up in Tarlah's guard and throws a big left but Tarlah blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tarlah has momentary wrist control but Rahl slips an elbow through the middle.
Rahl throws an elbow that misses. Tarlah uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rahl's guard. Nice move by Tarlah!

Tarlah tries to free his leg and advance position but Rahl is retaining full guard.
Tarlah wants to control from the top but Rahl keeps moving.
Rahl tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahl is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tarlah sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rahl tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlah wants to control from the top but Rahl keeps moving.
Tarlah is fighting to break Rahl's control of his arms but Rahl is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Tarlah stopping the sweep attempt from Rahl.
Tarlah has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rahl pulls Tarlah in close to prevent any damage.
Rahl being controlled here, momentarily.
Tarlah wants to control from the top but Rahl keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Tarlah has managed to clinch.

Tarlah breaks the clinch.
Tarlah shoots for a double leg takedown but Rahl sprawls well. He's pushed Tarlah's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tarlah tries for a takedown but Rahl sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And Rahl tries to counter it with a takedown but Tarlah pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rahl keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balink Tarlah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tarlah scores with a jab. Rahl acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rahl will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tarlah is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Tarlah is looking to clinch but Rahl is avoiding it.
Rahl drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tarlah defends it well.

Tarlah gets a double leg takedown into Rahl's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl keeping moving, preventing Tarlah from controlling successfully.
Rahl looking for a sweep. Not yet Rahl, not yet.
Rahl looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rahl keeping moving, preventing Tarlah from controlling successfully.
Rahl is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tarlah is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahl throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tarlah tries to roll over but Rahl keeps him under control.
Rahl missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tarlah has hold of Rahl's hands but Rahl slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rahl sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tarlah defending well though.
Nice strikes from Rahl there.
Tarlah regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tarlah wants to get back to his feet but Rahl is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tarlah on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tarlah tries to get out of the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rahl accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rahl scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rahl preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darken Rahl will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tarlah closes the distance and clinches up with Rahl, looking for a takedown. Tarlah pushes Rahl against the cage but Rahl circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tarlah fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tarlah shoots for a double leg takedown but Rahl sprawls well. He's pushed Tarlah's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rahl tries for a takedown but Tarlah circles away easily
and Rahl takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Rahl looking to score a takedown here. Tarlah is defending well but Rahl drives through and ends up in Tarlah's guard.

Tarlah has his feet on Rahl's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rahl gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rahl takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tarlah feints and as Rahl raises his hands in defense, Tarlah changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rahl wants to hit a sweep here but Tarlah passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rahl there!
Rahl is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl tries to lock up and control but Tarlah gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rahl keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rahl blocking the ground and pound.
Rahl is looking to improve his position but Tarlah isn't that keen on the idea.
Rahl has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rahl wants to hold on but Tarlah pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl regains half guard.
Tarlah prevents Rahl from improving his position.
Tarlah is trying to control the action in half guard but Rahl is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rahl wants to improve his position but Tarlah is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Tarlah there.
Rahl is trying to get back to full guard.
Rahl gets full guard.
Balink Tarlah overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tarlah wants to pass the guard but Rahl is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rahl is on top in guard.

Rahl with a nice head shot there.
Rahl throws a big right hand that misses.
Tarlah controls Rahl momentarily but Rahl frees himself.
Rahl throws an elbow that misses. Tarlah uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rahl's guard. Nice move by Tarlah!

Rahl is pulling down on Tarlah's head. It's preventing any offense from Tarlah, at least for the moment.
Tarlah won't allow Rahl to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarlah wants to control from the top but Rahl keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rahl holds on and takes a little breather.
Tarlah controlling from the top position.
Rahl keeping moving, preventing Tarlah from controlling successfully.
Rahl wants to sweep here but Tarlah controlling him for the moment.
Rahl is still trying to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balink Tarlah dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rahl takes one to the side of the head.

Rahl shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tarlah is trying to defend but Rahl finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Tarlah is trying to get back to full guard.
Tarlah blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rahl.
Rahl thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rahl working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tarlah trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahl lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rahl thows a huge punch but Tarlah dodges it nicely.
Rahl trying to pass the guard but Tarlah defending well.
Rahl throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlah wants to improve his position but Rahl is controlling well.
Rahl looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tarlah with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rahl thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tarlah's head.
Tarlah has hold of Rahl's hands but Rahl slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rahl lands with a punch from half guard.
Rahl scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Tarlah tries to roll over but Rahl keeps him under control.
Rahl is nestled in close to Tarlah, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tarlah avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rahl.
Rahl is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Tarlah is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl working over Tarlah with some ground and pound. Tarlah looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Oh Tarlah is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rahl is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rahl lands a big elbow - Tarlah is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Rahl!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Darken Rahl!
Darken Rahl is the new featherweight champion!