PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Davdio Branko (ranked 1025 p4p, 2203 weight class) and Darken Rahl (ranked 60 p4p, 140 weight class). Davdio Branko has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Branko
vs
Rahl

180 cm
26
144
13 - 8 - 0

168 cm
32
146
12 - 8 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Mile High
Urban Fighter

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conquer

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Davdio Branko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Darken Rahl!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Joseph Jones and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branko shoots in for a double leg but Rahl sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And Rahl tries to counter it with a takedown but Branko pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rahl looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A big left from Rahl misses.
Rahl scores with a jab. Branko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Branko looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rahl leaves Branko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Rahl gets tackled into the cage by Branko. Branko maintains the clinch.
Branko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rahl pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Davdio Branko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Branko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rahl sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Branko somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahl throws a body shot but no joy.
Branko fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Branko or perhaps it was just good defense by Rahl, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rahl defends it nicely.
Branko moves out of range of the strikes.
Branko attempts a counter takedown but Rahl avoids it well and moves away.
Rahl misses the jab.
Branko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rahl as he avoids it easily.
A big left from Rahl misses.
Branko tries for a takedown but Rahl circles away easily

and Rahl counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Branko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Branko.
Rahl wants to get up but he can't break Branko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Branko wants to sweep here but Rahl controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Branko looking for a guillotine here but Rahl defends easily.
Branko really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Branko working for a triangle but Rahl defends it easily.
Rahl must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Branko wants to sweep here but Rahl controlling him for the moment.
Rahl has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Branko is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rahl avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Branko looking for a guillotine here but Rahl defends easily.
Rahl wants to get up but he can't break Branko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Branko working for a triangle but Rahl defends it easily.
Rahl tries to stand but Branko is controlling from the bottom.

Branko looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rahl has picked Branko up and slammed him! Branko can't keep hold of the triangle and Rahl manages to pass to side 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.
Branko tries to bench press Rahl off him but Rahl keeps the position.
Rahl tries to stand but Branko is controlling his head.
Branko is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rahl wants to stand but Branko is controlling his arm.
Branko tries to buck Rahl off but Rahl is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darken Rahl dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rahl looks to score with a jab to the body but Branko is just out of range.
Rahl misses the jab.
Rahl throws a front kick aimed at Branko's knee but Branko avoids it well.
Branko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The fighters circling - Rahl throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Branko wants to clinch up but Rahl keeps it at a distance.
Rahl stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Branko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rahl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahl lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Branko fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rahl sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Branko somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Davdio Branko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Branko with a poor takedown

and Rahl counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Branko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Branko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rahl pulls his head out easily.
Rahl wants to stand but Branko has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Branko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Branko actively working from the bottom here.
Rahl tries to stand but can't do so whilst Branko controls his leg.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rahl looks to land a left hand but Branko moved out of range nicely.
Branko drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rahl sprawls and moves away.
Darken Rahl is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rahl defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Branko.
Rahl tries to score with a low kick but Branko moves his leg out of the way.
Branko is looking to counter the offense by Rahl and move into the clinch.

Rahl rushes Branko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Branko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl gets underhooks to prevent Branko's takedown attempt.
Rahl scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch on the inside from Rahl fails to land.
Branko is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rahl is defending well.
A nice left hand lands by Rahl.

Branko turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Branko manages to end up in side control.

Branko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rahl has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Branko prevents Rahl from escaping the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Branko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Branko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Branko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Branko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darken Rahl showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Branko fails with the takedown.
Rahl digs a good hook to Branko's body.
Branko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Branko walks into a straight right hand from Rahl.

Rahl moves into the clinch successfully.
Branko is trying to drag Rahl to the mat but Rahl just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Davdio Branko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rahl lands with a left to the head.
Rahl has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rahl fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rahl lands a nice shot that snaps Branko's head back.
Branko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rahl forces Branko back against the cage and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Rahl as the two fighters clinch.
Rahl misses with a punch to the body.
Branko wants a takedown but no success here.
Rahl scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rahl stops a takedown attempt from Branko.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rahl can't find room to land a body shot as Branko controls the action.
Rahl is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rahl swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rahl throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Brankos head.

Rahl breaks the clinch.
Branko moves out of range as Rahl strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short left from Rahl.
Branko is trying to drag Rahl to the mat but Rahl just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rahl is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rahl lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Branko or not.
Rahl is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rahl is looking to control Branko's arms but Branko gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rahl has his back to the cage.
Branko is looking for a takedown.

Rahl breaks the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rahl rushes Branko and presses him up against the cage.
Branko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rahl walks away with a smile on his face. Branko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rahl throws a lazy right hand but Branko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Branko fails with the takedown.
Rahl lands with a nice body punch.
Rahl misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl connects with a good right hand that stumbles Branko. Branko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A telegraphed right hand from Rahl misses the target.
Branko half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rahl ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Branko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rahl.
A telegraphed right hand from Rahl misses the target.
Rahl misses with a hook. Branko ducked under it nicely.
Branko appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Rahl clinches up with Branko and pushes him back against the cage.

Rahl breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Branko clinches with his opponent.
A nice left hand lands by Rahl.

Rahl pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rahl stuffs the takedown attempt from Branko. Branko gets slowly back to his feet.

Rahl moves into range and clinches up with Branko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahl prevents a takedown attempt there.
Branko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rahl is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Branko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short uppercut from Rahl.
Rahl misses with a punch to the body.

Rahl breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rahl takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Darken Rahl seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rahl looks to land a left hand but Branko moved out of range nicely.
Branko fails with a takedown attempt.
Branko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rahl defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darken Rahl comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rahl has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darken Rahl!
Darken Rahl very nearly forgot to thank Conquer amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.