PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diego De Varant (ranked 3770 p4p, 4845 weight class) and Franklin Kelly (ranked 414 p4p, 491 weight class). Franklin Kelly will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

De Varant
vs
Kelly

182 cm
25
164
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
156
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Bondi MMA

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Diego De Varant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Franklin Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jonathan Paton and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Varant showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kelly.
Kelly connects with the punch.
Kelly 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.
De Varant leaves Kelly with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
De Varant displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kelly.
Kelly defends well against a solid takedown attempt from De Varant.

Kelly scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

De Varant makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes from De Varant. Those never looked like landing.
Kelly tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
De Varant keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kelly.
De Varant fails with the takedown
and Kelly counters with a straight right hand.
De Varant has been working on his boxing with his coaches at PSE Elite $100 (16coaches) in the buildup to the fight.
Kelly throws a lazy right hand but De Varant sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A right-left combo lands from De Varant.
De Varant throws a nice looking combination but Kelly bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

De Varant rushes Kelly and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
De Varant takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Kelly closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming De Varant to the mat! De Varant manages to get full guard.
De Varant utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelly accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kelly should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kelly throws a big right hand that misses.
Kelly won't allow De Varant to sweep him here.
De Varant not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as De Varant holds on and takes a little breather.
Kelly throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Varant working a defensive guard here.
De Varant wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.
Kelly throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as De Varant works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kelly postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

De Varant looking for a guillotine here but Kelly defends easily.

De Varant is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kelly throwing strikes but missing.
Kelly throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De Varant manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

De Varant breaks from the clinch.
Diego De Varant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

De Varant closes the distance and clinches.

De Varant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
De Varant keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Diego De Varant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklin Kelly.
De Varant throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kelly darts in looking for a takedown but De Varant gets double underhooks and turns Kelly into the cage.
Kelly throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kelly bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of De Varant's head.
Kelly shoots in looking for a takedown. De Varant tries to sprawl out of it but Kelly keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. De Varant manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kelly darts in looking for a takedown but De Varant gets double underhooks and turns Kelly into the cage.
Kelly looks winded!
De Varant shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kelly as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

De Varant moves into range and clinches up with Kelly.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kelly is trying to break the clinch but De Varant has him pressed against the cage.
De Varant lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kelly is trying to break free.

De Varant manages to break the clinch.
De Varant shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kelly as he jumps to the side.
De Varant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kelly has a takedown stuffed.
Kelly shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. De Varant defends it nicely.
Kelly goes for a double leg but De Varant avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as De Varant continues to drive forward.

De Varant closes the distance and clinches.
De Varant changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kelly fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kelly throws a chopping leg kick but De Varant manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

De Varant throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kelly tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. De Varant is in Kelly's guard.
Kelly wants to stand and escape but De Varant is having none of it.
De Varant has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Diego De Varant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
De Varant trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.
Kelly wants to stand but De Varant is controlling the position.
De Varant looking to pass the guard.
De Varant trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.
De Varant looking to pass the guard.
Kelly wants to stand but De Varant is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Varant tries to free his leg and advance position but Kelly is retaining full guard.
De Varant stands and throws Kelly's legs to the side, diving into side control.
De Varant trying to control the position but Kelly is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Varant prevents Kelly from escaping the position.
Kelly is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
A lull in the action here.
De Varant trying to control the action but Kelly is working from the bottom.
De Varant will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
De Varant cracks Kelly with a big elbow.

That's two 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.
Kelly wants to get back to his feet but De Varant drags him back down.
De Varant trying to control the position but Kelly is working away.
Kelly has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kelly wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kelly is looking to get back to his feet here but De Varant is keeping cool and he's managed to take Kelly's back.
Kelly is trying to stand back up.

De Varant is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Kelly is trying to stand back up.
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.

De Varant working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

De Varant is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Kelly has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Kelly defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kelly is keeping busy.
Kelly is trying to get back to his feet but De Varant has full control of the position and if anything, Kelly has just worked his way into a worse spot.
De Varant slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

De Varant looking for the choke from the back.
Kelly is trying to get back to his feet but De Varant has full control of the position and if anything, Kelly has just worked his way into a worse spot.
De Varant is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kelly can do to turn this around?

De Varant is persistently looking for the submission but Kelly is defending it well.
Kelly is trying to get back to his feet but De Varant has full control of the position and if anything, Kelly has just worked his way into a worse spot.

De Varant is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Kelly is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

De Varant shoots in and bounces Kelly off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Diego De Varant dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kelly looks to throw the jab but De Varant is out of range.
De Varant misses with a wild combination.
Kelly dives in and grabs De Varant's left leg, looking for a takedown. De Varant pushes down on Kelly's head and hops out.
Some wild striking there from De Varant.

Kelly closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. De Varant did well to prevent Kelly getting side control.

De Varant has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Kelly is on him like a limpet, forcing De Varant back against the cage.

Kelly breaks from the clinch.
De Varant shoots in looking for a takedown but Kelly manages to keep the fight standing, pushing De Varant's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kelly throws out a counter right but De Varant avoids it with no problem.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kelly or perhaps it was just good defense by De Varant, which made it look bad.
De Varant tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kelly paws at him with a jab and circles away.
De Varant throws a series of punches but Kelly avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kelly misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Diego De Varant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklin Kelly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Varant tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kelly swivels and escapes.
Kelly looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
De Varant drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kelly sprawls and moves away.
De Varant moves in looking to clinch but Kelly pushes him off.
De Varant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No joy there for De Varant, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kelly tries to bum rush De Varant with a series of wild strikes but De Varant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kelly tries to work over De Varant's front leg with a kick but De Varant checks it.

De Varant gets in close and instigates a clinch.
De Varant tries to pull guard but Kelly forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kelly wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but De Varant has him pressed against the cage.
Kelly is trying to break the clinch but De Varant has him pressed against the cage.

De Varant breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kelly.

De Varant forces Kelly back against the cage and clinches.
Franklin Kelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Varant tries for a takedown but Kelly manages to get underhooks.
Kelly has had enough of the clinch but De Varant keeps him there for the moment.

De Varant breaks the clinch.
De Varant tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kelly manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

De Varant fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kelly to the ground. De Varant is now in Kelly's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Varant trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.
Kelly wants to stand and escape but De Varant is having none of it.

Kelly is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
De Varant controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Kelly working for a triangle but De Varant defends it easily.
De Varant is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Varant is pushing down on Kelly's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kelly is fighting to maintain full guard but De Varant has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kelly pushes De Varant off looking to stand but De Varant dives back in and keeps control.
De Varant works his way into side control.

De Varant stands up and we're back to a striking position.
De Varant throws a nice looking combination but Kelly bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kelly shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. De Varant defends it nicely.
De Varant tries to bum rush Kelly with a series of wild strikes but Kelly uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

De Varant feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kelly is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst De Varant is controlling him.
De Varant trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.
De Varant controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kelly is looking to stand up but De Varant isn't so interested in that idea.

Kelly had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. De Varant defends it easily.

De Varant avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
De Varant's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Diego De Varant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kelly trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
De Varant controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego De Varant showed his dominance in that final round.
Well De Varant 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego De Varant!