PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Davonte Durant (ranked 1098 p4p, 1017 weight class) and Malig Mferi (ranked 136 p4p, 126 weight class). Durant kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is No Bullets Fly - Sabaton. Davonte Durant could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Malig Mferi's chin.

Durant
vs
Mferi

202 cm
23
280
7 - 8 - 0

191 cm
23
285
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Tempo Athletics
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Davonte Durant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Malig Mferi!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Russell Pearce and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Durant takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Durant lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mferi backwards.

Mferi breaks the clinch.
Mferi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Durant circles away quickly and effectively.
Durant went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Malig Mferi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mferi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Durant.
Mferi tries to bum rush Durant with a series of wild strikes but Durant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Durant slips a jab from Mferi.
Durant scores with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durant tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Durant looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Mferi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durant using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mferi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mferi lands a right hand.
Mferi blocks a body shot from Durant.
Mferi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Durant prevents a body shot from Mferi.
Mferi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Durant with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from Mferi.

It looks like Davonte Durant has been cut.
Durant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Durant.

Mferi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Durant - that will leave a mark!
Mferi avoids the head kick by Durant.
Durant tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mferi gets tackled into the cage by Durant. Durant maintains the clinch.
Durant swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mferi has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Durant seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Mferi can turn it around.
Mferi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Durant landing knees to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mferi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durant scores with a shoulder strike.
Durant misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mferi tries to break free but Durant pushes him back against the cage.
Durant tries to land a knee to the head but Mferi blocks with his arms.

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

Mferi pushes Durant up against the cage in a clinch.

Mferi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mferi misses with a looping right.
Mferi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mferi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Durant tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Durant has taken the fight to the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Durant has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Mferi has had enough of the clinch but Durant keeps him there for the moment.
Durant with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A frustrated look appears on Mferi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Durant keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mferi's efforts to push away.

Mferi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mferi swats away the attempt to clinch by Durant.
Decent striking displayed by Mferi there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durant doesn't manage to clinch there - Mferi circles away.
Durant pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mferi is looking for the big counter here.
Durant slips a jab and a cross from Mferi.
Durant doesn't manage to clinch there - Mferi circles away.
Durant moves in looking to clinch but Mferi pushes him off.

Mferi instigates a clinch.
Durant lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Durant obliges.
Durant misses with a knee to the head.
Durant stalling in the clinch but Mferi improves position.
Durant missing with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mferi breaks the clinch.
Mferi swings for the body but Durant moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Malig Mferi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Davonte Durant's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Durant looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mferi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mferi just misses with a punch to the body.
Mferi throws a hook to the side of Durant's head but Durant sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Durant throwing a counter right hand but Mferi manages to avoid it.

Mferi rushes Durant and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Mferi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Durant is looking to clinch but Mferi is avoiding it.
Mferi throws a poor cross that misses
and Durant connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mferi wants to land a leg kick but Durant is out of range.
Durant throws a head kick but Mferi moves out of range.
Mferi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Durant. Durant obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Mferi misses.
Durant moves to clinch but Mferi breaks away
and Mferi counters with a series of strikes. Durant will be more careful next time no doubt.
A combination from Mferi does no damage.
Durant scores with a kick to the midsection.
Sloppy strikes from Durant. Those never looked like landing.
Mferi wants to counter the offense by Durant and move into the clinch position.
Mferi moves out of range of the body kick from Durant.
Mferi misses with a straight left.
Mferi misses with an uppercut.
It looked like Durant wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Mferi clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mferi wants to break free but Durant has control.
Durant working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mferi is trying to push Durant away but Durant has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Durant with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Durant trying to land knees to the body.
Mferi is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Durant.
Mferi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Durant tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mferi is trying to break free.
Mferi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mferi managing to block the knees to the body from Durant.
Durant throws a head punch that misses.
Mferi is trying to break free.
Durant keeps control of Mferi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Durant.

Mferi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Durant wants to clinch up but Mferi keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mferi throws a body shot but no joy.
Mferi just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromDurant.
Durant wants to clinch up but Mferi keeps it at a distance.
Good work by Mferi as he checks the leg kick.
Mferi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A slow jab from Durant misses its intended target.
Mferi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Durant moves away.
Durant misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Durant rushes Mferi and presses him up against the cage.

Mferi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Durant moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Mferi misses with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mferi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Durant.
Mferi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mferi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Durant counters with a series of strikes. Mferi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Durant avoids the body shot from Mferi.
Durant feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Mferi looks to land a combination but Durant avoids it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durant tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mferi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Durant looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Malig Mferi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Davonte Durant's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mferi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durant lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mferi throws a combination that misses
and Durant counters with an inside leg kick.
Durant tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mferi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mferi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mferi throws a shot from downtown. Durant moves away and avoids it.
Mferi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Durant throws a leg kick but Mferi moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durant throws a right and a left that both miss.
A punch lands to the side of Durant 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Mferi clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mferi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mferi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Mferi breaks the clinch.
Durant is looking to clinch but Mferi is avoiding it.
Durant moves in looking to clinch but Mferi pushes him off.
Durant connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mferi's hands.
Mferi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mferi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mferi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durant misses with a head kick.

Durant closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mferi is looking to break free of the clinch but Durant has double underhooks.
Durant lands a right hand.
A head punch on the inside from Durant fails to land.
Durant misses with the head strike.
A short right from Durant on the inside.
Durant with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mferi tries to circle away but Durant has him pinned against the cage.

Mferi breaks from the clinch.
Durant cracks Mferi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mferi throws a body shot but no joy.
Durant tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Durant takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mferi throws out a powerful jab.
Durant wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durant steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mferi.
Mferi cracks Durant with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Durant wants to clinch up but Mferi keeps it at a distance.

Mferi moves into the clinch.
Mferi avoiding damage as Durant throws knees to the body.
Davonte Durant has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Durant looking to throw knees to the head but Mferi is blocking nicely.
Durant throws a punch but it's blocked by Mferi.
Mferi managing to block the knees to the body from Durant.
Durant tries to work over Mferi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mferi is trying to push Durant away but Durant has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Durant with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durant swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Durant lands a knee to the head.
Mferi controlling the action here for a moment.
Mferi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Durant is keeping busy.
Durant connects with a knee to the head.
Mferi is trying to push Durant away but Durant has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mferi tries to break the clinch but Durant is controlling the position.
Durant lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mferi managing to block the knees to the body from Durant.
Mferi is looking to control Durant's arms but Durant gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mferi has his back to the cage.
Durant throws a punch but it's blocked by Mferi.
Durant tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Davonte Durant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Durant misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Davonte Durant showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mferi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Davonte Durant!
Davonte Durant decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.