PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Makkonen Kebede (ranked 4172 p4p, 4373 weight class) and Rafael Darren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren has chosen Yeah! as his entrance music. Makkonen Kebede has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kebede
vs
Darren

194 cm
20
185
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
185
3 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 The Island, Makkonen Kebede!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 12 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rafael Darren!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darren lands a two punch combo.
Kebede blocks a head kick by Darren.
Darren looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kebede throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kebede shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A head kick misses from Darren.
Kebede went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kebede throws out a loose jab but Darren uses good head movement to avoid it.
Darren with the inside leg kick.
Darren throws a sloppy head kick and Kebede moves out of range easily.
Darren pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Darren throws a head kick but Kebede moves out of range.
Kebede appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Kebede rushes Darren and presses him up against the cage.
Kebede slowing the pace effectively.

Kebede breaks the clinch.
Kebede changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Darren tries to avoid it but Kebede manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Darren to the ground. Darren escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kebede fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Darren throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darren throws a right and a left that Kebede avoids nicely.
Kebede is looking for a counter combo.
Darren throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kebede moves into the clinch.
Kebede blocks an elbow strike.
Darren taking a breather.
Darren is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Darren gets underhooks to prevent Kebede's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makkonen Kebede. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Darren throws an elbow but it misses.
A short body shot lands from Kebede as the two fighters clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Darren wants a takedown but no success here.
Darren is trying to break the clinch but Kebede is controlling him.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darren throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Darren looks winded!
Kebede ducks under a wild hook from Darren.
Kebede is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Darren.
Kebede shoots in for a takedown but Darren shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Darren throws a head kick but Kebede moves out of range.

Kebede moves into range and clinches up with Darren.
Darren misses with a knee strike.
Darren missing with knees to the body.
Kebede is trying to drag Darren to the mat but Darren just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Kebede gets control of Darren's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kebede will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kebede is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Darren defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darren looking to pass the guard.
Kebede seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Darren is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Darren must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kebede is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kebede is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four 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.

Kebede escapes and gets back to his feet.
No luck for Kebede with that takedown attempt.
Kebede shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Darren but Darren pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Darren misses with a two punch combination.
Kebede fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Darren avoids it really well and circles away.
Darren stuffs the takedown attempt from Kebede. Kebede gets slowly back to his feet.
Darren dips to his left and cracks Kebede with an uppercut!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kebede avoids the head kick by Darren.
Kebede dives in for a single leg takedown but Darren sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Kebede breaks from the clinch.
Kebede has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Darren.
No joy there for Kebede, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Darren stuns Kebede with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Darren throws a head kick that misses.
Kebede throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kebede on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Darren stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Darren wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kebede tries to clinch up but Darren circles away and keeps his distance.
Darren throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kebede.
Rafael Darren seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Darren throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kebede with a lazy takedown attempt
and Darren connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makkonen Kebede. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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!
A combination from Darren does no damage.
Kebede appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kebede wants to clinch but Darren slips to the side
and Darren counters with a nice uppercut.
Kebede tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Darren misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Darren turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Darren lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Kebede rushes Darren and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kebede decides to pull guard.
Kebede is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Darren has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Darren trying to control the position from guard on top but Kebede is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kebede pulls Darren in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darren won't allow Kebede to get back to his feet.
Kebede has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Darren has passed into side control.

Darren tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Darren scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kebede wants to control but Darren postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darren trying to control the position but Kebede is working away.
Kebede is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Darren asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Kebede can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's four 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.
Kebede fails with an attempt to clinch.
Darren connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kebede. Kebede circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kebede looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Darren throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kebede lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Darren misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Darren keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Darren stuffs the takedown attempt from Kebede. Kebede gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Darren lands with a kick to the temple. Kebede shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Darren throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Darren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kebede shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Darren sprawls well. Darren wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kebede gets slowly back to his feet.
Darren wants to counter with a clinch but Kebede pushes him away.
Darren looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Makkonen Kebede is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kebede has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Darren.
Darren lands with a kick to the temple. Kebede shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Good leg kick by Darren.
Darren stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kebede darts in looking for a takedown but Darren gets double underhooks and turns Kebede into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makkonen Kebede. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kebede breaks the clinch.
Kebede looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Darren throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Darren, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Darren throws a head kick but Kebede moves out of range.
Darren thumps Kebede with a low kick.
Kebede is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Darren was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Kebede shoots in but no luck this time.
Darren lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kebede looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Darren is fending him off so far but Kebede persists. Nope, Darren circles away and we're back to standing.
Darren throws a head kick but Kebede moves out of range.
Darren throws a sloppy head kick and Kebede moves out of range easily.
Kebede changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Darren tries to avoid it but Kebede manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Darren to the ground. Darren escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Darren throws a right and a left that Kebede avoids nicely.
Rafael Darren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kebede misses with a takedown attempt - Darren sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rafael Darren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kebede shoots in for a takedown but Darren shows good takedown defense.
Darren connects with a high kick.
Darren feints and then cracks Kebede's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kebede down.
Kebede throws a right and a left that Darren avoids nicely.
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!
Darren throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kebede is defended easily by Darren.
Kebede throws a right and a left that both miss.
Darren thumps Kebede with a low kick.
Kebede misses with a takedown attempt - Darren sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kebede on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darren throws a sloppy head kick and Kebede moves out of range easily.
Kebede throws a big counter combination but Darren scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kebede tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Darren defends well and Kebede ends up having to push Darren into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Kebede jumps guard and drags Darren to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Darren looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kebede is on top in guard.

Kebede will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Darren avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kebede sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kebede seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Darren for as long as he can get away with.
Darren not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kebede engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kebede loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Darren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Darren winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Darren!
Rafael Darren bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.