PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kai Smith (ranked 1664 p4p, 2048 weight class) and James Darwin (ranked 227 p4p, 282 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Smith
vs
Darwin

186 cm
28
175
8 - 3 - 0

176 cm
22
170
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kai Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Darwin!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Darwin counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Smith is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet.
Darwin working the ground and pound from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Darwin.
Darwin prevents Smith from escaping the position.
Darwin looks up at the clock and then as Smith takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Darwin smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Darwin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Darwin grinds an elbow into Smith's temple.

Darwin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Darwin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Smith trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darwin tries to advance to mount but Smith denies him.

Darwin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
The strikes coming from Darwin are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Darwin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Darwin trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Darwin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Smith to see if he's OK.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Darwin on the ground.
Darwin scoring with punches from side control.
Darwin is chipping away with strikes.

Darwin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Darwin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
An elbow from Darwin crashes against the mat.
Smith tries to escape but Darwin is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Smith pushes Darwin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Darwin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Darwin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Darwin lands a few punches from side control.
Smith is pushing Darwin's head away, looking to escape. Darwin manages to hold on to the position though.
Darwin looks up at the clock and then as Smith takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Darwin smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Darwin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith is trying to get back to his feet.
Darwin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smith is avoiding damage well.
Darwin trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

Darwin has hold of Smith's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Smith tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Darwin cranks the arm and Smith screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Smith, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). James Darwin!
James Darwin is the new welterweight champion!
In his post fight interview, James Darwin started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.