PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Darby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuri Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darby kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Undead. Kazuri Sakuraba struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Darby
vs
Sakuraba

178 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
183 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kevin Darby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kazuri Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba misses with a leg kick.
Kazuri Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Darby will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sakuraba does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Darby keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Darby showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Darby misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sakuraba throws a body punch but Darby moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba fails to land with a series of punches.
Darby shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well. He's pushed Darby's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Darby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Darby shoots in looking for a takedown. Sakuraba tries to sprawl out of it but Darby keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sakuraba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kazuri Sakuraba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darby will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
An inside leg kick from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Darby gets a takedown into half guard.
Sakuraba punching from the bottom.
Sakuraba moves into full guard.
Sakuraba manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Darby manages to get himself to full guard.

Darby throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sakuraba with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darby looking to control.
Sakuraba scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sakuraba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sakuraba with a nice head shot there.
Sakuraba lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba postures up and lands a big shot to Darby's brow.
Sakuraba passes Darby's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
Sakuraba thows a huge punch but Darby dodges it nicely.
Sakuraba is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sakuraba not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Darby is pressing down on Sakuraba's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sakuraba throws a big right hand that misses.
Darby is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darby trying to mount his opponent but Sakuraba defends it.
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sakuraba missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Darby seems to be working for a kimura but Sakuraba defends the submission attempt.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position.
Darby works his way into full mount!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sakuraba regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sakuraba manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakuraba is on top in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sakuraba's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sakuraba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sakuraba postures up and lands a big shot to Darby's brow.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Darby's guard.
Sakuraba working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Darby avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sakuraba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Darby actively working from the bottom here.
Darby throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Darby keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sakuraba is thwarting Darby's attempts to control the position.
Darby wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Darby shoots in looking for a takedown. Sakuraba tries to sprawl out of it but Darby keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sakuraba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Darby checks a low kick from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darby manages to avoid it.
Sakuraba misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuri Sakuraba dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

No luck for Darby with that takedown attempt.
Darby shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sakuraba misses with a wild body shot.
Darby shoots in but Sakuraba avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Darby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba throws a body punch but Darby moves out of range.
Darby tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuraba swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darby looks for a takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well.
Darby looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Darby bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darby takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Darby shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well. He's pushed Darby's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sakuraba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakuraba moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Kevin Darby has been cut.
Darby fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Darby rather than just go for the knockout.
Sakuraba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sakuraba misses the shot to the body.
Sakuraba takes a swing at Darby's ribcage but misses.
Darby shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well. He's pushed Darby's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Darby tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuraba swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Darby shoots in but Sakuraba avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Sakuraba gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Darby thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakuraba doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sakuraba is striking off his back. Darby thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

Sakuraba is defending against the submission attempts here by Darby.
Darby has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Darby working for a guillotine from mount but Sakuraba is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darby pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Sakuraba throwing hammer fists to the chest of Darby. What's that going to do exactly?
Sakuraba throwing hammer fists to the chest of Darby. What's that going to do exactly?
Sakuraba throwing hammer fists to the chest of Darby. What's that going to do exactly?
Sakuraba bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sakuraba postures up and lands a big shot to Darby's brow.
Kazuri Sakuraba has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Darby is retaining full guard.

Darby had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sakuraba is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Darby Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sakuraba's back instead.

Sakuraba is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sakuraba is squirming around, avoiding Darby's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darby lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sakuraba hang on?

Darby working for a guillotine from mount but Sakuraba is in no mood to give up.
Darby with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Darby looking to ground and pound but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Darby looking to ground and pound but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Sakuraba keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Darby lands a big shot there that rocks Sakuraba but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Darby jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sakuraba manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Sloppy strikes there by Darby.
Darby tries to move to mount but Sakuraba blocks the move with his legs.
Darby looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sakuraba is avoiding damage well.
Sakuraba is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Darby dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kevin Darby's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Darby tries for a takedown but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sakuraba misses the shot to the body.
Darby looks for a takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well.
Some bone on bone action there as Darby checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Darby shoots in for a double leg but Sakuraba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Darby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darby keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Darby looks for a takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well.
Darby throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sakuraba's waist but Sakuraba gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Darby off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba lands a nice shot to the body.
Sakuraba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Darby moves away.
Sakuraba misses with a body shot.
Darby bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Darby fails to land the takedown.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Darby avoids the body shot from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba stuffs the takedown.
Sakuraba looks to score with a jab to the body but Darby is just out of range.
Darby shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well. He's pushed Darby's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sakuraba swings for the body but Darby moves out of range.
Kevin Darby is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Darby shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sakuraba pinned against the cage. Sakuraba gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Darby looks for a takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well.
Darby closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuraba, looking for a takedown. Darby pushes Sakuraba against the cage but Sakuraba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Darby fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Sakuraba as Darby shoots in.
Sakuraba tries to score with a low kick but Darby moves his leg out of the way.
Darby tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuraba swivels and escapes.
Darby looks for a takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darby has a takedown stuffed.
Sakuraba with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sakuraba scores with a shot to the body.
Darby slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Darby.
Sakuraba thuds a left hand into Darby's body.
Sakuraba attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Darby uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakuraba.
Darby changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sakuraba tries to avoid it but Darby manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sakuraba to the ground. Sakuraba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Darby closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sakuraba circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Darby shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sakuraba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Darby uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakuraba.
Darby throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sakuraba's waist but Sakuraba gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Darby off to one side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Darby.
Sakuraba stuffs the takedown attempt from Darby. Darby gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakuraba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Darby shoots in for a double leg but Sakuraba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Darby looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sakuraba!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuri Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sakuraba 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuri Sakuraba!