PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmad Durrani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gardner comes to the cage accompanied by Stavesacre - Minuteman. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ahmad Durrani was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gardner
vs
Durrani

163 cm
29
161 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

170 cm
26
159 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aaron Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ahmad Durrani!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Eddie Farnsworth and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gardner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Durrani tries to avoid it but Gardner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Durrani to the ground. Durrani escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Durrani swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Durrani closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Durrani connects with a body shot that sends Gardner's belly button to the back.
Gardner misses with a straight right.
Durrani misses the shot to the body.
Gardner throws a jab when Durrani was well out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Durrani.
Gardner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Durrani counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Aaron Gardner has been cut.

Gardner gets the takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Durrani is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Durrani regains half guard there - taking advantage of Gardner's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Durrani does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Durrani is trying to stand up here but Gardner is controlling him well.
Durrani has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gardner is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ahmad Durrani.
A slapping leg kick lands for Durrani.
Durrani tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gardner is able to avoid easily.
Ahmad Durrani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Durrani.
Gardner avoids the head kick by Durrani.
Durrani gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gardner.

Gardner has Durrani up against the cage in a clinch.
Durrani blocks an uppercut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Durrani.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durrani prevents a body shot from Gardner.
Gardner goes for a takedown attempt but Durrani pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Durrani lands a jab to Gardner's midsection.
Gardner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Durrani as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Gardner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gardner blocks the body kick.
Gardner misses with a combination
and Durrani makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Durrani defending well as Gardner loads up on a big left hand.
Gardner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Durrani sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gardner somewhat.
Durrani lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durrani swings for the body but Gardner moves out of range.
Durrani fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Durrani. Gardner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Durrani scoring well with a low kick there.
Gardner listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gardner has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Durrani.
Durrani keeps the fight on the outside.

Gardner moves into the clinch.
Durrani tries to throw a body punch but Gardner avoids it by throwing Durrani back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durrani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Durrani blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Durrani tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gardner's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Durrani dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Gardner's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gardner misses the shot to the body.
Gardner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Durrani moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Durrani connects with an inside leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Durrani as he connects with a hook.
Jab from Durrani.
Durrani lands the left hand.
Durrani throws a low kick but Gardner moves out of range easily.
Nice sprawl there from Durrani as Gardner shoots in.
The fighters circling - Gardner throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gardner shoots for a takedown but Durrani saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gardner tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Durrani is looking to slow Gardner down with leg kicks.
The crowd cheers as Durrani lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gardner doesn't seem phased though.

Durrani closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrani connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gardner's face.

Gardner is rocked!
Durrani is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Oh Gardner is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gardner is trying to maintain a safe position but Durrani gets an underhook and turns Gardner into the cage.
Gardner seems to have got his legs back now.
Durrani scores with a shot to the side of Gardner's head.
Gardner blocks a body shot from Durrani.
Durrani landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Durrani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gardner.
Gardner is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Durrani connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gardner's face.
Gardner will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Durrani up against the cage.
Durrani leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is looking to break free of the clinch but Durrani has double underhooks.
Gardner wants to stall.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Durrani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gardner.
Gardner looking to slow down the pace here.
Durrani throws an elbow but it misses.
Durrani scores a nice knee to the body.
Gardner is trying to stall.
Gardner blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Durrani.
Durrani landing knees to the head.

Aaron Gardner's cut is getting worse.
Gardner is trying to force a seperation but Durrani has the dominant position.
Gardner misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gardner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gardner scores with a shot to the side of Durrani's head.
Gardner blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gardner blocks a body shot from Durrani.
Durrani tries to throw a body punch but Gardner avoids it by throwing Durrani back against the cage.
Durrani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gardner.
Gardner tries to stall but Durrani uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Durrani with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Durrani slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Durrani gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Gardner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gardner stalling in the clinch.
Durrani scores a nice knee to the body.
Durrani tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gardner's elbow.
Gardner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Durrani misses with a knee strike.
Gardner is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durrani digs a right hand into Gardner's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gardner's gas tank.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gardner misses with some punches.
Durrani scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Durrani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aaron Gardner's cut.
That's time! Gardner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gardner looks to score with a jab to the body but Durrani is just out of range.
Durrani throws a solid leg kick but Gardner takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Durrani.
Durrani scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gardner ducks under a wild hook from Durrani.
Gardner swinging wildly here.
Aaron Gardner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Durrani connects with a right hand. Gardner shakes it off.
Durrani has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gardner shoots in looking for a takedown but Durrani manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gardner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Durrani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gardner closes the distance and clinches up with Durrani, looking for a takedown. Gardner pushes Durrani against the cage but Durrani circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Gardner.
Durrani connects with a solid leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrani throws a leg kick that misses.
Ahmad Durrani seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gardner tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Durrani has managed to clinch.
Gardner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Durrani fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Gardner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durrani scores with a leg kick.
Gardner takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gardner is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gardner checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Durrani lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gardner's sensitive parts.
Durrani scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gardner has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Durrani finds it's way round the side to connect with Gardner's head.
Gardner throws the left hand but Durrani avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gardner throws a combination that misses

and Durrani counters with a lead uppercut that lands right on the button! Gardner goes down! Will Gardner beat the count? 3,4,5 - he's up! No problem. Let's get back to the action!
Durrani scoring well with a low kick there.
Durrani lands a big head kick that sends Gardner to the canvas! Durrani follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ahmad Durrani!
Ahmad Durrani tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.