PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Sabre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Darnielle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sabre
vs
Darnielle

189 cm
34
184 lbs
36 - 14 - 1

197 cm
31
196 lbs
26 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 36 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Sabre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Darnielle!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sabre throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sabre enables Darnielle to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sabre manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Darnielle trying to control the position from guard on top but Sabre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Darnielle preventing the sweep.
Darnielle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sabre swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Darnielle stops Sabre from standing up.

Darnielle has gone for a leg lock! Sabre slips out almost immediately though and dives into Darnielle's guard.
Sabre trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Darnielle is trying to control the position but Sabre postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabre tries to free his leg and advance position but Darnielle is retaining full guard.
Darnielle has Sabre pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

John Darnielle has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Darnielle misses with the combination.
Sabre swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sabre thumps Darnielle with a low kick.
A big left from Sabre misses.
Sabre fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darnielle throws a sloppy head kick and Sabre moves out of range easily.
Sabre uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Darnielle.
Darnielle changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Darnielle avoids the body shot from Sabre.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sabre throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Darnielle's waist but Darnielle gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sabre off to one side.
Sabre will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Darnielle loads up on a big right hand but Sabre slips the punch.
Sabre misses with a lunging right hand
and Darnielle cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Darnielle.
Darnielle lands with a nice body kick.
Darnielle tests Sabre's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Darnielle swings for the body but Sabre moves out of range.
Sabre takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A shot to the body from Darnielle misses
and Darnielle takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sabre keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Darnielle.
Darnielle closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sabre circles away.
Darnielle falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sabre counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Darnielle thinking.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Darnielle lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Darnielle decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabre trying to hold on to Darnielle's head to control him but Darnielle postures up.
Sabre wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Darnielle dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sabre throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Darnielle misses with a takedown attempt - Sabre sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
John Darnielle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sabre lands a leg kick that knocks Darnielle off balance momentarily.
Sabre misses with a looping right.
Sabre takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A low kick from Darnielle is predictable there
and Sabre counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sabre scores with a one two! Darnielle had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Darnielle lands a leg kick that knocks Sabre off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darnielle just misses with a punch to the body.
Darnielle throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sabre sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sabre throws a head kick that misses.
Darnielle misses with a straight right.
Darnielle has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sabre throws a right hand that misses
and Darnielle counters with a nice leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Darnielle checks a leg kick.
Darnielle throws a half hearted mid kick.

Darnielle gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sabre controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre wants to control from the top but Darnielle keeps moving.
Sabre is working Darnielle over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sabre wants to control from the top but Darnielle keeps moving.
Sabre is really struggling to control Darnielle but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Matt Sabre wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Darnielle looks for the body kick but Sabre saw that one coming.
Sabre stuffs the takedown.
Sabre throws an overhand right that lands on Darnielle's shoulder, as Darnielle tries to avoid the shot.
Darnielle misses with an uppercut.
Darnielle scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Darnielle throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Darnielle takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sabre connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabre scoring well with a low kick there.
Sabre throws a hook but Darnielle blocks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A clash of legs there as Darnielle blocks the low kick.
Sabre connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Darnielle momentarily.
Darnielle throws a push kick but Sabre slaps the foot to one side.
A swing and a miss from Sabre.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabre defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Darnielle.
Matt Sabre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Darnielle.
Sabre swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sabre dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sabre defending well as Darnielle loads up on a big left hand.
Darnielle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sabre sprawls well. Sabre wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Darnielle gets slowly back to his feet.
Darnielle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sabre circles away quickly and effectively.
Sabre misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darnielle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sabre but Sabre pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Darnielle throws a right and a left that Sabre avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sabre enables Darnielle to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sabre manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Darnielle has gone for a leg lock! Sabre slips out almost immediately though and dives into Darnielle's guard.
Darnielle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sabre wants to control from the top but Darnielle keeps moving.
Sabre trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sabre sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darnielle is trying to keep Sabre in close.
Sabre has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

We're going to have a standup here because Matt Sabre wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sabre misses with a straight left.
Darnielle moves away from the strike by Sabre.
Darnielle misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darnielle scores with a spinning back kick!
Darnielle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sabre tries to avoid it but Darnielle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sabre to the ground. Sabre escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matt Sabre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Darnielle.

Sabre is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Darnielle's half guard.
Darnielle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Darnielle trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabre not doing much here.
Sabre missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Darnielle wants to control but Sabre is keeping busy.

John Darnielle has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sabre misses with a leg kick.
Darnielle takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Darnielle throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matt Sabre.
Well Sabre has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Matt Sabre!
During a confident post fight interview, Matt Sabre thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.