PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darrel Delaney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Draco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Draco acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Delaney
vs
Draco

200 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
191 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Darrel Delaney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Draco!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Delaney lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A telegraphed right hand from Delaney misses the target.
Draco has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Draco shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Delaney has his hands clasped together around Draco's back. He's all about the action.
Delaney continues to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Draco thows a huge punch but Delaney dodges it nicely.
Draco not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delaney wants to get back to his feet.
Delaney wants to get back to full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Draco tries to pass to full mount but Delaney defends it.
Delaney has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Draco is working away from the top position though.
Draco trying to mount his opponent but Delaney defends it.
Delaney tries to kick Draco off but Draco keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Draco gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Draco trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Delaney is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Draco is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Draco has escaped and now he's on top!

Delaney really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Delaney utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Draco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Delaney tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Draco wants to control from the top but Delaney keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draco would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Delaney keeping moving, preventing Draco from controlling successfully.
Draco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Delaney looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four 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.
Delaney has a closed guard, preventing Draco from standing up.
Draco controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Draco looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Draco tries to clinch up but Delaney circles away and keeps his distance.
As Draco looks to move away, Delaney throws a big counter combo but Draco just gets out of the way.

Draco scores with a takedown into Delaney's guard.

Delaney wriggles free and stands up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Draco feints and as Delaney raises his hands in defense, Draco changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Delaney is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Draco presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Darrel Delaney will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Draco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Delaney swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Draco fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Delaney to the ground. Draco is now in Delaney's guard.

Delaney has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Draco off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Delaney looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Draco is fending him off so far but Delaney persists. Nope, Draco circles away and we're back to standing.
Draco steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Delaney.

Draco looking to score a takedown here. Delaney is defending well but Draco drives through and ends up in Delaney's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Delaney manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
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!
Delaney jumps guard but Draco stands there with Delaney around his waist. Delaney gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Delaney is trying to pull guard but Draco turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darrel Delaney. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Draco breaks the clinch.
Delaney throws a sloppy head kick and Draco moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Draco shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Delaney wriggles free and stands up.
Darrel Delaney is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Draco lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Delaney feints a jab promting Draco to slip. Delaney then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Draco slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Delaney misses with a looping left.
Delaney has his takedown stuffed
and Draco counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Draco fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Delaney is out of range.
Draco throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Delaney is rocked!

It looks like Darrel Delaney has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draco scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Oh Delaney is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Draco closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Delaney quickly recovers to half guard.
Draco performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Darrel Delaney overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Draco is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Delaney!
Draco controlling from mount.
Let's hope that Draco has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Draco throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Draco can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Delaney is looking to escape.
Draco throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Delaney seems to have got his legs back now.

Draco wants to finish this one by submission but Delaney is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Draco.
Draco looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Draco is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Draco swings for the body but Delaney moves out of range.

Draco closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Delaney to the mat! Delaney manages to get full guard.
Draco trying to control the position from guard on top but Delaney is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delaney keeping full guard, as Draco tries to pass.
Draco wanted to stand there but Delaney had control of the position.
Delaney keeping moving, preventing Draco from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Draco will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Darrel Delaney's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Draco throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Delaney drives through and clinches with Draco against the cage.

Draco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Draco. Delaney does a little dance to reset his feet.
Delaney fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Delaney takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Delaney gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Draco to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Draco wants to get up but he can't break Delaney's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delaney avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Delaney wants to sweep here but Draco controlling him for the moment.
Draco wants to control from the top but Delaney keeps moving.
Delaney looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Draco trying to control but Delaney is working from the bottom.
Draco is looking to work some ground and pound but Delaney has wrist control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Delaney is looking to clinch but Draco is avoiding it.
Delaney tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Draco paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Delaney tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Draco defends well and Delaney ends up having to push Draco into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Delaney instigates a clinch.

Draco has hold of one of Delaney's legs. Delaney is fighting the takedown attempt but Draco gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Draco stopping the sweep attempt from Delaney.
Draco not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Draco.
Yet more stalling tactics from Draco.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Draco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Draco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Delaney swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Delaney looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Draco is fending him off so far but Delaney persists. Nope, Draco circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darrel Delaney. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Delaney tries to score a power double leg takedown but Draco sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Delaney somewhat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Draco drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Delaney throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Darrel Delaney showed his dominance in that final round.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Darrel Delaney!