PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zhoujiangcuo Wong (ranked 2536 p4p, 276 weight class) and Lauris Darzins (ranked 2468 p4p, 269 weight class). Lauris Darzins will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Wong
vs
Darzins

183 cm
25
157 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

199 cm
25
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zhoujiangcuo Wong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lauris Darzins!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Wong lands a head kick that stumbles Darzins and the fighters go to the mat.

Darzins is rocked!
Wong wants to stand and escape but instead Darzins has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darzins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Wong keeping moving, preventing Darzins from controlling successfully.
Darzins is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Darzins controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Darzins stands up and waves to Wong to follow him.
Wong throws a sloppy head kick

and Darzins counters by moving into the clinch.

Darzins has clasped his hands together around Wong's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Darzins advances to mount.
Darzins sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Darzins unloading with bombs!
Wong in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darzins controlling from the full mount.
Wong tries to buck Darzins off but he can't manage it.
Wong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Darzins content just to control the position here.
Wong avoids a strike by Darzins and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Darzins's guard! Fantastic escape!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wong wanted to stand there but Darzins had control of the position.
Darzins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Darzins has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Wong has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Darzins decides to pull guard.
Darzins controlling Wong's posture.
Wong wants to stand and escape but instead Darzins has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Darzins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Darzins on the ground.
Darzins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Darzins stays in close to Wong's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Darzins throws an elbow that misses. Wong uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Darzins's guard. Nice move by Wong!

Darzins has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darzins managing to control the position.
Darzins's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Darzins controls Wong momentarily but Wong frees himself.

Darzins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wong wants to stand but Darzins is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lauris Darzins will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wong scores with a head kick. Darzins tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Wong throws a head kick but Darzins moves out of range.
Darzins blocks a head kick by Wong.
Zhoujiangcuo Wong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Darzins throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Wong appears to be looking for a big counter.
Wong throws a head kick but Darzins moves out of range.

Darzins drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wong is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Darzins dives into side control.

Darzins looking to control but instead Wong has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Darzins is controlling the pace.

Darzins decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wong shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Darzins eats them both and turns towards Wong to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Wong tries a head kick but it misses.
Zhoujiangcuo Wong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Wong.
Darzins feints the counter takedown.
Darzins takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wong takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Darzins moves into the clinch.
Wong dodges an elbow strike from Darzins.
Wong has had enough of the clinch but Darzins keeps him there for the moment.

Darzins has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Wong regains guard immediately.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Darzins is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darzins throws a strike but Wong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Darzins lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Darzins wants to control from the top but Wong keeps moving.
Darzins sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Darzins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darzins with a nice head shot there.
Darzins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Darzins stands and throws Wong's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Darzins working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Darzins is trying to get an arm triangle but Wong is defending well.
Darzins wants to control but Wong is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darzins taking a breather here.
Let's hope that Darzins 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.

Darzins swings around for an armbar but Wong sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Darzins's guard.
Wong is looking to stand up but Darzins won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zhoujiangcuo Wong will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Darzins blocks a head kick by Wong.
Darzins tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Wong is able to avoid easily.

Darzins manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Wong on his heels. He'll look to pass Wong's guard now, I'm sure.
Wong wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Darzins manages to pass to side control.

Darzins postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Wong to stand up.

Darzins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wong, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wong is trying to push Darzins away but Darzins has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Darzins has Wong pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Darzins pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Wong tumbling to the mat - Darzins dives into Wong's guard.
Darzins advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darzins controls the position.
Darzins trying to control the action but Wong is working from the bottom.

Darzins stands up.

Darzins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nice strikes from Darzins there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wong has hold of Darzins's hands but Darzins slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Darzins not doing much here.
Darzins passes to side control.

Darzins stands up.

Darzins fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wong sprawls well initially but Darzins persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darzins content to control rather than advance.
Wong is not content to let Darzins control the position.
Darzins thows a huge punch but Wong dodges it nicely.

Darzins seems to be working for a kimura but Wong defends the submission attempt.
Darzins is trying to control. Wong wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.

Darzins in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Wong tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Darzins!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Lauris Darzins!