Round 7 Nice overhand left by Mbamba, plummeting from its high arc to land pat on Darchinyan's nose. Mbamba keeps working the overhand left while circling to his right at close range. Right jab up into Darchinyan's face to keep him distracted. Darchinyan throws a powerful flurry and Mbamba scampers outside. Mbamba is almost walked to the ropes but skips off to his right and gets back into a circling pattern in the middle of the ring. Darchinyan throws his clumps of straight shots (1-2-1-2) into the lower part of Mbamba's guard, targeting the body. Mbamba is whipping around with his overhand left, trying to catch Darchinyan on the temple as he crouches in. They get tangled up a bit. Not a lot of clean punching. Nice running uppercut by Darchinyan somehow lands. They trade and miss. 70-62 Darchinyan
Mbamba is really giving Darchinyan a good fight. A lot of counter shots landed there. A few straight lefts buzzed Darchinyan and is now cut on his left eye.
Uh oh! Bad cut on Darchinyan's left eye!!! They're working fervently on it in the corner, but looking nervous. OOH, NASTY GASH. It's on the eyelid. Even with a win, this tuneup & opportunity to repay his fans back home could wind up damaging Darchinyan more than it was worth.
Round 8 Mbamba whips out a few body shots, but is left momentarily open for a big cage-rattling overhand left that knocks him back a step. Darchinyan is pulled off Mbamba on the inside and the referee warns him to watch his head coming in. Darchinyan works some high right jabs out of the crouch but they're very limp and he looks weary. Clinch as Darchinyan pressures while missing jabs. Mbamba is now exchanging with him, throwing wild right hooks and looping lefts from the side and landing a few. Mbamba now is warned to watch his head. The ref wants to deduct a point from someone and doesn't care who at this point. BIG CLUMP by Darchinyan. Mbamba is hurt and sits on the middle rope for a moment under heavy fire before escaping. Darchinyan gets his arms pinned and rather than try to get free just pushes forward, walking Mbamba back across the ring. Right jab, left uppercut by Darchinyan glances. Mbamba ties him up and they drift to the ropes again. 80-71 Darchinyan
Round 9 Darchinyan nearly walks into a right jab but stops short, and waits outside for Mbamba. Darchinyan seems to take some time off as he crouches into blocking formation to absorb overhand lefts from Mbamba, and rather than apply pressure is just darting in with his right jab and only occasionally putting his own overhand lefts behind it. They grind together and wrestle into the ropes, Darchinyan's head buried in Mbamba's chest. Right hooks and left hand combos by Darchinyan now. Mbamba is backing up again. Mbamba comes forward, but just to clinch. Big exchange! Mbamba threw a wild 1-2 and seemed to get knocked down by a short looping left! (glove touched the canvas) Not ruled a KD. They keep tossing out vicious shots until the bell but are slicing the air as their chests clap together. 90-80
Thought that left hand caused a knockdown, ref didn't call it. Both are tired now. Darchinyan unloads while Mbamba lands the odd counter every now and again.
Round 10 Darchinyan jabs and turns Mbamba. Darchinyan has his elbow up in front of his face before snapping out the jab, and is ducking forward and facilitating clinches with the South African. Darchinyan is warned for pushing down on Mbamba again by an exasperated ref. Mbamba hurt by a big left! He covers up and goes for the ropes. Darchinyan unloads but is lunging with shots, and Mbamba is able to make him miss by simply bouncing his back in rhythm off the ropes and keeping his head held back. BIG LEFT AGAIN HURTS MBAMBA. His legs go soft and he looks ready to go. Darchinyan rushes to finish and they clinch. Mbamba is wobbling on his own while waiting for Darchinyan to emerge from a neutral corner. Darchinyan comes at him and knocks him down! Mbamba is allowed to continue!!!!! atsch He gets right on the ropes and shells up, trying to pull Darchinyan into a clinch. Darchinyan is too wild, and isn't able to get it done. 10-8 Darchinyan 100-88 Darchinyan