PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Belic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonard STAM (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Belic
vs
STAM

189 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
19
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Niko Belic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leonard STAM!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
STAM rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Belic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from Belic does no damage.
STAM throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Belic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
STAM looks for the body kick but Belic saw that one coming.
Belic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from STAM.
Nice defenses there by Belic.

STAM closes the distance and clinches.

Belic pulls STAM into guard.
Belic can't keep his opponent in guard - STAM advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Belic is controlling STAM's position as best he can from this difficult position.
STAM tries to stand but can't do so whilst Belic controls his leg.

STAM postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Belic to stand up.
Belic throws a looping overhand right but STAM ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
STAM is looking to clinch but Belic is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belic just misses with a punch to the body.
Leonard STAM seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
STAM throws a left and a right that both miss
and Belic counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
STAM throws a left and a right that both miss
and Belic counters with a two punch combo.
STAM looks gassed!

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

STAM decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Belic shoots in but no luck this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belic lands a jab to the nose.

STAM rushes Belic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Belic can't break the clinch.

STAM's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
STAM misses with a double jab
and Belic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
STAM shoots in for a takedown but Belic shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belic cracks STAM with an open hand slap.
STAM circles away from the clinch attempt.

Belic drives through with a takedown into guard.
STAM is wriggling around but Belic manages to pass to half guard.

STAM looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
STAM wants to control but Belic passes into side.
You can see the frustration on STAM's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
STAM is looking to regain half guard here but Belic keeps moving and retains side control.

STAM sneaks out the side door and pushes Belic away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

STAM moves into the clinch successfully.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Belic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

STAM gets control of Belic's arms and successfully pulls guard. STAM will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
STAM is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

STAM looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
STAM wants to stand up but Belic is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

STAM has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Belic is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for STAM.

Belic decides to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
STAM tries to clinch but Belic moves away
and Belic counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps STAM thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Belic dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Some wild striking there from STAM.
STAM throws a combination. Belic tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Niko Belic has been cut.
STAM throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A left and a right from STAM both land. Nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
STAM shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Belic counters with a head kick. That will keep STAM thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

STAM drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
STAM grinds an elbow into Belic's temple.

STAM decides to stand back up. STAM steps back and let's Belic get back to his feet.
Belic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

STAM changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Belic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
STAM laying and praying for a moment but Belic takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
STAM stops Belic from getting back to his feet.
STAM is thwarting Belic's attempts to control the position.

STAM stands up from half guard.

Belic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
STAM wants to get up but he can't break Belic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

STAM drops back, looking for a kneebar! Belic looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Belic looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Belic!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
STAM is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
A control attempt from STAM but he's now mounted!
STAM wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
STAM has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
STAM trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

STAM is trying to shake Belic off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Belic won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Niko Belic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
STAM misses with a wild combination.
Belic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from STAM.
Belic lands a two punch combo.
Niko Belic is winning the standup battle so far.
Belic misses with a wild combination.
No joy there for STAM, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Belic stuffs the takedown.
STAM tries to clinch up but Belic circles away and keeps his distance.
STAM fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Niko Belic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonard STAM.
Belic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Danga de danga de dang - STAM scores with a four punch combination!
STAM throws a left and a right that both miss
and Belic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
STAM lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Belic circles away quickly and effectively.

Belic moves into the clinch.

STAM breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

STAM scores with a takedown into Belic's guard.
STAM wants to get up but he can't break Belic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard STAM showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Niko Belic's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

STAM tries to clinch up but Belic circles away and keeps his distance.
STAM throws a series of punches but Belic avoids them all with ease.
No joy there for Belic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
STAM throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Belic counter with a right hand.
Belic shoots for a takedown but STAM saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
STAM keeps Belic at a distance using the push kick.
STAM uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Belic.
STAM misses with a wild combination.
Belic lands a slapping body shot.

STAM bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
STAM wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belic keeps working.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

STAM decides to stand up, so the ref orders Belic to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
STAM misses with a combination
and Belic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Belic misses its intended target.
STAM closes the distance looking to clinch
and Belic counters with a three punch combo that has STAM backing up. STAM nods at Belic to acknowledge the strikes.
STAM scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

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

STAM pulls guard.
STAM is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

STAM had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Belic is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. STAM Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Belic's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

STAM seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Belic's chin but Belic turns very nicely into STAM's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Belic.
Belic is standing up over STAM. STAM looks to escape but Belic dives into side control.
STAM can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belic has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
STAM tries to clinch
and Belic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Belic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
STAM fails to land with a series of punches.

STAM moves into the clinch successfully.

STAM pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
STAM throws a nice looking combination but Belic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Belic throws a head kick that misses.

STAM bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

STAM stands up and beckons Belic to his feet.
STAM closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belic circles away.
Belic connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Belic on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
STAM drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
STAM lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
STAM shoots in looking for a takedown. Belic tries to sprawl out of it but STAM keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
STAM swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Belic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
STAM has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Belic avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Niko Belic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonard STAM.
STAM lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Belic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
STAM scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
STAM throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Belic counters with a left and a right that stings STAM.
STAM misses with an uppercut. Belic saw that one coming.
Belic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Belic takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Belic instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

STAM's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
STAM misses with the combination.
A left and a right from STAM both land. Nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonard STAM comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think STAM has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonard STAM!