PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ftank Rank (ranked 4041 p4p, 25422 weight class) and Armando Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ftank Rank could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Armando Stephens's chin.

Rank
vs
Stephens

150 cm
25
134
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
135
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ftank Rank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Armando Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rank gets the takedown into side control.
Stephens is looking to regain half guard here but Rank keeps moving and retains side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Rank knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stephens on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rank off and has taken his back!
Rank might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stephens wants to control the position but Rank frees himself and scrambles - Stephens manages to regain control in side control.
Stephens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rank keeps working.

Stephens tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Stephens tries to advance to mount but Rank instead regains half guard.
Stephens looks winded!
Rank makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rank is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rank is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rank seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stephens for as long as he can get away with.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

Stephens looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rank trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rank wants to pass the guard but Stephens is defending well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rank in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rank passes to full mount!
Stephens is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rank controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rank fails to advance to Stephens's back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ftank Rank dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Rank closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stephens did well to prevent Rank getting side control.
Rank slows the pace down in half guard.
Rank continues to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rank has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rank controlling the position easily from mount.
Stephens is trying to escape the mount but Rank keeps good control and instead manages to take Stephens's back.
Stephens is breathing heavily.
Good control from Rank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rank has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens tries to escape the position.
Rank slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Stephens tries to escape but Rank has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Rank is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Rank.
More hug and hope from Rank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ftank Rank overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rank's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ftank Rank 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. This is the final round!

Rank throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stephens tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rank is in Stephens's guard.
Rank controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rank is pushing down on Stephens's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stephens is fighting to maintain full guard but Rank has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rank slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Further stalling from Rank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rank wants to free his trapped foot but Stephens is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rank is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephens can do to turn this around?
Rank takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rank is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rank controlling his opponent.
Stephens gets back to half guard.
Rank seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rank wants to pass to mount but Stephens is defending the position.
Rank controlling the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rank scores with a takedown into Stephens's guard.
Rank is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rank continues to hold on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rank pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stephens is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rank controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rank closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Stephens's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ftank Rank showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rank 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:25
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:25
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ftank Rank!