PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grant Stamford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleg Marvenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stamford
vs
Marvenko

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Grant Stamford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Oleg Marvenko!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stamford lands a left and a right that send Marvenko crashing to the mat, dazed. Stamford thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Marvenko is rocked!

It looks like Oleg Marvenko has been cut.
Marvenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marvenko is still on wobbly legs! Can Stamford finish him?

Stamford has closed the distance and engaged Marvenko in a clinch.
Marvenko seems to have recovered his senses.
Stamford pushes Marvenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Marvenko.
Come on Stamford - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Stamford working hard to break the clinch.

Marvenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Marvenko clinches with his opponent.
Stamford tries to break the clinch but Marvenko is controlling the position.
Stamford has had enough of the clinch but Marvenko keeps him there for the moment.
Marvenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stamford's efforts to push away.
Stamford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
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!
Stamford works on Marvenko's body with a couple of short punches.
Stamford manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Stamford lands a nice shot to the body.
Stamford lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Marvenko.
Marvenko looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamford pushes Marvenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Marvenko working aggressively here.
Stamford stalls.
Stamford scores with a hook to the body.
Stamford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Stamford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Stamford slows down the pace here.
A right handed body shot lands from Stamford.
Stamford presses Marvenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stamford digs a right hand into Marvenko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Marvenko's gas tank.
Stamford pushes Marvenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stamford digs a right hand underneath Marvenko's ribcage. Marvenko let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Stamford stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stamford lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stamford digs a right hand underneath Marvenko's ribcage. Marvenko let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Stamford has had enough of the clinch but Marvenko keeps him there for the moment.
Stamford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The referee is keeping an eye on Stamford - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Stamford lands a body punch in the clinch.

Stamford has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Marvenko is trying to keep an underhook but Stamford manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Well, if Stamford is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Stamford not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stamford throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Stamford stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Marvenko to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stamford throws a series of punches but Marvenko avoids them all with ease.
Stamford lands a nice looking body shot.

Stamford has Marvenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Stamford scores with a hook to the body.
Stamford stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Stamford is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stamford tries to score a body lock takedown but Marvenko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Marvenko jumps guard but Stamford stands there with Marvenko around his waist. Marvenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stamford lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marvenko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stamford walks away with a smile on his face. Marvenko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Marvenko clinches but Stamford breaks the clinch

and Stamford counters by clinching up.
Stamford works on Marvenko's body with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marvenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short body shot lands from Stamford as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Stamford.
Stamford lands a shot to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Stamford.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Stamford cracks Marvenko with a nice body shot.
Marvenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Marvenko is pressed up against the cage. Stamford has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marvenko down to the mat. Marvenko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Marvenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grant Stamford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Marvenko tries to keep at a distance but Stamford has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A hook to the body from Marvenko.
Marvenko letting Stamford take a breather here.
Stamford is looking to control Marvenko's arms but Marvenko gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stamford has his back to the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Stamford dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oleg Marvenko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marvenko clinches with his opponent.
Stamford working hard to break the clinch.
Marvenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Marvenko landing knees to the head.
Stamford blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Stamford has picked Marvenko up - he's going for a ride! Stamford dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Stamford looks to land a strike but Marvenko avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Stamford stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Stamford lands a nice shot that snaps Marvenko's head back.
Stamford misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stamford tries to clinch there but Marvenko circles away.
Marvenko scores with a kick to the body.

Stamford moves into range and clinches up with Marvenko.
Marvenko blocks a body shot from Stamford.
Stamford is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Marvenko taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marvenko lands a knee to the head.
A body shot lands from Stamford.
Marvenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stamford wants a takedown.

Marvenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marvenko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stamford tries to avoid it but Marvenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stamford to the ground. Stamford escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Marvenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Stamford circles away from the clinch attempt.

Stamford has managed to clinch.
Grant Stamford has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Marvenko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stamford lands a body shot.
Stamford jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Marvenko walks away with a smile on his face. Stamford gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stamford connects with a right hand. Marvenko shakes it off.
Stamford doesn't manage to clinch there - Marvenko circles away.
Marvenko tries to clinch but Stamford moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stamford moves in looking to clinch but Marvenko pushes him off.
Marvenko wants to clinch
and Stamford counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stamford tries to clinch but Marvenko is having none of it.

Stamford instigates a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Marvenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Marvenko misses with a knee strike.
Marvenko scores a nice knee to the body.

Stamford has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Marvenko uses from the top position.
Stamford is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Marvenko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stamford is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marvenko wants to control from the top but Stamford keeps moving.
Stamford has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Stamford pushes Marvenko off and gets back to his feet.

That's four 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.

Stamford instigates a clinch.
Stamford lands a body shot.
Marvenko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stamford is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Grant Stamford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleg Marvenko.
Stamford throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Stamford looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stamford lands a shot to the body.
A body shot lands from Stamford.
Stamford lands a shot to the body.
Marvenko being controlled against the cage.
Stamford wants to break free but Marvenko has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Stamford dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Oleg Marvenko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stamford has managed to clinch.
Stamford keeps control of Marvenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stamford lands a body shot.
Marvenko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stamford's elbow.
Stamford lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Marvenko.
Stamford digs a right hand into Marvenko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Marvenko's gas tank.
Stamford misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marvenko.
Stamford is trying to break free.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Stamford.
Marvenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stamford works on Marvenko's body with a couple of short punches.
Stamford digs a right hand into Marvenko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Marvenko's gas tank.
A hook to the body from Stamford.
Stamford lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Stamford is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Marvenko can't fight it off and eventually Stamford manages to take the fight to the floor. Marvenko looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stamford prevents Marvenko from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Stamford stands up and waves to Marvenko to follow him.
Marvenko tries to clinch

and Stamford counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A right handed body shot lands from Stamford.
Stamford is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marvenko can do to turn this around?
Stamford is leaning against Marvenko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Marvenko jumps guard but Stamford stands there with Marvenko around his waist. Marvenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stamford presses Marvenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nice body punch from Stamford - that landed with a thud.
Marvenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Good body shot from Stamford.
Stamford lands a body punch in the clinch.
Stamford lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Stamford - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Stamford has Marvenko pressed against the cage, preventing Marvenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Marvenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stamford lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Marvenko or not.
Stamford lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stamford stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Marvenko trying to land knees to the body.

Marvenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stamford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stamford works on Marvenko's body with a couple of short punches.
Stamford has Marvenko pushed against the cage.
Marvenko prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stamford misses with a body punch.

Marvenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grant Stamford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stamford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Marvenko.
Stamford throws a right and a left that Marvenko avoids nicely.

Stamford clinches up with Marvenko and pushes him back against the cage.
Marvenko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stamford walks away with a smile on his face. Marvenko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Marvenko tries to clinch
and Stamford counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stamford misses with a wild body shot.
Stamford takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A nice combination there by Stamford.
Stamford scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Stamford moves into the clinch.
Stamford lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Marvenko is trying to maintain a safe position but Stamford gets an underhook and turns Marvenko into the cage.
Stamford lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Marvenko or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marvenko tries to land knees in the clinch but Stamford avoids the damage to the body.
Marvenko stops a takedown attempt from Stamford.
Stamford lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stamford struggles to land a body shot inside as Marvenko controls his hands.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Stamford as Marvenko tries to tie him up.
Oleg Marvenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stamford works on Marvenko's body with a couple of short punches.
Stamford is leaning against Marvenko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Stamford.
A body shot lands from Stamford.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Stamford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stamford 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:26
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grant Stamford!