PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zaney Bob (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Stitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Bob
vs
Stitch

183 cm
22
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zaney Bob!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ian Stitch!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stitch throws a right and a left that both miss.

Stitch drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stitch throwing strikes from guard but Bob blocks nicely.

Stitch thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bob is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bob slips a nice elbow through Stitch's hands, connecting with Stitch's forehead.
Bob throwing shots but Stitch is blocking nicely.
Stitch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stitch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bob is working away from the top position though.
Stitch regains full guard. Nicely done.
Stitch is trying to keep Bob in close.
Stitch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bob is one step ahead there.
Bob pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stitch is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bob content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bob in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stitch seems keen to control Bob's posture.
Bob stands and throws Stitch's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bob tries to advance to mount but can't.
Stitch can't do much from the bottom here.
Bob tries to advance to mount but can't.
Stitch taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bob is trying to get an arm triangle but Stitch is defending well.

Bob is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stitch has escaped the position, nice work there.
Stitch manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Bob thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stitch's head.
Stitch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bob.
Bob thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stitch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stitch manages to get to full guard.
Stitch is trying to control the position but Bob postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bob missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stitch managing to control the position.
Bobis looking to pass into half guard but Stitch pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Stitch is in guard.
Stitch preventing the sweep.
Bob keeping moving, preventing Stitch from controlling successfully.
Bob tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bob controlling Stitch's posture.
Stitch trying to control the position from guard on top but Bob is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stitch with a nice head shot there.
Bob keeping moving, preventing Stitch from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bob avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bob moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bob tries to clinch but Stitch moves out of range.
Zaney Bob is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bob doesn't manage to clinch there - Stitch circles away.
Bob tries to close the distance and clinch but Stitch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bob tries to clinch up but Stitch circles away and keeps his distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bob!
The fight stays on the outside here - Bob looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bob is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bob rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stitch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zaney Bob dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jab, jab by Bob - just one landing.
Stitch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bob.
Stitch tries for a takedown but Bob sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stitch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bob manages to avoid it.
Bob is looking to clinch but Stitch is avoiding it.
Bob is looking to clinch but Stitch is avoiding it.
Zaney Bob is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bob misses with the combination.
A left lands for Bob.
Bob tries to clinch but Stitch is having none of it.
Bob tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bob tries to clinch up but Stitch circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stitch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bob was well out of range. Poor timing from Stitch.
Bob wants to clinch.
Stitch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stitch keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stitch throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bob looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stitch misses with a body shot.
Stitch misses with a wild body shot.
Bob wants to clinch.

Stitch scores a takedown into full mount!
Bob gets back to half guard.
Stitch lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bob tries to roll over but Stitch keeps him under control.
Bob regains full guard. Nicely done.
Stitch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bob works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bob manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stitch tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bob scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bob with good strikes from the mount here!
Zaney Bob overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stitch slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stitch manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
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!
Bob pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stitch is keeping the position for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stitch can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stitch striking off his back but it's not causing Bob any problems.

Stitch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bob defends well.
Stitch is breathing heavily.
Bob pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stitch is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bob lands a couple of digs.
Bob tries to free his leg and advance position but Stitch is retaining full guard.
Stitch looking for a sweep. Not yet Stitch, not yet.
Bob chips away with some ground and pound.
Bob prevents Stitch from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bob sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stitch's guard.

Stitch looking for submissions off his back.
Bob looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stitch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bob is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Stitch is trying to get back to full guard.
Bob works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stitch is trying to get back to half guard.

Bob goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Stitch rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bob's guard! Nice work there by Stitch!

Stitch drops back looking for a leg! Bob is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bob manages to kick Stitch off! Stitch jumps back into Bob's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bob bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stitch's guard.
Bob wants to pass the guard but Stitch is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stitch is on top in guard.
Bob tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stitch looks to land a right hand but Bob moved out of range.
Bob wants to clinch.
Stitch swats away the attempt to clinch by Bob.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bob looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bob lands a slapping body shot.
Bob tries to clinch but Stitch moves out of range.
Stitch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bob was well out of range. Poor timing from Stitch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bob wants to clinch up but Stitch keeps it at a distance.

Stitch closes the distance and clinches.
Stitch is looking to control Bob's arms but Bob gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stitch has his back to the cage.
Stitch is looking to break free of the clinch but Bob has double underhooks.
Bob has Stitch pressed against the cage, preventing Stitch from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bob tries to land knees in the clinch but Stitch avoids the damage to the body.

Stitch jumps into guard, dragging Bob to the mat.

Stitch is looking for a triangle but Bob pushes his legs off easily.
Stitch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stitch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bob postures up in Stitch's guard and throws a big left but Stitch blocks it.
Bob trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bob looking to pass the guard.
Bob landing with the ground and pound.

Stitch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stitch striking from the bottom here.
Bob connects with a couple of short punches.
Bob is looking to advance position but Stitch has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Stitch is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Bob can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stitch wants to finish this one by submission but Bob is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Stitch.
Bob wants to hold on but Stitch pushes him away.
Stitch lands with some strikes.
Bob tries to lock up and control but Stitch gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bob regains half guard.
Stitch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bob is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stitch's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stitch's back!
Stitch wants to control his opponent's hands but Bob gets his hands free.
Bob scores with punches from the back.
Stitch rolls, trying to escape but Bob keeps control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bob throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Stitch!
Stitch staying busy and making it hard for Bob to control.
I really don't envy Stitch right now.
Bob lands shots from the back.
Stitch tries to roll but Bob sticks to his back.

Bob looking for the RNC.
Stitch is covering up but some of the strikes from Bob are getting through and doing damage.
Bob throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Stitch!
Stitch manages to reverse the position and now he's in Bob's guard. Nice work there by Stitch.

Stitch thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bob seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Stitch thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bob controls Stitch momentarily but Stitch frees himself.

Stitch drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stitch jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bob is on top in guard.
Bob has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bob content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stitch is trying to keep Bob in close.
Bob working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zaney Bob clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stitch slips a jab and a cross from Bob.
Bob moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bob sizes up Stitch with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Zaney Bob seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bob wants to clinch but Stitch slips to the side
and Stitch makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bob tries to clinch but Stitch moves away
and Stitch counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bob wants to clinch

and Stitch counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stitch.
Stitch blocks an uppercut.
Stitch can't break the clinch.
Bob unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bob prevents Stitch from breaking the clinch.
Bob is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stitch is defending well for now.
Stitch stalling the fight.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A left hand lands to the body for Bob.

Stitch gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bob has his hands clasped together around Stitch's back. He's all about the action.
Bob gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bob working a defensive guard here.
Stitch works over Bob with some ground and pound from guard.
Stitch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stitch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bob trying to control the position here.
Bob bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stitch's guard.
Bob trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stitch wants to sweep but no luck.
Stitch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stitch prevents Bob from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stitch with good strikes from the mount here!
Stitch looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Bob is desperately trying to improve his position but Stitch has a good base and remains in mount.
Stitch with the ground and pound from mount.
Stitch sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Bob is looking to get to half guard.
Stitch avoids the attempt from Bob to control.
Stitch scoring with strikes but Bob is staying in there.
Stitch landing strikes from the mount.
Bob regains half guard.
Bob trying to hold on to Stitch's head to control him but Stitch postures up.
Stitch seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bob does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bob regains full guard. Nicely done.
Stitch distracts Bob with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stitch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bob is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bob is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stitch trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

Bob looking for a guillotine from mount but Stitch is having none of it.
Stitch is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bob with shots to the head and body - Stitch looks very uncomfortable down there.
Stitch takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stitch has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stitch is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bob has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Stitch's face.
Stitch's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Bob lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Stitch is working to get back to half guard.
Stitch is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bob lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zaney Bob had his way with Ian Stitch in that 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bob looks to clinch
and Stitch counters with a series of strikes. Bob will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bob keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bob misses with a few strikes there.
Bob throws a series of punches but Stitch moves out of range.
Bob tries to clinch up

and Stitch counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bob's guard now.
Bob utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stitch throwing strikes from guard but Bob blocks nicely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bob is on top in guard.

Stitch has an active guard here but Bob has managed to pass into half guard.
Stitch is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Bob is working for a kimura but Stitch is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bob is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stitch is just riding it out for now. Bob eventually gives up the hold.
Stitch manages to get to full guard.
Bob is pushing down on Stitch's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stitch is fighting to maintain full guard but Bob has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bob looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stitch is looking for a sweep. Bob is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bob prevents Stitch from standing back up.
Bob wants to pass to mount but Stitch is defending the position.
Stitch tries to roll over but Bob keeps him under control.
Bob landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Stitch tries to roll over but Bob keeps him under control.
Stitch is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bob scores with a couple of nice shots.
Stitch taking some punishment here, with Bob in his half guard.
Stitch tries to get to full guard but Bob has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Bob there.
Bob passes the guard and advances to mount!
Stitch wants to control but Bob is having none of it.
Bob putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stitch is working to get back to half guard.
Bob is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stitch can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Bob lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Stitch is working to get back to half guard.
Stitch wants to control but Bob is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bob with the ground and pound from mount.

Bob swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Stitch is now in Bob's guard. A big mistake from Bob there, giving up the dominant position!

Stitch drops back looking for a leg! Bob is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bob manages to kick Stitch off! Stitch jumps back into Bob's guard.
Ian Stitch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bob avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bob seems keen to control Stitch's posture.

Stitch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zaney Bob is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stitch distracts Bob with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zaney Bob showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bob 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 50:45
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zaney Bob!
Zaney Bob is the new welterweight champion!