PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Denis Stetsenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Hampton (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.

Stetsenko
vs
Hampton

180 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Denis Stetsenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Hampton!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stetsenko throws a sloppy head kick and Hampton moves out of range easily.
Stetsenko throws a sloppy head kick and Hampton moves out of range easily.
Hampton showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stetsenko.
Stetsenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hampton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hampton should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hampton.
Hampton blocks a head kick by Stetsenko.
A head kick misses from Stetsenko.

Hampton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hampton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Hampton stands up and waves to Stetsenko to follow him.

Stetsenko gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hampton to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hampton sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stetsenko throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hampton wants to pass the guard but Stetsenko is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stetsenko wants to stand and escape but Hampton is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hampton sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stetsenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hampton stands up from Stetsenko's guard - Hampton perhaps looking for a knockout.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Hampton has eaten all the pies!

Hampton shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stetsenko is breathing heavily.
Stetsenko wants to stand up but Hampton is controlling him.
Stetsenko keeping full guard, as Hampton tries to pass.

Stetsenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hampton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hampton lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hampton's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hampton works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hampton takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Stetsenko trying to control but Hampton postures up.
Hampton is nestled in close to Stetsenko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hampton not doing much here.
Hampton prevents Stetsenko from standing back up.
Hampton with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by James Hampton.

Hampton throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stetsenko was covering up waiting for the punch and Hampton finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stetsenko wants to get back to his feet but Hampton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Hampton gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Hampton shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hampton frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hampton looking to control and managing it successfully.
BOOM! Hampton connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Stetsenko takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hampton lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stetsenko is trying to escape the mount.
Stetsenko tries to hold on but Hampton postures up.
Hampton content just to control the position here.
Hampton landing strikes from the mount and Stetsenko is in trouble!
Stetsenko taking shots to the head.
Hampton with a couple of short strikes.
Hampton takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hampton connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hampton pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hampton dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hampton dominated that round.
That's time! Stetsenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hampton closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stetsenko to the mat! Stetsenko manages to get full guard.
Hampton advances to half guard.
Stetsenko missing with punches from the bottom.
Hampton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Stetsenko is pressing down on Hampton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hampton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Stetsenko wants to stand and escape but Hampton is having none of it.
Stetsenko has momentary wrist control but Hampton slips an elbow through the middle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Stetsenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hampton working some strikes from top position.
Hampton lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hampton gets to his feet - Stetsenko follows without any prompting.

Hampton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stetsenko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hampton lands a nice forearm strike.
Stetsenko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stetsenko wants to get back to full guard.
Stetsenko is looking to escape.
Hampton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Stetsenko wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hampton shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hampton landing some decent shots from guard.
Stetsenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hampton works over Stetsenko with some ground and pound from guard.
Hampton preventing the sweep.
Hampton slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hampton stops Stetsenko from standing up.
Stetsenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stetsenko wants to get back to his feet but Hampton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hampton shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hampton showed some decent athleticism there.
Hampton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stetsenko is trying to stand up here but Hampton is controlling him well.
Hampton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Stetsenko has hold of Hampton's hands but Hampton slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hampton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hampton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ground and pound from Hampton.
Hampton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Stetsenko tries to kick Hampton off but Hampton keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hampton prevents Stetsenko from improving his position.
Hampton controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hampton looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stetsenko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stetsenko taking some punishment here, with Hampton in his half guard.
Stetsenko wants to get back to full guard.
Hampton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hampton with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hampton passes to full mount!
Stetsenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hampton looking to finish Stetsenko with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stetsenko!
Hampton lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Hampton is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hampton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Stetsenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hampton shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hampton is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stetsenko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hampton lands a big elbow.
Stetsenko is looking to improve his position but Hampton isn't that keen on the idea.
James Hampton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hampton landing punches.
Stetsenko is looking to improve his position but Hampton isn't that keen on the idea.
Hampton postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Stetsenko looks a forlorn figure.
Hampton lands with some strikes.
Hampton with a couple of short strikes.
Hampton takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hampton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hampton pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hampton lands a heavy elbow.
Hampton controlling the position easily from mount.
Stetsenko working to try and regain half guard.
Stetsenko is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Hampton controlling his opponent.
Hampton postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Stetsenko looks a forlorn figure.
Hampton content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hampton putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stetsenko swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Stetsenko tries to lock up and control but Hampton gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hampton working the ground and pound effectively.
Hampton content just to control the position here.
Stetsenko takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hampton content just to control the position here.
Hampton looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hampton controlling from mount.
Stetsenko is looking to improve his position but Hampton isn't that keen on the idea.
Hampton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stetsenko is looking to improve his position but Hampton isn't that keen on the idea.
Hampton controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
BOOM! Hampton connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hampton with a couple of short strikes.
Hampton is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stetsenko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hampton putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stetsenko is trying to escape the mount.
Hampton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stetsenko taking shots to the head.
Hampton landing strikes from the mount.
Hampton controlling the pace for now.
Denis Stetsenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Hampton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stetsenko swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Hampton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hampton has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 25:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Hampton!